What Is (and Isn’t) an Executive Function Coach?

If you’ve heard the term executive function coach but aren’t exactly sure what it means, you’re not alone. Parents often find themselves trying to decide between tutoring, therapy, or school-based support, without realizing there’s another option that targets the real root of academic and emotional overwhelm.

An executive function coach helps students build the underlying skills they need to thrive in and out of the classroom, not just survive the semester.

What an Executive Function Coach Is

Executive function coaches work with students to develop the mental processes behind skills such as organization, time management, task initiation, metacognition, and planning. These skills are critical to long-term academic success and day-to-day well-being. Basically, they help students learn how they learn. They focus on building systems, habits, and routines that help students manage responsibilities across every class, not just pass their next test.

Sessions typically include:

• Weekly planning and scheduling
  
• Breaking large assignments into manageable steps
  
• Tracking deadlines and goals
  
• Adjusting strategies based on real-world results
  

Managing emotional roadblocks like procrastination and overwhelm

What an Executive Function Coach Isn’t

There’s often confusion around the role of a coach. Let’s clear up what they don’t do:

They’re not a tutor.

Tutors focus on helping students understand subject-specific material. Coaches focus on process: how students organize, plan, and manage that material on their own.

They’re not a therapist.

While executive function coaching can reduce stress, it’s not clinical. Coaches don’t treat anxiety or depression, they support skill development that helps students better manage stress and setbacks.

They’re not part of the school system.

School counselors and IEP teams are valuable resources, but they often don’t have the bandwidth for ongoing, one-on-one planning and accountability. A coach fills that gap with personalized weekly support.

They’re not a homework babysitter.

Coaches help students become independent. It’s not about micromanaging—it’s about equipping students to manage themselves.

5 Signs Your Child May Need Executive Function Coaching

Not sure if coaching is the right fit? Here are common signs:

1. They constantly lose or forget assignments.

Even when they understand the material, they can’t keep track of what’s due and when.

2. They procrastinate until the last possible minute.

Assignments pile up, leading to all-nighters or emotional meltdowns.

3. You feel like their project manager.

You’re doing all the remembering, prompting, and checking—and it’s wearing everyone down.

4. They’re overwhelmed by transitions.

The jump to middle school, high school, or college brings more responsibilities than they can manage on their own.

5. They’re bright but inconsistent.

Teachers say they’re capable, but their performance swings wildly based on how organized they feel.

How Untapped Learning Takes Executive Function Coaching a Step Further

At Untapped Learning, we coach executive function through a unique, research-backed framework we call REP Framework:

Relationships

Our coaches build meaningful connections with students, offering consistency, trust, and motivation over time.

EF Skill-Building

We teach real-world strategies for planning, prioritizing, managing emotions, and following through—then help students apply them week by week.

Personalization

Every student is different. We adapt each coaching session to their needs, goals, and learning profile, whether they’re juggling school and sports, navigating ADHD, or just trying to stay on track.

This isn’t just theory—it’s research-based and proven to be effective. Our students don’t just improve in school; they feel more confident, more capable, and more in control of their lives.

Coaching at Untapped: What It Looks Like

Each week, students meet one-on-one with their executive function coach. These sessions are a blend of planning, reflection, strategy-building, and emotional support. Coaches ask questions like:

• What worked last week?
  
• What needs to change?
  
• How can we adjust the system to make this easier?
  

The goal is always the same: help students take ownership of their growth. That ownership leads to more follow-through, fewer crises, and more wins—both academic and personal.

Ready to Get Started?

If your child is overwhelmed, disorganized, or falling behind—not because they can’t learn, but because they’re missing the systems to succeed, executive function coaching could be the missing piece.

At Untapped Learning, we support students through Relationships, EF Skill-Building, and Personalization—a proven approach that changes how they approach school and life.

Let’s talk about how we can support your student.
Book a free consultation today.