Sandy Reader
Executive Function Coach
Empowering Students with Skills for Success
With over 12 years of experience coaching neurodiverse teens and young adults, I specialize in meeting each student where they are. Together, we explore how their unique brain works, then build personalized, practical strategies that fit their lifestyle and goals.
My strengths-based, compassionate coaching approach focuses on empowering students with tools they can use daily to gain control, reduce overwhelm, and build momentum toward lasting success.
My own journey began as a parent navigating my son’s learning disability diagnosis, which gave me firsthand insight into the challenges families face. Before starting private coaching, I worked with students, families, and educators in Santa Clara Unified School District, developing and implementing executive function strategies in real-world settings.
As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), I combine empathy, expertise, and proven methods to help students build the skills and confidence they need—not just to succeed academically, but to thrive in life.
Coaching for Growth, Responsibility, and Real-World Readiness
Engage
Why Students Struggle—and How Coaching Builds Awareness
Many students face challenges with things like organization, task initiation, time management, and follow-through—but they often don’t realize these difficulties are rooted in executive function skills. Without this understanding, students may feel overwhelmed, fall behind, or grow increasingly dependent on others to manage their responsibilities.
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My coaching approach helps students recognize and name these patterns, making the invisible visible. By increasing their awareness and connecting everyday struggles to executive function, students feel more in control and ready to build practical tools that foster motivation and long-term independence.
Empower
Personalized Path to Growth
Once students begin recognizing their executive function challenges, coaching guides them into action—through practice, reflection, and strategy-building.
We focus on core skills like time management, planning, organization, task initiation, and follow-through, while also exploring the emotional and behavioral roadblocks that contribute to getting stuck, such as procrastination, perfectionism, low motivation, or overwhelm.
With a supportive, trial-and-error approach, students are encouraged to experiment with tools and techniques, learning what works for them and why.
Over time, they build a personalized system that fits their unique strengths and needs—leading to more consistent follow-through, greater confidence, and a growing belief in their ability to adapt and succeed.
Evolve
Building Independence That Lasts
As students develop stronger skills and self-awareness, they begin to take true ownership of their time, responsibilities, and goals—reducing the need for external reminders or oversight. Coaching helps shift the balance from adult-driven support to student-driven action, fostering accountability and resilience.
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By learning how to plan ahead, follow through, and problem-solve independently, students lay the foundation for lifelong success. Whether transitioning to college, entering the workforce, or managing daily life, they leave coaching with tools they can trust—for school, career, and beyond.