MEET THE TEAM – ATLANTA

Meet Talandra.

Talandra comes to Effective Students with a history of impacting her community working with youth and young adults, with an emphasis on planning, focus, self-control, awareness, and flexibility in addition to technical and soft skills. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University in Marketing.  With experience in the business world in retail, technology, management and nonprofit leadership, she understands what is expected of students in the long term. Her experience as an innovator coupled with relatability to students enables her to lead them in solving the challenges they face academically helping them develop confidence to self-advocate and direct their own learning.

Talandra specializes in working with student athletes in middle and high school as well as students with ASD transitioning to adulthood.  She has been a part of the Effective Students curriculum and has helped develop many added components which include designing units, student competitions hosting the Grit and Growth Mindset Sessions.

Talandra enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, a former Tennessee Lady Vols basketball player (Class of 2020), semi-retired professional athlete, and entrepreneur. In her free time, she loves dining out, relaxing, traveling, and sharing laughter with close friends and family.

Meet Amy.

Amy Kilgore grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she first discovered her love for community, family, and lifelong learning. After graduating from Presbyterian College, Amy began building a life centered around community, family, and helping others grow to their fullest potential.

She and her husband made their home in Atlanta, Georgia, where they raised two daughters. Family has always been at the heart of Amy’s life, and her role as a mother shaped much of her passion for education and supporting children of all backgrounds.

For many years, Amy has devoted her work to early education, finding joy in guiding young learners during such formative stages of life. Along the way, she developed a deep heart for children with learning differences and for the families who love them. Amy firmly believes that everyone can learn, but that not every child fits into the same mold. With patience, creativity, and compassion, she has helped families navigate the challenges of creating personalized learning plans—ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Warm, thoughtful, and deeply committed, Amy’s life and work reflect her belief that each child holds unique gifts. Her story continues to inspire others to see potential where others might see obstacles, and to nurture the individuality of every learner.

Meet Gillian.

Gillian Moody is beginning her 26th year in education and brings extensive experience working with students across K–12 grade levels. She holds both a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in Education, and she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in School Improvement through the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Moody currently serves as a high school counselor, where she is dedicated to supporting students’ academic, personal, and social growth.

A strong advocate for student success, Mrs. Moody is passionate about helping young people develop the skills of self-advocacy, organization, and self-discipline to prepare them for future opportunities in both academics and life. She also has a deep appreciation for athletics and enjoys encouraging student-athletes as they strive to achieve their goals both on and off the field. Over the course of her career, she has coached competition cheer and gymnastics, experiences that have allowed her to combine her love of sports with her commitment to student development.

Outside of her professional role, Mrs. Moody values time with her husband, Matt, and their three daughters, Mary Mattalyn, Hendley, and Clara Jack. She especially enjoys supporting her daughters in their various pursuits, often spending weekends at soccer games, pole vaulting meets, and cheer competitions. Whether at school or in the community, Mrs. Moody is devoted to fostering growth, resilience, and success in the lives of the students she serves.

Meet Stephanie.

Stephanie draws from a background in educational psychology research, where she has worked with students, teachers, and families from Pre-K to high school in both conventional and alternative education settings, as well as community settings, to support the implementation of evidence-based academic interventions. She also has a background in psychoeducational assessment and has assessed students, from Pre-K to college-age, with a variety of academic and behavioral difficulties in school-based and clinical settings. She has worked with families and teachers of these students, providing individualized consultation and recommendations to best support their students’ development. Through her training as a school psychologist, Stephanie has implemented counseling, behavioral support interventions, and academic interventions at the individual, small-group, and class-wide levels in school settings. Stephanie is passionate about helping students, especially those with learning difficulties characterized by diagnoses such as ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities, learn and grow. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to support these students and their families through coaching with Effective Students.

Meet Taryn.

Taryn is an experienced educator and academic coach with over 14 years of experience supporting students’ academic growth, executive functioning, and social-emotional development. She has worked across a range of educational settings, partnering closely with students and families to build skills in organization, time management, self-advocacy, and goal setting.

Throughout her career, Taryn has been especially passionate about supporting neurodiverse learners and helping students develop confidence, independence, and ownership of their learning. Her coaching approach is student-centered, strengths-based, and focused on helping students understand how their brains work so they can create systems that truly support them.

Taryn holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Pepperdine University and received her Bachelor’s degree from Spelman College. She brings a thoughtful, reflective approach to her work as an academic coach. She values collaboration, positive reinforcement, and helping students translate strategies into real-life academic demands.

Outside of coaching, Taryn enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters and values family time as an important foundation for balance and well-being.

Meet J.

Meet De’Monica.

De’Monica Underwood brings an affirming, structured, and student-centered approach as an executive function coach. She meets students where they are while challenging them to grow and achieve their goals. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with students who struggle with attention, organization, motivation, time management, and follow-through. Her professional experience includes –  middle – high school classroom teaching, instructional leadership, multi-tiered systems of support intervention and 504 specialist, program management focused on college readiness and college access advising, and Social-Emotional Learning program leadership .

Furthermore, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, earned a 4.0 while completing her Master of Arts in Teaching from Mercer University, holds Georgia English (6-12) and Educational Leadership certifications, and is anticipating a second master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology, Fall 2026. She holds strong values around education and believes every student can grow when met with patience, consistency, and high expectations.

De’Monica believes in personal empowerment, self-determination, and resilience – skills that contributed to her personal, professional, and academic achievements. She is excited to partner with families through proven strategies within the Effective StudentTM Method, active listening, personalized coaching, and skill-building that honor each student’s goals.

Outside of coaching, De’Monica enjoys spending time with her energetic four year old daughter, supporting her development, and watching her thrive in ballet.