Building Confidence
Pillar 01Cultivating a steady inner voice so freshmen show up fully — in class, clubs, and the lunch table.
Inaugural Cohort · Fall 2026
Master the art of momentum.
The EF Leadership Institute is a four-year high school program for students navigating executive functioning challenges — beginning with the Freshman Academy and graduating paid student leaders.
The ten pillars of high school success.
Relationship Building
Pillar 02Practicing the small, repeated acts of trust that turn classmates into a real support network.
Time Management
Pillar 03Designing weekly rhythms that respect cognitive load, not just the calendar grid.
Task Initiation
Pillar 04Overcoming the paralysis of the blank page with structured starting rituals.
Planning
Pillar 05Translating assignments and ambitions into clear, sequenced steps that actually leave the page.
Prioritizing Tasks
Pillar 06Learning to read the difference between what is urgent, what is important, and what is loud.
Goal Setting
Pillar 07Setting goals that stretch and sustain — quarter-long, week-long, and small enough to start today.
Developing Resilience
Pillar 08Building the cognitive flexibility to recover from setbacks, schedule shifts, and surprise grades.
Student–Parent Communication
Pillar 09Equipping students to share progress with parents directly — easing frustration at home and building stronger relationships.
School, Home & Community
Pillar 10Strengthening the network around each student through service projects during school breaks that connect classroom, family, and community.
The Four-Year Arc
From supported freshman to student leader.
The EF Leadership Institute is designed as a four-year progression. Support is highest in year one and tapers as students grow into mentors, workshop leaders, and — by senior year — paid leadership running the organization.
- Phase 01Freshman Year
The Freshman Academy
The most supported phase — building the executive function foundation.
- Weekly EF skills workshops and direct practice
- Relationship building with peers and teachers
- Communication, collaboration, and self-advocacy skills
- Goal setting and self-monitoring of progress
- Biweekly parent communication and progress updates
- Peer mentoring support from upperclassmen
- Two work sessions per week (including Sundays)
- Phase 02Sophomore Year
The Sophomore Academy
Refining the skills — and stepping into the first leadership reps.
- Continued EF practice with deeper independence
- Refining communication, collaboration, and advocacy
- A cohort service project — emerging leadership
- Mentoring incoming freshmen
- Work toward short- and long-term goals
- Biweekly parent updates with student-led progress presentations
- Celebrating wins in a presentation format
- Three work sessions per week
- Phase 03Junior Year
Junior Leadership Pipeline
Leading younger cohorts while preparing for life after high school.
- Continuous EF support with weekly check-ins
- Mentoring freshmen and sophomores
- Leading EF workshops for the younger cohorts
- Resume building and interview preparation
- College application support
- Phase 04Senior Year
Senior Leadership — Paid
A paid student leadership role running the Institute as a real business.
- Paid student leadership inside the organization
- Social media marketing and content
- Accounting and operations
- Management, education, and client retention
- Continued EF support through senior year and internship
Freshman Academy
Six executive function skills, taught from day one.
The first cohort begins with the core skills that make every other part of high school possible. Each skill is practiced weekly, reinforced by mentors, and measured against real assignments.
Time Management
Designing weekly rhythms that respect cognitive load, not just the calendar grid.
Task Initiation
Overcoming the paralysis of the blank page with structured starting rituals.
Planning
Translating assignments and ambitions into clear, sequenced steps that actually leave the page.
Prioritizing
Learning to read the difference between what is urgent, what is important, and what is loud.
Goal Setting
Setting goals that stretch and sustain — quarter-long, week-long, and small enough to start today.
Resilience
Building the cognitive flexibility to recover from setbacks, schedule shifts, and surprise grades.
Want the full breakdown? Download a one-page summary of every skill taught in the first cohort.
Download PDFThe Mentor Bridge.
Every freshman in the cohort is paired with an upperclassman mentor who has navigated the same hurdles. It is the quiet, weekly relationship that does most of the work.
JC
MR
AN
TS
+11
- 1-on-1 weekly strategy sessions with your mentor
- Peer accountability circles across the cohort
- Workshops on planning, prioritization, and resilience
- Access to a faculty advisory network
Become a Mentor
Upperclassmen — apply to mentor the inaugural class.
Juniors and seniors who have built their own executive function systems are invited to apply. Mentors lead 1-on-1 weekly sessions, co-facilitate workshops, and shape the culture of the cohort.
The Inaugural Class
Fifteen freshmen. Four years. A lifetime of systems.
Our first cohort is intentionally small. Fifteen students who enter as freshmen and move through all four phases together — hyper-personalized support, a community designed to stay close long after graduation.
Applications close July 1st.
High school freshmen with executive functioning challenges are invited to apply.