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 Executive Function Coaches in Portland
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.
Lazuli Cristol
Academic Coach
Effective StudentsMeet Lazuli.
Lazuli grew up in Virginia and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She has a background empowering middle school students from underserved communities and supporting college students navigating mental health challenges. After moving to Atlanta in 2023, Lazuli was inspired to help students of all ages build confidence, independence, and life skills through a patient and caring approach.
Lazuli is deeply connected to her communities, volunteering her time with Holocaust survivors and contributing to a local mental health clinic. Her long-term goal of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist shapes her holistic and empathetic coaching style and will be entering graduate school in Portland, OR in the fall of 2025.
In her free time, Lazuli loves exploring PDX, discovering new restaurants, and diving into mystery novels.
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.
Maureen Carlomagno
Executive Function 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.
Maureen works with parents and professional adults virtually around the country and in person in Charlotte.
“Maureen has been a very big help with my son’s college courses. My son has a tendency to start off doing well then loses his momentum and focus mid way through the semester. Maureen has a way of knowing how to connect with him. Her approach is calm, caring, straightforward, and effective in knowing how to strategically help plan for what tasks to help in achieving his goals. She has been a great asset for him and his adapted way of learning since his injury. ”
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