Andrea Zians | Strategic Academics
ADHD and Executive Function Coach for High School, College, and University | Strategic Academics
You're smart.
So why is school still this hard?
Most students were never taught how to learn, organize their work, set priorities, and follow through. That is not a reflection of their ability.
It is a missing system.
After 30 years and 20,000 students, I know exactly what's getting in the way and exactly how to change it.
I've helped
20K+
students
Author
How to Study with ADHD
Over 30
Years Experience
M.A.
Special Education,
University of Toronto
Can/USA
SOUND FAMILIAR?
When smart isn't the problem.
Potential is there, the results just aren't showing it
Homework and assignments are a daily struggle
Always last minute and never feeling ready
Knows what to do and still can't get started
Stuck in the mindset that they can't and it won't matter
Reading and writing take three times longer than they should
Navigating a Transition ?
Families benefit from working with me when something has changed or something has just been discovered. A school transition, a new assessment report, or a shift in executive functioning demands. I help families move from confusion to a clear academic support plan.
I work differently.
I address the executive functioning and study skills the student actually needs to learn.
In our sessions, I use your actual assignments and deadlines to teach the skills you were never taught. Together we build the habits, systems, and mindsets that change how learning feels.
The result is a student who doesn't just survive this semester but knows how to succeed on their own
The problem isn't the student. It's the missing system.
Here's How We Work
Together
We get clarity
We identify what's getting in the way
Build Systems
Strategies, skills, and tools personalized to the student
Practice and get feedback
We try it, adjust it, and keep refining until it actually works
Independence
New skills, new mindsets,
new confidence.
Academic Support for Students and the Families Who Love Them
Working with students in Hamilton, Ontario and across Canada and the U.S. I work directly with the student, the family, and schools and clinics when needed, so your child never falls through the cracks.
Executive functioning is at the heart of everything we do together because when those skills are strong, everything else in school gets easier. Here is what we build together.
Reading & writing
Study Strategies
Test Taking
Notetaking
Organization
Planning
Time Management
Online Learning Portals
Hi, I am Andrea Zians
M.A. (Special Education),
Based in Hamilton, Ontario, I have spent over thirty years working inside education at every level — in classrooms, accessibility offices, and postsecondary institutions, overseeing academic supports, conducting assessments, and designing curriculum. I know exactly how the system works and how to navigate it for your child. I have helped more than 20,000 students with ADHD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning challenges turn effort into real academic progress. I do this work because I have seen how quickly confidence erodes when students believe they are not capable — when in reality they are simply missing the right skills and strategies. I hold a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Toronto and have completed advanced graduate work in Educational Psychology. My work connects research directly to daily academic demands: managing workload, strengthening reading and writing, using time effectively, and following through. I am the "now what" after an assessment and the missing piece for students who are struggling without one. My focus is academic coaching, executive function development, and the thoughtful use of assistive technology. I collaborate with families, schools, and clinics, and I am the author of How to Study with ADHD and Other Learning Challenges. When you reach out, you are getting an advocate grounded in research and driven by one goal: helping students build the skills and confidence to succeed in school and beyond.
"Struggling students don't need to try harder. They need the right skills, habits, and systems. When they have those, success follows."
Andrea
Work with Schools and Clinics and Organizations
In addition to direct work with students and families, I partner with schools, clinics, and educational organizations to strengthen the support around students who learn differently.
My work includes
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Consulting on student support, accommodations, and IEP implementation
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Teaching executive functioning and learning strategies to educators and clinical teams
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Translating psychoeducational assessment recommendations into practical action
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Implementing assistive technology with students, educators, and clinicians
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Delivering professional development and workshops
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T. V., Mother, Middle School
Working with Andrea was a turning point for our family.
She supported us through school planning and advocacy for our neurodiverse middle schooler.
Andrea took real time to understand our child as a whole person, and she held space for us as parents too.
J.S., Mother, High School
Over the past nine months, she has helped him move from feeling disorganized and overwhelmed by high school to becoming more planful, confident, and capable of managing his schoolwork.
Diverse Centre Communications Manager
Andrea Zians recently delivered a fantastic presentation for CDL and our community of parents and caregivers titled "A Parent’s Guide to Stress-Free Summer School." Her session was incredibly informative, practical, and engaging. She offered clear, actionable strategies to help families navigate summer school with less stress and more success.
How to Study with ADHD and Other Learning Challenges
I am the author of How to Study with ADHD and Other Learning Challenges, a practical workbook created to help students become more engaged learners and get better grades.
It grew out of years of hands-on work with high school and university students who needed clear, structured strategies that actually made school feel manageable.