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
Portland Lead Executive Function 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, supporting college students navigating mental health challenges, and volunteering with Holocaust survivors.
Lazuli is pursuing her long-term goal of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist as a graduate student at Lewis & Clark, which shapes her holistic and empathetic coaching style.
Lazuli loves exploring PDX, discovering new restaurants, and diving into mystery novels.
“After excelling in elementary and middle school, high school was suddenly a different story for my daughter. She was overwhelmed, disorganized, and starting to doubt herself in a way that was hard to watch. It was clear that she needed help, but not a tutor. We needed someone who could help her get organized, build confidence, and figure out how to manage everything on her plate.
From the beginning, Lazuli really connected with her. There was a level of understanding and encouragement that made my daughter feel comfortable but also motivated. Instead of just focusing on assignments, she helped her learn how to plan her time, break big tasks into smaller, manageable pieces, and actually stick to a routine.
Over time, we started to see real changes—not just in her grades, but in how she approached school overall. She’s more confident now, more independent, and not nearly as anxious as she used to be. Seeing that shift has been huge. She’s getting back on track academically, but more importantly, she believes in herself again. I’m so grateful for the patience, support, and care Lazuli brought into this process.”
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