About Essig Education Group’s
Executive Function Coaching
Executive Functions are maturational brain processes and they completely develop sometime between 18-28 years old for all of us. For children, this developmental timeline does not match many of the advanced requirements of our school curricula. Boys are particularly vulnerable because their development lasts longer than girls, but girls can struggle too. For adults, who have struggled for years and find that aging doesn’t improve their executive function vulnerability, executive dysfunction can be absolutely defeating.
Despite your age, executive dysfunction can be improved with a growth mindset (the motivation and belief that you can change) and understanding what skills and strategies are needed to complete tasks thoroughly and independently. You don’t need to try to figure out how to do this on your own; coaching with Essig Education Group will offer you the steps, training, and practice needed to be successful.
If you are ready to begin the journey to better executive functions, we are ready to guide you.
What is Executive Function?
Executive Function is a broad term which covers the cognitive processes that help us govern our behaviors, actions, and outcomes. These processes are important for school and life success because they include:
Inhibition
The conscious or unconscious ability to restrain from a desire or impulse.
Initiation
The ability to start a task, even when the task is not preferred.
shift
The ability to consciously move or change your attention from one task to another.
Self Monitoring
The ability to evaluate your performance and alter your actions if necessary.
Working Memory
The ability to take information that was introduced into short term memory and begin to use, manipulate, and integrate it with our other memories.
planning & ORganizing
The ability to think about activities and time required to achieve a goal and then develop the initial strategies for success.
Materials Organization
The ability to understand, organize, and successfully use the materials necessary to complete a task.
Emotional Control
The ability to respond to demands and experiences flexibly and in a socially acceptable way to permit both spontaneous and delayed reactions that are grade and age appropriate.
In the Community
our team members
Kathy Essig, M.Ed.
Kathryn Essig, M.Ed., Founder and President of Essig Education Group, has spent nearly 30 years working in special education. Prior to starting her current practice, she worked in public and private schools as an educator and educational diagnostician; in private practice as an executive function coach; as a curriculum consultant to private schools in the Metro DC area; and as an owner and founder of a study center in McLean, VA. Kathy has spent her career observing students with variable executive function skills, training them to externalize necessary study strategies, and adapting school curricula to ensure their success.
Kathy has developed a model for student success which allows learners to understand their best organization and study strategies, then implement and individualize the skills to create learned independence. While creating the Learning Center at The Potomac School in Mclean VA, she developed a unique study skills curriculum (Essential Study Skills) which, combined with her empowering coaching, has helped numerous students meet their academic potential.
Over the last several years, Kathy has become increasingly interested in school transitions, college attrition, “failure to launch,” the students whom she refers to as rebounders, and adult executive dysfunction. Kathy’s practice focuses on the intersection of executive function, resilience, and learned independence for students and adults.
Meet Our Team
Director of east coast operations
Executive function specialisT, GAP Year Specialist, COLLEGE AND ADULT INTENSIVE SPECIALIST
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Sarah Robison has been a professional educator since graduating from Vanderbilt University many years ago. Following the completion of her M.Ed., Sarah enjoyed teaching both domestically in DC and internationally in Abu Dhabi, supporting students in Middle and High School with learning disabilities, AD/HD and executive functioning needs. After relocating back to the States in 2015, Sarah joined the team at College Living Experience, supporting young adults with Autism on their road to independence. After serving as the program director for almost three years, Sarah made the difficult decision to step back from full time work to complete her Ed.D., again at Vanderbilt, and spend more time with her three young children.
Sarah has completed the Gap Year Association Counselors Institute. She also brings years of expertise in post-secondary transition counseling; her expertise allows families to explore gap year options for students with ADHD and Executive Function challenges.
Executive
Function Specialist, parenting specialisT
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Wendy Boly, M.Ed. is a special educator who also trained and certified in Orton Gillingham, Wilson Reading Systems, Read Naturally, and Linda Mood Bell while teaching at the Lab School in Washington DC. Wendy has a deep understanding of Executive Function growth and vulnerability at all grade levels. With an educational doctrine based on helping students with key skills, Wendy helps build self-esteem and create self-reliance through personal agency. Wendy has taught students with a wide range of learning disabilities including ADHD and Executive dysfunction, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and Autism, both verbal and non-verbal. Wendy coaches students from Kindergarten - Grade 12.
Director of west coast operations
Executive function specialisT, Reading specialist, elementary and middle school specialist
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Kathy Martin, currently a Learning Strategist at a prestigious private school in the Southwest, has been a prominent special educator in the Washington DC area for the past 20 years. Having taught in multiple private schools, Kathy has helped innumerable students develop strong executive function skills, winning the Excellence in Education Award in 2007. Kathy’s background and training allows her the expertise to work with k-12 students and adults, but her passion lies in setting the foundation for elementary aged students.
In addition to her graduate degree in special education, Kathy has continued her training in the areas of reading and writing vulnerability/disability. She has numerous trainings and certifications in literacy intervention. These post graduate trainings allow Kathy to support the resistant reader or writer gain confidence in their work and ultimately master learned independence.
Kathy’s approach to coaching is to not only empower the student but to also involve the parent in appropriate support and communication. Kathy’s coaching schedule (living in the Pacific Time Zone) is ideal for families who need later weekday or weekend hours to master these skills.
Executive
Function Specialist, writing specialist
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Lauren Tripodi, M.Ed . is an educator with 10+ years of teaching experience in English and Study Skills.
She holds dual degrees from The George Washington University in English and Psychology. Lauren is a Syracuse University Project Advance Certified Instructor of Study Skills, has authored Study Skills curriculum, and trained teams of educators in its implementation.
She works with prospective college students to help them find and express their voice in their application essay and works with college students as an executive function coach. Her learner-centered philosophy and teaching methods keep the focus on the learner. Lauren is committed to empowering students with the skills to achieve independence and success in both academic and life endeavors.
LICENSED BEHAVIORIST
Executive
Function Specialist, AUTISM SPECIALIST
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Derrick Sherman is a licensed K–12 Special Education Teacher and Behavior Analyst with 16 years of experience supporting children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders, and multiple disabilities. Throughout his career, he has served students across various educational settings, including alternative education, DC Public Schools, and his current role with Alexandria City Public Schools. He teaches reading and math intervention while also leading courses focused on executive functioning, strategies for academic success, and social-emotional development.
As a Behavior Analyst with 16 years of experience in applied behavior analysis (ABA), Derrick specializes in using evidence-based behavioral interventions to improve learning, communication, self-regulation, and independence. His expertise includes conducting functional behavior assessments, developing behavior intervention plans, and collaborating with educators and families to create positive, supportive learning environments. As an autism specialist, he is committed to designing individualized supports that empower students to reach meaningful and lasting outcomes.
In addition to his work in schools, Derrick is an experienced Executive Function Coach, helping students develop the organizational, planning, time management, self-monitoring, and problem-solving skills necessary for long-term academic and personal success. He has extensive experience implementing the Unstuck and On Target curriculum and combines research-based strategies with practical, individualized coaching techniques that build on each student's unique strengths while addressing areas of need.
Derrick is passionate about helping students become more independent, confident, and successful both inside and outside the classroom. His collaborative approach, combined with extensive experience in special education, behavior analysis, and executive function coaching, enables him to provide comprehensive support that helps students overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
Transition SPECIALIST
Executive function specialisT
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Rebecca earned her EdD in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, researching faculty attitudes toward students with invisible disabilities. As a former Disability Access Advisor at a private university in DC, she saw firsthand the gap between the skills students bring to college and the independence it demands.
That insight now drives her work in transition coaching, helping graduating high school seniors prepare for college life. Many incoming freshmen don't realize the full range of supports available to them, or how to access them. Rebecca helps students assess their readiness for college's academic and social demands, teaching practical strategies for success, explaining campus supports and the accommodations process, and building confidence for what's ahead — especially for students with delayed executive function skills who may find independence and decision-making challenging.
Rebecca takes a student-centered approach, helping students build executive functioning and self-advocacy skills that last well beyond graduation. She's active in disability advocacy in her community, and outside of work, loves nature, reading, and a good slice of pizza.
Director of a-v production
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Matthew Essig is a seasoned producer in post production and radio with projects on local and national levels. He is currently an associate producer for a production studio in Washington DC and was previously producer of the Chris Russell Show on the Team 980 AM. He is the producer of the Essig Education Group’s Facebook Discussions and coordinates with digital marketing to get our message into the ears of those who need this information the most.