Executive Skills Support for Diverse Learners
Our Team
Drew Thompson
Owner and Director
Drew Thompson draws on years of experience supporting individuals with special needs—including himself! His expertise combines his work as an educator with his firsthand experience of living with learning challenges.
Math and Science Tutor & Executive Function Coach
Thomas Towers
Thomas' gentle patience comes from his own experiences and his innate capability to relate to so many different types of people. He has a remarkable ability to explain concepts in ways suited to the needs of the learner. As a tutor, Thomas helps students understand and appreciate the sciences while making it easier and more enjoyable to get through tough material.
Findlay Ironside
Executive Function Coach
Findlay’s drive to help others with executive function originates from her own struggles with, and triumphs over, executive dysfunction. Findlay has been actively working with peers and students for close to ten years. She applies these learned skills to her interactions with others, and uses her own experiences to connect with students on a personal level. As a result, Findlay is a patient, outgoing, and understanding tutor, sensitive to each students’ needs and goals.
Kristen Begg
Executive Function Coach
Kristen is resourceful, adaptable and has a passion for learning. She believes that when students are given the necessary support, every student has the chance to be successful. She strives to create a positive, supportive, and open learning environment for students while enabling their independence and autonomy.
Alwynne Ling
Executive Function Coach
Living with ADHD herself, but not diagnosed until adulthood, she has experienced how frustrating the process can be to find tools and techniques that make sense for your brain. Because of this, Alwynne has a passion for guiding students to understand their own brain and how to make it work for them. She takes a patient and non-judgemental approach to help students identify their goals and build the skills to achieve their ambitions. Her belief is that every student is capable of amazing things when given the proper support and encouragement.
Claire Debleu
Admin Assistant
Claire is a dedicated and kind addition to our team, originally from France. She worked for 10 years in London, UK, mostly as an Executive Assistant, before traveling and landing in Canada where she has now settled down. She has been working at Organized Minds since August 2020.
She says "I enjoy greatly being part of a company that helps students improve their work and feel better about themselves."
How our staff can help
We help students understand themselves better and encourage tools to help them self-direct. We help parents understand their child’s learning process. Greater understanding leads to effective self-management strategies and supports harmonious parent-child relationships.
The last thing that anyone wants is to be lectured. Instead, we work to combat procrastination on personal terms:
We never say “do your work.”
We do present choices.
We describe the likely consequences of decisions.
Understanding the relationship between actions and their effects reframes effort as a step toward a goal rather than as an inconvenience. Connecting the effort of work and daily life with personal goals builds intrinsic motivation. Motivation promotes action, which aids in overcoming procrastination. This reduces stress and preserves relationships:
Our students experience less stress when they avoid leaving work until the last minute.
Our students set to work sooner when they understand that their actions today build toward their larger goals.
Parents of our students rely less on coercion methods when students feel self-motivated.
Note: Speak with us by emailing info@organizedminds.org. We will set up a zoom intake meeting where Drew can discuss your challenges, concerns, and share more about what we can offer you or your child. We think you’ll find a conversation even more informative than just reading this write-up!