Russell Coaching for Students

🌟 Coach Spotlight: Meet Heidi Condrey! 🌟

We're excited to introduce Coach Heidi, one of the compassionate and experienced coaches helping students build confidence, strengthen executive functioning skills, and reach their goals at Russell Coaching for Students.

With a bachelor's degree in Education from Christopher Newport University, a master's degree in Education from Walden University, and more than 21 years of experience serving students and families, Heidi brings expertise, encouragement, and genuine care to every coaching relationship. As a Conscious Discipline® Certified Instructor with specialized training in brain development, trauma-sensitive practices, and neurodiversity, she's passionate about helping students discover what they're truly capable of.

Heidi believes that strong relationships are the foundation for growth, and she loves partnering with students and families to celebrate progress every step of the way. As she says:

✨ "Together, we become a powerful team capable of achieving your goals."

A few fun facts about Heidi:
🏝️ Loves vacationing in tropical destinations
🦪 Favorite food: seafood—especially scallops
⚾ Baltimore Orioles fan (Go O's!)
💙 Proud mom of two teenage boys

Join us in celebrating Coach Heidi and the positive impact she makes in the lives of students and families every day! 💚

A child can struggle deeply and still have incredible potential. 💛

Executive functioning challenges, a diagnosis, or a difficult season at school don’t define what a student is capable of becoming. Sometimes they simply haven’t found the right pathway—or the right support—yet.

Instead of asking, “Why can’t they just do it?” let’s ask, “What support will help them show us what they’re capable of?”

✨ Have faith in their potential. It’s still there.

Does your student know what they need to do… but still struggle to actually get started?

Sometimes the goal isn’t more motivation—it’s giving students the tools they need to start, plan, and follow through more independently.

Read more executive functioning tips in this week’s Russell Coaching newsletter!
https://mailchi.mp/586525048d9c/less-reminding-more-independence

The Hope Scholarship can do more than help with school expenses—it may also help your student access the coaching and support they need to thrive. 🎓💙

Eligible Florida families may be able to use Step Up For Students Hope Scholarship funds toward services through Russell Coaching for Students, including executive functioning coaching, test prep, and more.

✨ Build stronger executive functioning skills
📚 Get individualized academic support
🎯 Develop strategies for greater independence and success
💙 Invest scholarship funds in support that makes a difference

Not sure whether your scholarship can be used for coaching? We can help you figure it out!

📩 Reach out to Russell Coaching for Students to learn more.

🌟 Coach Spotlight: Meet Amy Hirst! 🌟

We're excited to introduce Coach Amy, one of the dedicated and experienced coaches helping students build confidence, strengthen executive functioning skills, and achieve their goals at Russell Coaching for Students.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tampa, a Master of Arts in Counseling/Education from the University of South Florida, a master's certification in Art Education from Indiana University, and more than 23 years of experience in education, Amy brings a unique blend of teaching, counseling, and coaching expertise to every student she supports. As a National Board-Certified teacher with specialized training in the Russell Connected Coaching™ model and supporting students with ADHD, autism, and anxiety, Amy is passionate about helping students develop skills that last a lifetime.

Amy believes that meaningful learning happens when students are actively engaged and supported every step of the way. As she reminds her students:

✨ "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand."
— Chinese Proverb

A few fun facts about Amy:
🎨 National Board-Certified art teacher
🇸🇪 Favorite vacation destination: Falsterbo, Sweden
🍰 Favorite foods: cake, cheese, and pasta
🏀 College sports fan of the Indiana Hoosiers and Wisconsin Badgers

Join us in celebrating Coach Amy and the positive impact she makes in the lives of students and families every day! 💚

The Raising Emotionally Healthy Neurodivergent Families Summit starts next week!

From September 1–4, parents and caregivers can hear from 20+ experts sharing practical strategies for supporting emotional regulation, understanding neurodivergent needs, strengthening family connections, and helping children thrive.

We’re especially excited for Dr. Norrine Russell’s session, “Accommodations for School and Life Success,” where she’ll share her expertise in helping neurodivergent students access the support they need at school and beyond.

The summit is free, completely online, and starts September 1. There’s still time to save your spot!

Register for free:
https://summit.emotionallyhealthyfamilies.com/drnorrinerussell

The Raising Emotionally Healthy Neurodivergent Families Summit starts next week!

From **September 1–4**, parents and caregivers can hear from 20+ experts sharing practical strategies for supporting emotional regulation, understanding neurodivergent needs, strengthening family connections, and helping children thrive.

We’re especially excited for **Dr. Norrine Russell’s session, “Accommodations for School and Life Success,”** where she’ll share her expertise in helping neurodivergent students access the support they need at school and beyond.

The summit is **free, completely online, and starts September 1**. There’s still time to save your spot!

Register for free:
https://summit.emotionallyhealthyfamilies.com/drnorrinerussell

Checkout tonight's newsletter!

https://mailchi.mp/9dd4eee38a0c/the-skills-students-need-beyond-the-classroom

Executive functioning is essentially the CEO of our lives. 🧠

A CEO doesn’t do every single task—they manage the big picture: planning, prioritizing, making decisions, adjusting when things go wrong, and keeping everything moving forward.

For students, executive functioning works much the same way.

It helps them:
✓ Get started without constant reminders
✓ Remember assignments and deadlines
✓ Break big projects into manageable steps
✓ Manage distractions
✓ Estimate how long something will take
✓ Adjust when things don’t go according to plan

And here’s the important part: these aren’t measures of intelligence.

A student can completely understand the material and still struggle to manage everything required to do something with that knowledge.

Knowing isn’t the same as doing.

When a bright, capable student repeatedly struggles with the process—not necessarily the content—executive functioning may be part of the picture.

And those are skills that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened. 💙

The planner isn’t always the problem. And another app may not be the solution.

When a student has ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning differences—or a combination of challenges—there usually isn’t one organizational trick that fixes everything.

Why? Because the strategy has to fit the child.

With Connected Coaching™, we start by understanding the student—their strengths, goals, motivations, and barriers—and build strategies with them.

The goal isn’t just getting through this week’s homework. It’s helping students develop the skills to manage their own lives.

That takes relationship. Trust. And time.

If your child needs more than another “tip,” Russell Coaching may be able to help. 💙

Russell Coaching for Students Coaching students of all ages in executive functioning, academic success, and life skills that take them from overwhelmed to independent. Successful since 2009.