Executive Functioning

At Quad Prep, executive functioning (EF) skills are at the heart of our mission of transforming the lives of twice-exceptional students. Planning, organizing, time management, perseverance, and other critical EF skills are foundational for academic achievement, personal growth, and overall independence.

Our program is anchored in a detailed and comprehensive EF framework for all students in grades K-12. Our vertically-aligned program ensures students learn important concepts throughout the year in a developmentally appropriate way, as well as progressively build their EF skills over time. Led by Athena Stagias, Chief Executive Functioning Specialist, K-12, Quad Prep’s EF program integrates EF into all curricula.

Our students have a lot of potential, and I think oftentimes their executive functioning holds them back from being able to show that. I'm so excited to be a part of programming that helps them showcase their gifts.

Athena Stagias

Interim Upper School Co-Head, Clinical, and Chief Executive Functioning Specialist, K-12

Our Approach to Executive Functioning

To support our diverse learners, we have carefully crafted a comprehensive, school-wide EF program, grounded in cutting-edge, evidence-based methodologies from world-renowned EF experts Sarah Ward and Kristen Jacobsen. 

EF programming is uniquely integrated into every aspect of our personalized, gifted academic curriculum, ensuring that students not only excel academically but also develop the skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom. These skills are not taught in isolation—they are seamlessly embedded into daily academic experiences, allowing students to immediately apply what they learn to real-world challenges.

Working with Quad Prep this year has been deeply inspiring—their commitment to executive function isn’t just a program, it’s a philosophy embedded into every corner of the school day. From classrooms to downtime, advisory, and treatment sessions, EF strategies are thoughtfully integrated in ways that feel both natural and intentional. They’ve created individualized EF goals, built report cards to track meaningful progress, and taken a truly developmental approach—scaffolding skills across grades and tailoring them to each student’s needs.

Sarah Ward

MS, CCC/SLP, Co-Director of Cognitive Connections, LLP

Benefits of Executive Functioning for Twice-Exceptional Learners

Through integrated lessons, proactive strategies, hands-on practice, and individualized interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of our twice-exceptional learners, Quad Prep students from Kindergarten through 12th grade not only develop the skills they need to effectively share their passions and knowledge with others, but also excel academically and beyond. Hands-on, dynamic lessons help students with:

  • Time management skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Task initiation and planning
  • Confidence
  • Emotional regulation

Partnering with Families

Strong training and partnership with staff and parents alike is crucial in creating a cohesive support system. Faculty members across all grades and in both academic and clinical roles receive regular training to embed EF strategies into their work. This training ensures that tools are shaped to fit the needs of each class or session and that students experience consistent messaging across settings. Additionally, families gain actionable tips to reinforce EF skills at home through parent coffees, video newsletters, and on-demand resources. 

Unlocking Superpowers:

Developing Executive Functioning Skills from K to 12

Executive functioning support is an integral part of the Quad Prep model. By strengthening the cognitive processes that help plan, organize, and complete tasks, manage time, and regulate emotions, neurodivergent students can better achieve their goals.

What sets [Quad Prep] apart is their relentless pursuit of the latest research and most effective practices, always with students’ growth at the center. The team is so deeply knowledgeable and dedicated, it’s a joy to collaborate with them. We often say executive function support is beneficial to all and essential to some—Quad Prep exemplifies what it means to make it essential for all. They are truly a model school for how executive function can be embedded with purpose, precision, and heart.

Sarah Ward, MS, CCC/SLP

Co-Director of Cognitive Connections, LLP

A not-for-profit independent college preparatory school, Quad Prep’s rich and robust curriculum engages, challenges, and inspires students at all levels, K–12, through our Lower School and Upper School programs.

© 2025 The Quad Preparatory School