I’m so glad you’re here.
Welcome to The Learning Collective . I’m Megan Barnett— Executive Function & ADHD/2e Coach, Educator and Founder of The Learning Collective.
I began my journey in 2015 as a tutor and homeschool teacher for neurodivergent children in the small surf town of Nosara, Costa Rica. Growing up, I suffered from crippling anxiety, high sensitivity, and perfectionism, and always felt helpless in the 21st-century school paradigm. When I moved to Costa Rica, I realized that in my adult life I could become the compassionate, thoughtful, and innovative advocate and teacher I had so desperately needed as a child.
My support style is neurodiversity-affirming, polyvagal-informed, trauma-informed, and grounded in neuroscience, cognitive diversity, family/child psychology, and ADHD studies. I specialize in supporting students with ADHD and also work with students across a range of neurodivergences, including those who are autistic, twice-exceptional (2e), or gifted, as well as those with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and/or who experience OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and high sensitivity.
What sets my approach apart from mainstream tutors or other ADHD coaches is that I look at the whole student, taking into account their neuropsychological diagnoses, learning differences, executive function strengths and challenges, family life, nutrition, nervous system regulation needs, sensory needs, exercise level, and learning environment preferences. I then work with the student and family to design personalized executive function strategies that could support the student’s unique learning profile.
From my experience, real change takes time, consistency, and a collective approach bringing together the key players in a child’s life, including parents, therapists, and teachers. In my practice, I recommend a 12-week program with weekly student executive function support sessions (which can be extended through the school year if needed) along with a minimum of four parent support meetings.
Ultimately, my intention is to create a steady foundation of safety and resources to help students and parents build individualized executive function support approaches. Together, we uncover strategies and learning environments that honor the student’s unique brain and strengths, helping neurodivergent students thrive in school and beyond.
Credentials
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Masters of Education in Cognitive Diversity from the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, with a focus on 2e and ADHD learners. This graduate degree embraces the philosophy of celebrating human cognitive diversity and the belief that education should be strength-based and talent-focused.
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Trained to recognize cognitive patterns of students with diverse minds (gifted and talented, attention deficit, autism, and specific learning disabilities), understand the importance of identifying, and assessing strengths, talents, and interests and to design learning environments based on theories of strength based, talent focused education.
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ADDCA is a global leader and pioneer in the specialty arena of ADHD Coach Training and Education. ADDCA is the first and largest comprehensive ADHD Coach Training Program.
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Studied with Parent Coach Cindy Goldrich (8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD) to guide parents in supporting their child’s Executive Function skills, encouraging independence, resilience, and self-regulation.
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Trained by the Stephen Porges Polyvagal Institute. Completed the 35 hour Polyvagal Certificate Course: Safety, Connection, and the Human Experience.
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Completed a training workshop taught by Dr. Eli Lebowitz of the Yale Child Study Center in the methodology of SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions).
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Level 1 Dyslexia Remediation Trained from the Dyslexia Training Institute
