Award-Winning Executive Functioning Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

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Sydny
Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Sydny
BA Duke University • Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine Medical University of South Carolina
4+ Years Tutoring

Planning, prioritizing, and managing time across multiple commitments is something Sydny had to master while juggling three undergraduate majors and medical school preparation. She breaks executive functioning into specific, practicable skills — task initiation, deadline mapping, and self-monitoring — so students build routines that work independently of a tutor's reminders.

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Heather
Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Heather
BA Cornell University
6+ Years Tutoring

Planning a multi-step assignment, managing time across subjects, breaking a big project into smaller pieces — these are skills that don't come naturally to every student. Heather's clinical psychology training gives her a framework for teaching organizational strategies that actually stick, and she tailors each system to how a student's brain already works rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all planner approach.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Mati
BA New York University
9+ Years Tutoring

Planning, time management, task initiation, emotional regulation — executive functioning deficits show up differently in every student, and Mati's doctoral training in learning disabilities means she can pinpoint which skills are lagging and why. She builds individualized systems like visual schedules, chunked assignments, and self-monitoring checklists that students actually use because they're designed around how each person's brain works, not a generic planner template.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Sydney
BA Mercer University
5+ Years Tutoring

Five years working specifically with students with learning differences taught Sydney where the real sticking points are — the student who knows what the assignment says but can't figure out where to start, or the one who chronically underestimates how long a reading response will take. She ties executive functioning strategies like task breakdown and self-monitoring directly to the English and Spanish coursework she also tutors, so students practice these skills on actual assignments rather than in isolation. Rated 4.9 by clients.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Jennifer
MS Boston College • BA Dartmouth College
5+ Years Tutoring

Jennifer's M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction trained her to design structured learning sequences — a skill she now applies to teaching students how to plan multi-step projects, estimate time for assignments, and organize materials across classes. Her experience spanning elementary through college-level work means she calibrates these systems to each student's actual academic demands, building routines around real homework and deadlines rather than abstract exercises. Rated 5.0 by clients.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Andrew
MBA Massachusetts Institute of Technology • BA Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1+ Years Tutoring

Planning a multi-step project or breaking a semester's worth of material into a weekly study schedule requires the same structured thinking Andrew used throughout his engineering and MBA programs. He teaches students concrete systems for prioritizing tasks, managing time, and organizing materials so that deadlines stop feeling like emergencies. Rated 4.8 by students and families.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Elise
BA Appalachian State University • Certificate, Special Education Carthage College
9+ Years Tutoring

Planning, prioritizing, managing time, shifting between tasks — these are the invisible skills that school demands but rarely teaches outright. Elise breaks executive functioning into concrete, practicable habits: using checklists to start assignments, setting timers to maintain focus, and building routines for organizing materials. Her special education training means she understands the neurological side of these challenges, not just the behavioral one.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Charles
MS Columbia University Teacher's College • BA University of Pennsylvania
1+ Years Tutoring

Planning a multi-step assignment, managing time across subjects, keeping materials organized — these are skills most schools expect but rarely teach explicitly. Charles's counseling psychology training gives him concrete strategies for building these executive functioning habits, from using visual task breakdowns to teaching students how to self-monitor their own focus and prioritize effectively.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Kenneth
BA University of Pennsylvania
13+ Years Tutoring

Kenneth's cognitive neuroscience degree means he understands the brain science behind why some students struggle to initiate tasks, regulate attention, or hold a plan in working memory — and that understanding shapes how he teaches these skills rather than just assigning them. He connects executive functioning strategies like sequencing and self-monitoring directly to the academic work students bring in, whether that's structuring a college essay or mapping out a study plan for chemistry.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Jamie
MS CUNY Hunter College • BA Harvard University
5+ Years Tutoring

Jamie's Master's in Special Education gave her direct training in breaking executive functioning into teachable skills — things like planning multi-step assignments, managing time with visual schedules, and self-monitoring progress without constant prompting. She builds these strategies into real schoolwork so students practice organization and task initiation where it actually matters, not in isolation.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Anne
MED University of Pennsylvania • MED Swarthmore College
1+ Years Tutoring

I hold a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in developmental psychology (with a focus on cognition) and a B.A. from Swarthmore College in theatre and English. I enjoy working with students who are looking to improve their executive function skills as a part of their overall goals for tutoring because I believe in a whole-self approach to time management and skill building. I also thoroughly enjoy tutoring in English literature, high school and college writing, organizational skills, and standardized testing. I've spent 15 years teaching high school English, public speaking, and written expression at elite independent schools, while moonlighting as a public speaking coach. My professional experience includes providing speechwriting and coaching for a now-US Senator during his first congressional campaign. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked as a director for multiple professional theaters, and my passions for English and Theatre converge in a deep love of Shakespeare. I love to talk about literature and dissect its craft in writing, and I believe everyone can write strong essays with the right coaching and framework.

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Certified Executive Functioning Tutor
Candice
MS The New School University • BA University of Chicago
4+ Years Tutoring

Candice's Fulbright teaching experience in Taiwan and her years as a classroom aide and afterschool mentor gave her constant practice recognizing when a student's real obstacle isn't the content but the inability to start, sequence, or sustain a task independently. She weaves executive functioning strategies — like breaking a writing assignment into discrete stages or building a nightly homework launch routine — directly into the English and literacy work she already does with students. That integrated approach means kids practice planning and self-monitoring on real schoolwork, not hypothetical scenarios.

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Testimonials

Because the right Executive Functioning tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings

Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

JA
Julio Aranovich
Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

AH
Angela Hussein
Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

TR
Tara R
Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with an Executive Functioning Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

RW
Rebecca Williams

Nearby Executive Functioning Tutors

Frequently Asked Questions

Executive functioning refers to the mental processes that help us plan, organize, manage time, and complete tasks—skills essential for academic success and daily life. Students with strong executive functioning can break down assignments into steps, manage deadlines, stay organized, and handle distractions. For students in Des Moines, developing these skills early makes a significant difference in grades, test performance, and long-term learning habits.

Many students struggle with time management, difficulty starting tasks despite understanding them, disorganization of materials and thoughts, trouble breaking large projects into manageable steps, and challenges with working memory during complex assignments. These issues often go unaddressed in traditional classroom settings where teachers manage 20+ students with varying needs. Personalized instruction helps identify which specific areas need support and builds targeted strategies.

In a classroom of 20+ students, teachers typically teach general strategies that work for many but not all learners. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to assess your student's specific challenges, learning style, and current skill level, then build customized systems for organization, planning, and task completion. This targeted approach means students practice strategies on their actual schoolwork rather than generic exercises, creating faster, more meaningful improvement.

During an initial session, a tutor will typically assess your student's current strengths and challenges through conversation, observation of how they approach tasks, and discussion of specific struggles (like homework completion, test preparation, or project management). They'll also learn about your student's classes, daily schedule, and goals. This foundation allows the tutor to develop a personalized plan that addresses real obstacles your student faces.

Executive functioning skills develop gradually from elementary school through young adulthood, with major growth spurts in middle school and high school. Even elementary students benefit from learning basic organizational and planning skills. However, middle and high school students often need more targeted support as coursework becomes complex and independence is expected. Regardless of grade level, it's never too early or too late to strengthen these critical skills.

With consistent personalized instruction, students typically show improvements in assignment completion rates, homework accuracy, organization of materials and notes, ability to plan multi-step projects, test preparation effectiveness, and overall grades. Many students also report reduced anxiety about schoolwork and increased confidence in their ability to manage tasks independently. Results depend on starting point and consistency, but most students see noticeable progress within 4-6 weeks of regular tutoring.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who understand Iowa's educational standards and the specific demands of Des Moines school curricula across the three local districts. Rather than teaching in isolation, tutors apply executive functioning strategies directly to your student's actual classes, assignments, and projects. This means strategies are practiced on real homework and test preparation, making the skills immediately relevant and transferable.

Getting started is straightforward—connect with Varsity Tutors and share details about your student's age, grade, specific challenges, and goals. You'll be matched with a tutor experienced in executive functioning who can work with your student's schedule and needs. Most families schedule an initial session to assess where support is needed, then develop a plan together for ongoing personalized instruction.

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