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Executive Function Expert Nerd
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Executive Function Expert Nerd

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Welcome

I’m Seth Perler, former teacher turned Executive Function Expert Nerd. I help complicated struggling students learn how awesome they are, and create breakthroughs to help change their trajectory… for good.

I also teach parents, educators, and coaches how to use my non-traditional methods to help kids boost Executive Function skills.

And I get it firsthand because I’ve been there (see my story), and have helped thousands of people learn what works, despite all the outdated educational fluff floating around.

I taught for 12 years, have a Master’s in Gifted Education, and since 2010, have worn a lot of hats in the Executive Function, ADHD, 2e, and Neurodiversity worlds:

  • SPEAKER: Educator. Consultant. Advocate. Education Rabble-Rouser.
  • EF COACH & COURSE CREATOR: Pioneer in EF coaching, serving Students, Parents, and Professionals.
  • SUMMIT: I run ExecutiveFunctionSummit.com, featuring the best experts around.
  • CONTENT CREATOR: YouTube, Instagram, Podcasts

My Missions

1. Help kids with Executive Function challenges.

My first mission is to to help as many complicated, neurodiverse, struggling students as I can during my lifetime, and to teach my unconventional methodologies to as many parents, teachers, and coaches as possible, so more kids may be helped.

2. Get the term “Executive Function” into the lexicon, in a meaningful way.

Second, I want to teach the world about Executive Function because it has such a massive impact on quality of life. It’s at the root of most student struggles & mental health problems. I can’t stand to see kids suffer needlessly, and we know we have research based tools to do a much better job supporting all students, so they can self-actualize and shine. So my mission is to do my part to get the word out to people all over the globe, so we can help even more kids.

My Vision

I imagine a world where we don’t need executive function coaches, because education is wildly successful at empowering all neurodivergent students with everything they need to live happy, healthy, and successful purpose driven lives.

About This Site

My site helps compassionate and proactive parents, educators, coaches, and therapists to:

  1. Give struggling students the Executive Function support needed to turn things around for good. 
  2. Navigate baffling school systems effectively.
  3. Help students get the most out of education.

At SethPerler.com you’ll learn how to support students with Executive Function challenges through:

  1. My free vlogs, podcasts, articles, with in-depth strategies and tips
  2. Coaching
  3. Courses
  4. Parent Community
  5. Summit

School was incredibly challenging for me, and it isn’t working for countless outside-the-box, neurodiverse learners of today. I hope you find solutions here, share my work with others who might benefit, and most important, apply what you learn to support kids.

The reason I create content is to help you help your children/students, because I believe in the power of education when it’s done well, and I want adults to have better tools, so our kids can have better lives.

I also want people to learn about challenging the status quo to improve education.

The content I create is part of how I give back to the world, and the people who helped me through my Executive Function challenges.

Service, kindness, and generosity make the world better, and my blogs are a way I try to serve: Each week I create content to hopefully help people. As I create my videos each week, I try to give solid background, and offer actionable insights you can realistically apply to help a child.

I appreciate my audience immensely, most of which are parents, educators, coaches, and therapists from around the globe. I’ve learned that we all share the same universal concerns for our kids.

I write every word and record every video myself.

My blog is a labor of love and is free.

If you like my work, please share it far and wide: https://sethperler.com/

Who is it for?

Thanks for being a voice to say that we all get there in different ways and with different perspectives. Keep it up!

– Amy H., Mom of 12 year old boy, Seattle

My audience is made up of over 100,000 concerned, compassionate, and proactive Parents, Educators, Coaches, Therapists, and other professionals or family members, who aren’t willing to sit back and watch systemic dysfunction shortchange kids.

It’s made up of everyday people who work hard to advocate in baffling educational systems, so kids can get what they need; an education which teaches them how to think & learn, and how to harnesses their unique gifts, so they can craft extraordinary lives.

Where are people from?

My audience is made up of people from over 130 countries around the globe. And we are all so similar, we just want real answers for how to help kids thrive.

Why did seth build this site as a free "resource"?

My ideas are for people who need practical, yet unconventional strategies, because neurodiverse students who think and learn outside-the-box need something different.

People who follow my work tend to share 6 core beliefs:

  1. EF is something to take seriously, because it’s literally a quality of life issue.
  2. Education is the KEY to a good life. The real purpose of education is to prepare kids to have what it takes to create a happy, healthy, and successful future for themselves, while having a fantastic childhood.
  3. Something’s not working. Despite countless dedicated teachers and involved parents, our outdated educational approaches are missing the mark. Too many kids are not prepared to succeed in this world.
  4. Kids who struggle with Executive Function are at a bigger disadvantage. In order to accomplish our goals & dreams, we need good executive function skills to get the important stuff done, even when we “don’t feel like it.”
  5. We must improve our educational methods so we can better serve all kids.
  6. Sadly, until that happens, we can’t depend on schools to meet the needs of all students. Therefore, we must do what we can to ensure that kids are properly supported, and understanding Executive Function is Critical.

PS — If you like my work, please subscribe, and share it far & wide, https://sethperler.com/

What exactly happens when I subscribe?

  1. When you subscribe on my site, your info is safe. Your email goes to a secure, professional email newsletter service I pay for, called ConvertKit, so I can send you updates safely.
  2. You get a “confirmation email”, to confirm you want my updates, which also protects me from bots and spammers.
  3. I don’t spam, sell, or share your information with anyone, ever.
  4. Unsubscribe any time. You can always resubscribe.
  5. Privacy policy.

What do I get when I subscribe?

When you subscribe, you get: 

  1. My weekly email updates. No spam, no games, no flashy stuff, just a succinct email with real solutions.
  2. Brand new strategies and resources I create to help your child.
  3. Events and announcements for parents and teachers.
  4. Sometimes I send time-sensitive announcements on other days.
  5. During my EF Summit in August, I send you free access to my summit, and relevant updates.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde

My site is a place of love, kindness, generosity, compassion, empathy, and acceptance.

Everything I create is for anyone interested in learning how to help kids.

The only thing I don’t tolerate is intolerance. There is no room here for hate, contempt, racism, prejudice, people who support oppressive systems, or any form of cruelty, ever.

This is a safe, accepting, inclusive, and welcoming space for people of every race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, ability, religion.

We do not judge, generalize or assume we know another’s experience.

This is an open-hearted place where people learn, share, grow together, with complete respect for one another’s personhood.

We take care of each other here, and every voice matters. We are allies.

Again, this is a place of love, kindness, generosity, compassion, empathy, and acceptance.

I’m grateful you want to reach out, and feel incredibly fortunate to do what I do! Unfortunately I receive an unsustainable volume of email, and can’t reply to everyone. Thank you for understanding.

Before contacting me, please see if this helps:

  1. First be sure to sign up for Free Updates, because I give 100% Free, in-depth solutions weekly.
  2. Browse through my free content here. Seriously, dive in, you’ll probably find what you’re looking for.
  3. See my YouTube.
  4. See my Instagram.
  5. See my Coaching, Community & Courses to work with me.

If you still want to contact me, go here

For interview requests, or media and press-related inquiries, go here.

If you’re a podcaster, author, producer, or similar, please note, due to the volume of requests, I’m unable to respond to everyone.

Browse my blog for all Blogs, Vlogs, and Podcasts.

YouTube My official channel is one of the best places to follow my work. You can subscribe, like, share, and comment to support me.

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Topics: Browse my main topics here, or search in the footer.

What happens when I click “subscribe” on YouTube?
When you go to my channel and click “subscribe”, your YouTube account lists me under your subscriptions so you can find me any time. I will show up on your YouTube searches more often. It also allows my work help more people, because it tells YouTube that my videos are valuable.


What if I click the YouTube bell?
Whenever I post a new video, it alerts you in your YouTube alerts. People like this because they can see my new videos before I announce them on my mnewsletter.

Liking and Commenting?
How does clicking “LIKE” or commenting on Seth’s YouTube videos help?
It tells YouTube that my work is relevant. Since I’m in a small niche, it’s harder for a YouTuber like me to grow, so this helps a ton.

About Seth

I’m Seth Perler, former teacher turned Executive Function Expert Nerd. I help complicated struggling students learn how awesome they are, and create breakthroughs to help change their trajectory… for good.

I teach parents and educators how to use my innovative, non-traditional approaches to help kids boost their Executive Function skills.

And I get it firsthand because I’ve been there (see my story), and have helped thousands of parents and teachers learn what works, despite all the outdated educational fluff floating around.

I taught for 12 years, have a Master’s of Gifted Education, and since 2010, have worn a lot of hats in the Executive Function, ADHD, 2e, and Neurodiversity worlds.

My Why

Because of my extensive experience helping complicated struggling students, and because I’ve overcome my own massive executive function learning challenges (my story), my life’s work is about empowering kids to navigate education successfully so they can craft a great future.

Specializations

  • Executive Function, Neurodiversity, ADHD, ASD, and 2e/Twice Exceptional learners.
  • M.Ed. in Gifted & Talented Education and Special Education.

Hats I Wear

I wear a lot of hats in the Executive Function, 2e, ADHD, Neurodiversity, Parenting, and Education worlds, helping Students, Parents, Teachers, and others:

  • Activist: Education Rabble-Rouser. I’m here to help create change in education, to positively impact as many kids as possible.
  • Executive Function Coach for struggling students and their parents.
  • YouTuber, Blogger, Podcaster: I create content on Executive Function, ADHD, 2e, Neurodiversity, for over 100,000 people around the globe.
  • Speaker, Educator: I create and lead workshops and presentations for conferences, teachers, school districts, parents groups, etc. I teach about how to support neurodiverse kids with EF challenges.
  • Consultant: For how parents, schools, organizations, or businesses.
  • Advocate: For students & families.
  • EF Coach & Course Creator: Pioneer in the EF coaching world, serving Students, Parents, Professionals.
  • Summit: I run ExecutiveFunctionSummit.com, featuring the best experts around!

Professional Experience

  • I began Executive Function Coaching in 2010, a pioneer in the industry. I invented and created  models which many coaches use today.
  • Since 1995, I’ve had extensive experience working with extraordinarily neurodiverse learners, and specialize in helping complex, struggling students.
  • I was a teacher for 12 years, all core subjects, several grade levels.
  • I have an M.Ed. in Gifted Education/Special Education
  • I’ve helped teens with substance issues for many years.
  • I taught on the Navajo reservation for 3 years.
  • I’ve taught GT, SPED, and neurotypical kids.
  • From my experience working with all sorts of struggling students, it became clear that they had one thing in common, “Executive Functioning” challenges. That realization is what inspired my mission.
  • You can see my complete Professional Background here.

Here’s the true story of my own EF struggles.

Here’s a more personal look at who I am Behind The Scenes.

Things that matter to me

The Most Important Thing
My #1 priority in life is spending quality time with friends and family. Relationships are the most important thing of all.

Service
Next, I prioritize giving back through my life’s work; serving kids and families.

Sustainability
Doing my part to protect the environment and live sustainably is critical. I’m absolutely horrified at the environmental messes we’re leaving for our children, and the abhorrent apathy of so many adults. We must do better. You and I are the solution. https://earth911.com/ 

Charity
I give to charity:water and Acumen, and support other causes I believe in.

Home
I have lived in Hawaii, and have lived in OH (born and raised) > IN > Tohatchi, NM > Flagstaff, AZ > Boulder, CO for most of my adult life > Santa Monica, CA.

Guitars
I like guitars. A lot. Acoustic or electric, I don’t care. I play every day. You can sometimes find me playing the blues in local clubs and coffee shops.

I’m a Dog Person
Actually, I like all animals and life forms, but dogs are some of my favorites! I don’t have one right now, but I am on the lookout. I had my dog Kiva for 18 years, she was a gift.

Science
I’m a big science and nature nerd, and have had aquariums, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc.

Brain Science
I’m interested in the brain, learning, the nervous system and how people can live well.

Fitness
Staying active is essential for my physical and mental health. I prefer outdoor stuff: snorkeling, hiking, swimming, kayaking, mountain biking, running, yoga, rock climbing, skiing. Just get me in nature, and I’m happy.

Meditation
I sit in stillness or meditation daily because it works. It’s been one of the most valuable things in my life. I’ve done a lot of classes and retreats over the years, but a 10-day silent Vipassana was the most transformative.

Minimalism
I like to keep my life simple and decluttered, and value experiences over stuff. Life feels easier and richer because of it.

Coaching
Coaching is my passion, because I get to see people change their lives! I coach students, families, teachers, and entrepreneurs. My underlying goal is to help outside-the-box students self-actualize, and craft remarkable lives.

“The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who don’t know how to be submissive, and so on — because they’re dysfunctional to the institutions.” -Noam Chomsky

Podcast
I’m putting together a podcast to take the conversation about education to a new level, to shake things up and disrupt education for good. I’m so sick of seeing kids struggle in a dysfunctional system that I can’t stand it anymore, so this podcast is raw and uncensored.

Education Disrupt Movement
Families hire me when they are in crisis – they are concerned about their child. Unfortunately, I see these struggles fueled by a system that is failing many kids. The irony is that these kids look like the failures when, in fact, it is the system that fails to recognize their strengths and needs.

Make no mistake, the problems we’re facing with schools are rampant and often go under the radar. You wouldn’t believe some of the policies and attitudes of some of the schools I run into. Sometimes they can’t see the forest for the trees, and it ends up hurting kids.

Education Disrupt is a movement I am starting. You’ll see more from me as I develop it. There are many people that call themselves “reformers” but who are part of the problem. They are driven by profits and big business. They mislead the public and tell you what you want to hear.

However, there are countless good people who fight for kids. I’m a fan of people like John Taylor Gatto, Diane Ravitch, and Alfie Kohn. They openly address issues regarding systemic dysfunction, testing, grades, etc..

About Executive Function

Executive Function refers to the many skills our brains use to get stuff done (everything from homework, chores and studying, to getting ready for school or tackling responsibilities, to playing video games, making art, even telling jokes).

In other words, it’s about how we “execute” complex tasks through to completion.
It’s also how we prioritize the important, but non-preferred things, over the fun things, when it matters for our future goals, well-being, and quality of life.

If a child struggles with starting or finishing tasks, focusing, organizing, managing time, schoolwork, resisting distractions, prioritizing, remembering things, overwhelm, emotions, realistic self-awareness, making good decisions, they’re still developing their Executive Functioning skills, and the right support is critical.

Supporting kids effectively requires compassion, empathy, kindness, and strategies that understand brain development. This can be challenging because there is so much misunderstanding around EF, and because ineffective, top-down approaches are the norm.

Too many kids suffer because of this, and that’s why I work so hard to give people strategies that work.

Let’s do this right.

If you’re asking that question, then probably. And here’s a quick list of some things to look out for:

  1. Poor Grades: Grades getting worse over time and/or do not reflect ability or “potential.”
  2. Homework Problems: Missing work, late work, incomplete assignments, zeros, forgets to turn in work, loses homework, forgets what the homework is, no name, takes forever to complete work, often poor quality and rushed.
  3. Poor Planning: Don’t use a planner effectively to track schoolwork or other responsibilities. Hates planners, loses them, forgets them, thinks planners don’t work for them.
  4. Unprepared: Often unprepared and late for class, appiontments, events. Takes a long time to get going.
  5. Unmotivated: Trouble self-starting, procrastinates, don’t know where or how to start.
  6. Poor Time Management: Unrealistic perception of how much time and energy is needed for homework, studying, chores, responsibilities, getting out of the house in the morning, etc.. Waits until the last minute with deadlines or miss them altogether.
  7. Trouble Focusing: Can’t pay attention, or concentrate on one thing to completion. Gets off task, easily distracted or derailed.
  8. Takes A Long Time: Because of habits that waste time, lack of focus, or processing speed, things can take a very long time.
  9. Resists help. Resists your help and most help.
  10. Not Reflecting Honestly: Unrealistic perception of how they are doing in school. Don’t understand their challenges well enough to know what to do about them, or how to build upon strengths.
  11. Gets Behind: Often behind in school. The vicious cycle gets worse each semester.
  12. Excuses: Excellent excuses, often blame other things, know how to “wear you down.”
  13. Advocacy: Doesn’t self-advocate. Doesn’t ask teachers for help early enough, or at all.
  14. Overwhelm: Overwhelmed by the demands of school, leading to denial or anxiety about school, and avoid dealing with it effectively.
  15. Good Intentions: Often wants to do well, and has great intentions, but don’t have the EF skills needed.
  16. Bright: Often remarkably bright and capable, have tremendous talents, gifts, passions and skills in high-interest areas (which often are not valued in traditional schools).
  17. May be diagnosed with a learning difference, like ADHD, ASD, Dyslexia, processing issues, etc. Many have no diagnosis whatsoever.
  18. Gifted: May be gifted and talented, but still failing or struggling with execution.

Yes, and my site is all about HOPE.

There is so much hope! We can definitely help kids develop the executive functions they need to succeed in school and life.

With the right tools, the brain can and does change.

Hope for Parents: The heart-centered parents who subscribe here are sick of spinning their wheels and feeling helpless. Many have watched their kids struggle year after year, as patterns got worse, and they just want to learn what works.

Hope for Educators: The heart-centered teachers and professionals who subscribe here are the ones who challenge the status quo. They refuse to sit back and pretend everything is fine. They’re looking for something different, because they’ve seen too many ineffective interventions. They’re sick of cookie-cutter approaches, and want better tools to decode complicated students.

All of us want to figure out what’s going on so we can get on with giving kids the support they need.

So yes, there’s plenty of hope! I’ve seen countless students turn the corner, and go on to build a great future for themselves!

Grab the free student success toolkit >

About My Offerings

I’m an Executive Function Coach helping struggling students and their families.

See coaching options

I have courses for students, parents, teachers, other coaches, and more.

My courses teach how to help students build EF skills using my unconventional, yet practical methods.

See Courses

The Executive Function Online Summit, or TEFOS, is the original EF Summit I started in 2018.

Parents & Professionals, ignite your learning with actionable strategies straight from leading experts.

Register FREE for my upcoming summit, or learn phenomenal strategies from my past events with the VIP Pass.

TEFOS is a game-changer – The Executive Function Online Summit.

I often hear something like this, “I’ve got a bright student, but things are falling apart and I’m at a loss. If we don’t figure this out, I’m afraid it’ll negatively impact their future. How do I help this complicated child? How do I deal with their resistance? How do I deal with educators who don’t get my kid? And why the heck haven’t I heard of Executive Function before!?”

I wish I could tell you there was a quick fix, but the solutions take take time and effort, and have to do with something called “Executive Function.”

Helping students turn it around requires compassionately and persistently approaching the problem from multiple angles, with an informed, “whole-child” approach.

But don’t worry, my entire Summit and blog is about how to help, and much of my work is free so everyone can have access to solutions.

I’ve been an Executive Function specialist and blogging about it, since 2010, and I’ve been working with complicated kids since 1995. And you’re not alone; over 100,000 people in every state in the US, and in over 130 counties worldwide join my summit and get my blog, because they want better answers too. 

THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE!

Speaking : To hire me to give a keynote, presentation, or workshop for conferences, summits, parent groups, or teacher trainings, go here

Press-related : To interview me for podcasts, articles, books, media, go here

Please note, due to the volume of requests, I’m unable to respond to everyone.

My Story