Led by Rachael Barron, the Effective Students team is a group of successful professionals, educators, counselors, and graduate students imparting skills to a younger generation of students with a focus on building academic grit. Each coach brings a unique set of study tools for students, leveraging their personal experience and The Effective Student™ Method. Students practice study skills online with their coach for specific assessments so they can measure the impact of their efforts right away and be encouraged to persevere.
Learn More About Our Trusted Academic Coaches in Charlotte
Rachael Barron
Founder, Principal Executive Function Coach & Author of The Effective Student™ Curriculum
Effective StudentsMeet Rachael. A graduate of Emory University, Rachael has spent her professional career coaching and solving complex educational problems. From applying problem solving and vision casting skills in the business environment through applying these principles to the education realm, she excels at helping individual students and families find educational success. Prior to founding Effective Students, Rachael solved complex educational problems in her role as an educational advocate mastering the maze of finding solutions for families within Georgia’s public and private schools, helping the most difficult learners find success.
Rachael now spends all of her time working with children, young adults, and families who are focused on achieving success in their school environment and acquiring a set of self-management skills that last a lifetime.
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Amy Kilgore
Client Success & Strategic Partnerships
Effective StudentsMeet 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.
Leighann Mattson
Executive Function Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Leighann. Leighann is originally from Indianapolis, IN and comes to Effective Students with 9 years of education experience. Education and athletics have been an important part of her life from an early age. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ball State University, where she was also a Division 1 swimmer.
Following her bachelor’s degree, Leighann earned her master’s degree in elementary education from Johns Hopkins University. Throughout her teaching career, she has moved to a few different places, due to her passion for travel and new experiences. She has lived and taught in New Orleans, LA, Bangkok, Thailand, and Memphis, TN. While working as an educator, she also founded a swim team at a school she was teaching at, where she took on the role as head coach. Leighann is happy to now be in Charlotte, NC and is excited to be on the Effective Students team. She is passionate about teaching the whole child and wants to set students up with valuable skills that can help them in school and beyond.
In her free time, Leighann enjoys working out, trying new restaurants, and traveling.
Nathalie Thandiwe
Executive Function Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Natalie:
Nathalie has over 20 years experience as a coach, executive trainer and adult education instructor. As a certified executive function coach, her specialty is coaching adults and students to help them develop time management, professional workload/project management and study skills. She’s experienced in working with clients with ADHD, Autism, and Twice Exceptional (2e) learners who have disabilities or developmental challenges along with areas of high abilities or giftedness. She enjoys helping students ‘learn how to learn’, in ways that are effective for them to succeed.
Executive Function challenges affect many aspects of life and relationships- Nathalie is dedicated to helping clients gain confidence and overcome these challenges, by experiencing related improvements and wins as they master life-long executive function skills. She has a Masters in Public Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. Her policy focus is the intersections of disability support needs, healthcare, education and transition services, and ways to integrate these silos in a person-centered approach to improve care, systems and policies across the lifespan. Her passions include traditional plant medicine and healing, art and reading. She enjoys medieval historical drama, literary fantasy fiction, dance, nature film and wildlife photography. She loves spending time with friends, exploring the world with her family and walking greenway trails with her dogs. She believes in mysteries, miracles, and kindness.
Nikki Miller
Executive Function Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Nikki:
Nikki Miller is an experienced educator, coach, and school leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting students across all grade levels, with a particular focus on those facing behavioral and emotional challenges. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at both a community college and a private university. There, she helps students strengthen their academic skills, confidence, and independence as they transition into adulthood.
Throughout her career, Nikki has served in a wide range of roles, including teacher, instructional coach, instructional facilitator, and school administrator. She has also played a key role in pioneering and implementing foundational educational programs in Wake County Public School System and continued supporting established programs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. With the help of her teams, she was instrumental in helping to improve student outcomes and build sustainable support systems for diverse learners.
Nikki prides herself in specializing in helping students develop executive function skills such as organization, time management, goal setting, and self-regulation. She believes that every student already possesses the tools for success and that it takes a strong, supportive community to help them build the confidence and strategies needed to perform at their highest level. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes proactive skill-building, empowering students to succeed not only in school but in life. In addition to coaching students, Nikki has extensive experience coaching adults. She has mentored and coached teachers to strengthen their instructional practice and has also served as a cross-country coach, mentoring university student-athletes and helping them balance the demands of academics and athletics while preparing for long-term success.
Earning her Bachelor of Arts in English from East Carolina University, a Master of Arts in English Education from Gardner-Webb University, and a Master of School Administration from North Carolina Central University, Nikki has proven her dedication to the work of educating and growing others. Her diverse background, leadership experience, and commitment to student growth make her a dedicated and highly effective executive function coach.
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