WLA/SPED*NET: Executive Function Skills Your Teens Need Before Graduating from High School

Please join us in the Brubeck Room for another important, informative program from SPED*NET.  As parents, we all want our teens to leave high school feeling confident and ready for what comes next. One of the biggest predictors of success in college and beyond isn’t just grades – it’s executive function (EF) skills. These “mental management” skills help students stay organized, manage time, follow through on tasks, regulate emotions, and adapt when plans change.

Having trouble with EF skills is extremely common in adolescents, both for typical learners and for those who think and learn differently. A teen can struggle with EF skills even without a formal diagnosis of a learning disability or ADHD. In addition, everyone with ADHD has EF difficulties and most students with other learning challenges also struggle in these areas. Research shows that college students with EF challenges experience substantial academic and social-emotional difficulties throughout their college years. The good news is that teens who have a strong foundation in executive functioning are better prepared to handle the independence and demands of college life. These are highly teachable skills and there is a lot that parents can do (and learn not to do) to help strengthen these skills.

In this presentation, Mary Murphy, PhD, will share which executive function skills are most important for your teen to develop before graduation and practical ways you can support them in building strategies that will set them up for success. From the perspective of a clinical psychologist and college professor, Dr. Murphy will share real world examples of the EF skills students need to be successful in both college and future careers.

Mary Murphy is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and parents on challenges related to ADHD, mood disorders, and executive functioning. Her private practice focuses on helping young people manage challenges and guiding parents in understanding their child’s needs and advocating for support in schools. Dr. Murphy is also an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Western Connecticut State University, where she teaches graduate students and mentors future counselors. Outside of the classroom, she has long been active in advocacy for neurodivergent children, serving as the founding President and current board member of the Newtown Special Education PTA. Dr. Murphy earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Yeshiva University (Albert Einstein College of Medicine campus) and completed a fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine. She is certified in heart rate variability biofeedback, a tool she teaches clients to use to manage stress and improve executive functioning. Her training and experience allows her to take a practical, whole-person view of how emotional, cognitive, medical, and substance use factors affect students in school.

Presented by SPED*NET in partnership with Wilton Library, Wilton Public Schools, Wilton Youth Council and Newtown Sped PTA.  Registration suggested.