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 Jennifer.

Jennifer is a native of Iowa who moved to Georgia in 2018.  She comes to Effective Students with 25 years of experience in education. First in early childhood education as director of a pre-K educational center, which inspired her passion for students and children with learning differences.  She moved into special education serving students in preschool through elementary in both with inclusive and integrated elementary K through 6th grade for a total of 16 years. After moving to Georgia she began serving her community by volunteering at Chastain Horse Park in the Hippotherapy program and working with teens in High School ministry at Mount Paran Church. 

Jennifer is known for her consistency and persistence with students who struggle with motivation.  She has worked with two students featured in the Student Spotlight.

Her experience of raising three children with different learning profiles and working in education has made her passionate about supporting our youth to be independent, successful, and confident young people. 

Meet Beth.

Beth is a retired professional ballerina who has a passion for coaching, learning, and positive development. She is a native of Atlanta and attended Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. While in high school, she began her professional ballet track while balancing the pressures of a highly competitive academic environment. At the age of 17, Beth started her professional ballet career. During her 13-year career, she danced with companies in Florida, Missouri, and California.

Beth has been an Academic Coach with Effective Students since 2023. Additionally, she has over ten years of teaching experience and was the Principal Instructor at Central West Ballet Academy for seven years. Her students have earned coveted spots at prestigious programs such as Harvard, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and the School of Philadelphia Ballet. Over the years, she has worked with students ages 10 to 22 from diverse backgrounds. Her passion as an instructor is to utilize evidence-based training pedagogy while implementing a positive mindset and goal-oriented success.

Currently, Beth is completing her M.Ed. and Ed.S. in Professional School Counseling at the University ofGeorgia. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During her undergraduate college career, she maintained a 4.07 GPA while balancing her professional ballet and teaching careers. Beth has also earned her place on the President’s list every semester she has attended, won the Biology Student of the Semester award for 2022, and earned the GSU Achievement Scholarship for her academic achievements.

Meet Mallory. 

Mallory comes to Effective Students with experience teaching in both elementary and middle school. During her teaching career, she worked in a variety of school settings- public, private and charter schools. She has a passion for teaching life skills and social emotional learning tools to help students become better people in this world. 

Mallory is an Atlanta native and attended Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School on full academic scholarship. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina on full academic scholarship. She then earned a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

During her time earning her Masters, Mallory enrolled in Teach for America where she spent 3 years working in Title I schools in Las Vegas, Nevada. After her time in the classroom, she worked across various school settings in school administration. No matter what position, Mallory has a flair for working with students of all ages to gain tools that help us grow as healthy, high functioning human-beings.  

Meet Michelle.

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 Natalie.

A compassionate educator and executive function coach, Natalie R. Williams brings over 20 years of experience supporting students in building the skills and confidence they need to thrive academically and personally.

Natalie’s coaching style is rooted in empathy, structure, and empowerment. She partners with students to help them develop essential executive function skills such as time management, organization, goal setting, and emotional regulation. Her work is guided by the belief that every student deserves to feel capable, supported, and equipped to take ownership of their learning journey.

With a background in workforce development, leadership training, and classroom instruction, Natalie understands the challenges students face as they transition through middle school, high school, and into college. She integrates academic strategies with self-care principles, helping students build habits that support both academic success and personal well-being.

Natalie holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Strayer University. She is a Certified Executive & Life Coach (ICF-accredited), a Georgia-certified educator, and the author of The CORE Method: Guide to Purpose-Driven Results.

While she delivers coaching using the Effective StudentTM Method, her approach is best summarized by this quote from educator Rita Pierson:

“Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”

When she’s not coaching, Natalie enjoys mentoring youth, writing, and spending time with her family. She is passionate about helping students discover their strengths and build the tools to succeed both in school and in life.

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.