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  • Meet the Effective Students Team

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 Professional Academic Coaches

Rachael Barron

Rachael Barron

Founder, Principal Executive Function Coach & Author of The Effective Student™ Curriculum

Meet 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.

Danielle LeFevers

Danielle LeFevers

Co-Author of The Effective Student™ Curriculum & Academic Coach

Meet Danielle. Danielle is a fourth-grade teacher at an Atlanta private school. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Furman University. Danielle obtained her master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Teaching and Learning, with a focus on Curriculum Development and Design. Danielle has implemented The Effective Student™ Method curriculum in her classroom, supports other teachers doing the same, and serves as an academic coach working with students individually.

Talandra Echols

Talandra Echols

Academic Coach

Meet Talandra.

Talandra comes to Effective Students with a history of impacting her community working with youth.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University in Marketing.  With experience in the business world in retail and non-profit 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 enjoys cheering for her daughter (Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Player / Class of 2020) and traveling internationally to watch her daughter play.  She also enjoys dining out, relaxing, traveling and laughing with her close friends and family.

Kelly Cook

Kelly Cook

Academic Coach

Meet Kelly.  Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Georgia in Child and Family Development. She went on to pursue her master’s degree in School Counseling at Mercer University.  Kelly has several years of experience in the education field with kids elementary through high school. For four years, she worked at a private school that specializes in Orton Gillingham instruction in the elementary and middle school levels.  After having children of her own, she moved to  Fulton County high school and middle school as a tutor for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program where she helped facilitate small group study skills, organization, and helping students becoming self sufficient. Kelly is passionate about helping students becoming independent, successful learners and achieving their full potential. 

Jennifer Hirsch

Jennifer Hirsch

Academic Coach

Meet Jennifer. Jennifer is a native of Iowa who moved to Georgia in 2018.  She comes to Effective Students with 22 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 Hippo therapy program and working with teens in High School ministry at Mount Paran Church. 

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. 

Avis Eichelberger

Avis Eichelberger

Academic Coach

Meet Avis. Avis comes to Effective Students with 35 years of experience in education.  She is adept at teaching students how to prioritize while completing multiple assignments within strict time constraints and specifications.  She has specific training and expertise in academic team leadership, program development, quality improvement, and project management. Avis has a demonstrated record of maximizing student achievement as a skilled troubleshooter.  She is known to her students as a motivational mentor, who identifies and utilizes a student’s personal strengths to foster highly productive, academic progress. 

Julianne Bellevue Smollar

Julianne Bellevue Smollar

Academic Coach

Meet Julianne.  Julianne is a Learning Specialist with 12 years of experience in education. During her career she has worked in a variety of school settings with students ranging from Kindergarten to High School.   She has a passion for identifying the missing pieces in students’ learning and implementing efficient, evidence-based interventions, while not forgetting to have fun along the way. 

Julianne has experience in both public and private school settings as a Learning Specialist, currently at The Lovett School in Atlanta, GA. She works with a variety of students, both with and without identified learning disabilities both on improving skills and supporting and coaching executive functioning.

Julianne received her Bachelor of Arts with a focus in Elementary Education from Wheelock College (now part of Boston University) in Boston and a Master of Arts in Special Education from Claremont Graduate University. She has training in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and Multisensory Math.

Anabella Zambrano

Anabella Zambrano

Academic Coach

Meet Anabella. Anabella is a Gwinnett County native where she graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School. She is currently a sophomore at Kennesaw State University where she is studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She is bilingual and fluent in Spanish and has worked with Native Spanish speaking students in tutoring of Math and English. She has 6 years of experience volunteering with young children at her home church, 12Stone, and in her community and now volunteers with special needs children at Mount Paran Church. In her free time, she likes to play with her cat, Benny, try new coffee shops, practice her creativity through bullet journalling, and crochet different projects for friends and family. She is passionate about children and making a difference in their lives while also learning more about herself from each experience such as organization, time management, and responsibility.

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