About Igniting Your Mind & Our Team
-
This work began with a simple but powerful observation. Many people are capable, intelligent, and motivated, yet still struggle to follow through, regulate emotions, or adapt when things feel challenging. Over time, it became clear that these struggles were not about effort or intention, but about skills that were never explicitly taught or consistently supported.
Executive functioning skills shape how we navigate learning, relationships, responsibilities, and change. When those skills are underdeveloped or overwhelmed, daily life can feel frustrating, exhausting, and discouraging. This work exists to address that gap with clarity, compassion, and practical support.
-
The foundation of Igniting Your Mind was shaped by a nontraditional path into education and a deep curiosity about how children truly learn, grow, and develop.
Nicole’s work began in early childhood and school-based settings, where she supported children through connection, play, and relationship-driven approaches. As her work expanded, she began supporting students who were struggling not only academically, but also with emotional regulation, confidence, behavior, and resilience.
Over time, a consistent pattern became impossible to ignore. Many students, especially as they got older, lacked the foundational executive function skills needed to manage increasing demands. Skills like planning, flexibility, emotional regulation, and perseverance were expected, but rarely taught in an intentional, structured way.
At the same time, broader pressures were shaping development. Attention was fragmented. Sleep and nutrition were inconsistent. Anxiety was rising. Families and schools were working hard, but often without a clear framework for building the internal skills that help children thrive.
One insight became clear. This work truly begins in the home.
Children build executive function through connection, clear expectations, predictable routines, and consistent boundaries. Parents play a central role in shaping regulation, motivation, and resilience through warm, authoritative parenting that balances empathy with structure.
This realization became the turning point. Nicole shifted her focus toward executive function coaching and parent education, helping families create home environments that foster regulation, independence, and long-term success.
-
The focus is on skill-building, connection, and supportive environments, not just performance or outcomes. Support helps individuals stay engaged, recover from setbacks, and follow through, especially when tasks feel boring, difficult, or overwhelming.
Families are guided to strengthen relationships and create home environments that foster responsibility, independence, and connection.
The goal is not perfection. It is progress, reflection, and growth over time.
-
What began as a personal mission has grown into a collaborative team of coaches who share a common philosophy. Growth happens best through connection, consistency, and practical support.
Our team works with individuals and families across a wide range of needs and life stages. Each coach brings their own background and strengths while working within a shared framework centered on executive functioning, emotional regulation, and real-life application.
Support is individualized and responsive. We meet people where they are and adapt as needs and circumstances change.
Learn more about our team below!
Nicole provides executive function coaching and guidance for individuals across a wide range of ages and developmental stages. Her work also supports parents and caregivers in becoming confident, effective partners in their children’s growth, with the goal of strengthening relationships and improving family life as a whole.
With more than 23 years of experience as a learning specialist, educator, and coach, and through her experience as a mother of three, Nicole brings both professional expertise and lived understanding to her work. She supports the development of foundational executive functioning skills such as self-awareness, internal language, emotional regulation, and follow-through, with a strong emphasis on applying these skills in real-world environments.
In addition to coaching, Nicole offers professional development, educational consulting, and advocacy services. She works closely with schools to train educators, speak at public events, and raise awareness about the essential role executive functioning plays in both academic and personal success.
Nicole also consults with families as they prepare for school meetings and collaborates with educational teams to help ensure that student needs are understood and supported. Her work is grounded in the belief that when individuals feel understood and equipped with the right skills, they are better able to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience.
Founder | Neuroscience-Based Executive Function Certified Educator and Specialist, ADHD-CCSP, CAIP
Nicole Rouleau
Nicole Furman, M.S.
Executive Function, Math and Reading Specialist
Nicole has nearly 30 years of experience as an educator, supporting learners from elementary school through college. She holds a B.S. from LaSalle University and an M.S. from Saint Joseph’s University, along with specialized training in executive functioning, ADHD, autism spectrum differences, brain development, trauma-informed teaching, and anxiety.
As a certified Elementary Educator, Special Educator, and Reading Specialist for grades K–12, Nicole brings deep expertise in math and reading support. Her work is grounded in a holistic, relationship-based approach that considers each individual’s physical, emotional, and cognitive needs.
Nicole believes meaningful learning happens when individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered. She focuses on building trust, strengthening foundational skills, and helping learners develop confidence in their ability to grow and adapt.
Outside of her work, Nicole enjoys hiking, birdwatching, and spending time with her husband, four children, and two dogs.
Karen Alexander
Amy Brayley, M.Ed
Executive Function Specialist
Amy is an experienced educator with more than 30 years of work in teaching, educational consulting, and curriculum development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and spent 15 years teaching grades K–6 in public school settings, where she developed a strong foundation in childhood learning and development.
In addition to her classroom experience, Amy has spent more than a decade as a homeschool educator, guiding her three children through individualized learning paths. This experience deepened her understanding of how executive functioning, learning styles, and developmental needs intersect in real-life learning environments.
For nearly two decades, Amy has worked as a consultant and tutor, supporting learners from infancy through high school. Her areas of focus include executive functioning, dyslexia, IEP-informed homeschooling, developmental awareness, and individualized learning approaches. Her work is centered on meeting learners where they are and building support that aligns with their strengths and needs.
Amy is also a passionate advocate for arts education. She directs the A.C.T. It Out Theater Group and leads youth in Shakespeare productions, using theater and performance as powerful tools for growth, expression, and confidence-building.
Karen brings together professional training and lived experience in her work as an executive function coach. She is certified in Occupational Therapy and Executive Function coaching, and as a parent of both a neurotypical and a neurodiverse child, she has a deep understanding of the challenges families often face when navigating learning differences.
Over the past decade, Karen has pursued extensive continuing education focused on executive functioning and neurodiversity. This work led her to transition her career toward coaching, with a focus on helping individuals build the skills needed to manage academic demands, daily responsibilities, and increasing independence.
Karen works closely with high school and college students to strengthen executive functioning skills related to planning, organization, time management, and follow-through. She also supports parents and families by helping improve communication, strengthen connections, and create home environments that feel calmer and more supportive.
Her approach is practical, compassionate, and grounded in real-world experience, with the goal of helping individuals and families feel more confident, capable, and supported over time.
Certified HS, College and Adult Executive Function Coach
Vicki Rotker, M.S.
Executive Function & Communication Coach, Educational Consultant, Professional Development Trainer
Vicki is an experienced educator and executive function coach who has supported hundreds of students in developing the skills needed for both academic and personal success. She is the creator and instructor of Log On to Success, a course designed to help students better understand their learning styles while strengthening executive functioning skills.
As a certified teacher and Restorative Justice coach, Vicki works with learners from middle school through college. Her work focuses on helping individuals identify their strengths, build motivation, and develop personalized strategies that support learning, organization, and follow-through. Her approach blends structure with creativity, offering both clarity and encouragement.
In addition to her coaching work, Vicki serves as an educational consultant, collaborating with therapists, counselors, educators, and parents to design individualized support plans. She also works closely with families to help parents develop effective coaching strategies at home.
Vicki holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Middle School Math from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Technology for Education from Johns Hopkins University. Over the course of her career, she has taught a wide range of subjects, including math, algebra, theater, and yearbook.
Outside of her work, Vicki enjoys yoga, spending time at the beach, long walks with friends, and being with her husband and three daughters.