How Michelle Glennon Went From Teacher To Starting Her Own Profitable Executive Function Coaching Business

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Thinking about leaving the classroom but not sure what’s next?

In this post, Michelle shares her honest journey from educator to entrepreneur, how the certification program at the Executive Function Coaching Academy helped her build her business from scratch, and what her coaching practice looks like today.

If you’ve ever wondered whether this career path is possible for you, Michelle’s story might be the inspiration (and blueprint) you’ve been looking for.

You can check out Michelle's EF Coaching practice at efcompasscoaching.com.

What is Michelle's Background?

Meet Michelle Glennon, an elementary school teacher who turned decades of experience into a thriving executive function coaching practice.

During her time as a teacher, she quickly noticed that some of her students were struggling with reading.

It became clear that the traditional methods of teaching reading weren’t effective for everyone.

That led her to do some research, and she eventually received training in the Orton-Gillingham approach through the Massachusetts General Hospital Reading Disabilities Program.

The majority of Michelle's teaching experience has been working with dyslexic students using the Orton-Gillingham approach.

In addition, she completed the Executive Function Certification Program by EFCA.

After 23 years in education and being an executive function coach for someone else, Michelle launched EF Compass Coaching to support neurodivergent students and their families with empathy, structure, and personalized strategies.

She has worked with learners of all ages, from young children to adults.

"It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness their progress and the confidence they build through reading success"

Outside of work, Michelle loves spending time with her family and is passionate about baking and staying active.

Here is the full interview 👇

What inspired you to start building your own executive function coaching business? What made this certification program the right fit for that next step?  

I started my executive function coaching business after years of working as a teacher and supporting students with dyslexia using Orton Gillingham and Wilson.

I hold a master’s in education and have always been passionate about helping neurodivergent students, especially those with ADHD, develop the skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.

I work with middle school, high school, and college students on building executive function skills like time management, organization, focus, and self-regulation.

Before launching my own business, I gained valuable experience working for an executive function coaching company, which helped me see the impact of this work firsthand.

After earning a post baccalaureate certification in Neurodiversity and Learning Differences from Landmark College, I chose Sean McCormick’s program through EF Specialists because of his strong reputation in the field.

The program helped me deepen my knowledge and gave me the tools to confidently start my own practice.

What was most difficult about stepping away from the security of working for someone else to build your own EF coaching practice? 

The hardest part of stepping away from the security of working for someone else was taking on everything myself, not just the coaching but running the business side too.

After working in schools and for an executive function company, it was a big shift to suddenly be in charge of marketing, scheduling, and building a client base.

I definitely had my panic moments, especially early on.

But having Sean as my business coach made all the difference.

He supported me every step of the way, helping me stay grounded and focused whenever I started to feel overwhelmed.

It has been challenging at times but also incredibly rewarding. I have learned to trust myself more and I have grown not just as a coach but as a business owner.

Why did you decide it was time to create your own coaching practice instead of continuing to work for someone else? What advice would you give to someone considering the same?  

I started my own coaching practice to have the flexibility to tailor support for each student.

Working for others gave me great experience, but I was ready to lead my own approach and grow my business.

My advice to others is to be patient and expect challenges.

With strong training and a mentor like Sean, you can build confidence.

Find support and trust your skills and know you already have what it takes.

Was there a moment in the course or coaching where you felt, “I can actually do this”? What helped solidify that belief?   

There was a time when I was putting in a lot of work.

I built my website, set up my systems, and started marketing, but I was not seeing the results yet.

I began to feel discouraged and reached out to Sean for support.

He recommended I read The Dip by Seth Godin, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed.

It helped me understand that feeling stuck was normal and part of the process.

Soon after, I started getting new clients, and that was the moment I really believed I could do this.

I am really glad I reached out to Sean when I did because his advice came at the right time and kept me going.

What was it like getting your first paying client as an independent coach? How did that feel compared to your previous experience? 

  

Getting my first paying client made me realize I can really do this on my own and build my own business.

I already had the skills from working for someone else, so I knew what coaching involved.

But this felt different because it was a direct result of my own efforts and decisions.

It validated all the hard work I was putting in and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward.

What does your coaching business look like today in terms of client load, structure, income, or lifestyle? How has it changed since becoming your own boss?

   

Today, my coaching business serves a steady client load of middle school, high school, and college students, many of whom are neurodivergent or have ADHD.

I also provide parent coaching, because I believe working with the whole family is key to helping students succeed.

My daughter, who is a BCBA and also works as an executive function coach in the business, is a wonderful part of the team.

I have strong relationships not only with the students but also with their families.

I like to say that while I work directly with the student, I support the whole family and parents along the way.

Since becoming my own boss, I’ve gained more flexibility to balance work and life.

My income has grown steadily as my client base has expanded.

Overall, I feel more fulfilled and in control of my professional path, which motivates me to keep improving and growing my business.

What were the biggest challenges around building your own website and marketing yourself? How did you work through those hurdles? 

I hired someone I knew to build my website, and she did a great job bringing it to life.

But I quickly realized I had to do a lot of groundwork, like writing content, defining my services, and figuring out how I wanted to present myself.

It was a lot of work, but it was worth it, and I was really happy with the final result.

Marketing has been more of an ongoing process.

I am always assessing what works and where to focus my time.

A lot of my clients have come through word of mouth, especially from the families I have worked with, which has been really encouraging and affirming.

What tools, lessons, or frameworks from the certification course helped you feel confident in running your own business?   

Since I already had experience with session structure from my previous work, what really helped me in the certification course was learning how to set up the business side.

Things like the intake process, systems for scheduling and communication, and how to onboard clients smoothly were especially valuable.

The business coaching component was also a huge help.

It gave me a clearer understanding of how to think like a business owner, not just a coach.

That shift, along with the practical tools I could apply right away, gave me the confidence to run my own practice.

What advice would you give to coaches who are undervaluing their services or nervous about charging what they’re worth?   

My advice is to remember that you are offering something incredibly valuable.

Many coaches undervalue their services because they focus only on the time spent in a session.

But each hour includes so much more-prep work, personalized planning, and follow up notes to both students and parents.

Sessions are not one size fits all.

They are tailored based on what the student needs and what happened the week before.

You are not just being paid for the session itself.

You are being paid for your training, your experience, and the thoughtful care you put into each client.

It helps to get clear on your value, talk to other coaches, and practice sharing your rates with confidence.

When you understand and believe in the full scope of what you offer, it becomes easier to stand by your worth.

How do you define success as an independent EF coach, and has that definition changed since starting this journey?  

For me, success as an executive function coach means making a real difference in my students’ lives and building strong relationships with families.

It’s about helping students gain confidence and independence while being a reliable support.

At the same time, success means running a sustainable business with a full client load and meeting income goals.

Since starting this journey, my definition of success has grown to include both meaningful impact and creating a balanced, thriving practice that supports my clients and my own well-being.

What would you say to someone considering this course or coaching as a way to launch or grow their own coaching business?  

If you’re thinking about starting or growing your coaching business, this course gives you practical tools and builds your confidence, especially when it comes to things like intake and managing the business side.

The ongoing support and access to a community of others on the same path is really valuable, even just to see different perspectives and know you’re not alone.

It definitely takes work and patience, but having that support system makes a big difference.

Overall, it’s a great way to set yourself up for success.

What is your tech stack? Tools that are indispensable when running your coaching practice. 

My tech stack includes TutorBird for scheduling and client management, Google Workspace for email, documents, and communication, and Stripe for payment processing.

These tools help me stay organized, communicate smoothly with students and parents, and handle bookings and payments efficiently. 

Using these platforms makes running my coaching practice much easier and allows me to focus on supporting my clients.

Thank you Michelle!

Michelle’s story is a powerful reminder that your skills as a teacher are not only transferable, but in high demand.

With the right support and training, you can build a flexible, meaningful career that lets you keep changing lives, just in a different setting.

You can view Michelle's EF Coaching practice at www.efcompasscoaching.com.

Interested in starting your own executive function coaching business?

Join hundreds of educators and professionals who have completed our executive function coaching certification and are building profitable executive function coaching practices using their teaching experience.

You'll gain all the tools, templates, and techniques you'll need as a coach, plus you'll make new friends and have a community you can rely on to grow and learn. Learn more. 

Here is one of our favorite reviews. You can read all recent reviews on this page. 

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About Michelle

Michelle Glennon, M.Ed., is the founder of EF Compass Coaching, where she helps neurodivergent students and their families build executive function skills for lasting success.

With over 23 years in education, Michelle holds specialized certifications in executive function coaching, including training from Landmark College in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity, as well as certification from EF Specialists.

She works with middle school, high school, and college students who face executive function challenges, ADHD, autism, and learning differences to develop personalized strategies that foster confidence and independence.

Michelle is passionate about supporting both students and parents with empathy and structure, guiding them toward sustainable growth. 

You can check out Michelle's EF Coaching practice  at efcompasscoaching.com