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 Louisville
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.
Kimberly Landrum, Ph.D.
Academic Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Kim.
Kim Landrum has spent most of her professional life providing supports to students or teachers in one form or another. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher where she taught a variety of classes, including classes focusing on executive function skills. Her interests lead her to earn a doctorate where she studied effective teaching and learning strategies for students with learning differences. She was an assistant professor at Clemson University and Bellarmine University, a research scientist at University of Virginia, and an adjunct professor and consultant at the University of Louisville, where she provided professional development on academic and behavioral supports to teachers and school leaders. More recently, she worked at The de Paul School where she provided outreach to parents and educators on how to support students with learning differences, more specifically students with ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
Kim has a true passion for supporting students’ development of the skills they need to reach their academic and life goals, and is tireless in exploring the best ways to get there. She truly shares students’ joy and pride as they achieve their goals.
In her free time, Kim loves spending time with her family (including their yellow lab Molly) and going to a variety of sporting events, including LouCity soccer games.
Catherine Sherrard Ed.D.
Academic Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Catherine.
Dr. Sherrard comes to the Effective Students team in Louisville following 25 years of experience
in higher education including roles in admissions, student life, and most recently as the chief
academic officer at a large campus within a statewide community college system. Her career in
education includes a number of community initiatives focused on student success and credential
completion.
As a lifelong Kentuckian, Catherine earned her Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from
Kentucky Wesleyan College and Master of Science in justice administration from the University
of Louisville. She spent her early career working in local government at a criminal justice
planning agency. She earned her Doctor of Education in leadership education from Spalding
University.
As the mother of two boys, a young adult with Down syndrome and a soon-to-be college
freshman, Catherine has a passion for working with students of all ages and abilities. She and her
husband own two assisted living homes in the Greater Louisville area. In her free time, she
enjoys traveling with her family and close friends.
Maureen Carlomagno
Academic Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Maureen.
A creative and compassionate educator with 20 years of coaching expertise, Maureen Carlomagno provides educational experiences with an empathy-led approach to individual growth.
With a belief that everyone deserves to be supported and connected, Maureen enjoys collaborating with students to implement strategies that are rooted in best practices. She also integrates both academic and self-care principles in her work with students.
Maureen is a Master-level Certified Intrinsic Coach, Certified Health Education Specialist, and National Board Certified Health Coach. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Spanish from Salem College, a Masters in Public Health from Boston University, and a Certificate in Program Management from Boston University.
While she is delivering coaching with Effective Students techniques, her approach can be summarized by the following Stephen Spielberg quote,
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”
When she is not coaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new recipes or working in her garden, and volunteering in her community.
Questions about Louisville-based academic coaching for your student?