Parent Like A Teacher Philosophy
Parent Like A Teacher was founded by Special Education teacher Stefanie Thordarson, created to help families of children with ADHD and other neurodivergent learners bring more connection, confidence, and joy into everyday life.
As a Special Education teacher, Stefanie takes practical strategies from the classroom—along with research-informed approaches to behavior, learning, executive functioning, and positive support—and adapts them for real life at home, because what works in a classroom doesn’t always translate directly to the kitchen table, bedtime, homework, or getting out the door.
We help families understand why their child may be struggling and then find practical, individualized strategies that work with the way their child learns, communicates, and experiences the world.
Our mission is to empower parents with classroom-tested, research-informed tools that can be easily woven into everyday routines. We believe that every family member is part of the solution and that supporting a neurodivergent child doesn’t mean changing who they are—it means changing the environment, expectations, and strategies around them.
Parenting is hard. Parenting a neurodivergent child can come with its own unique challenges. Our goal is to make the journey feel less overwhelming and more doable by giving families practical tools, compassionate guidance, and strategies they can actually use.
Less power struggles. More understanding. More connection. More joy.
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Meet Our Coach
Hi! I’m Stef, a former special education teacher turned parent coach. I earned my Master’s degree in Special Education from American University and spent eight years teaching in both public and private school settings. During that time, I supported children and families navigating ADHD, Autism, anxiety disorders, oppositional defiance, learning disabilities, OCD, and intellectual disabilities. After transitioning from the classroom to full-time parenting, I quickly realized that my professional training was just as valuable at home.
For the past eight years, I’ve used my deep understanding of behavior, brain development, and evidence-based strategies to build routines, systems, and expectations that support a calm, successful home life for my neurodivergent family of four. With both children—and both parents—in our home diagnosed with ADHD, our journey hasn’t always been easy. I met my children where they were, thoughtfully scaffolding routines and expectations until they were able to manage them independently. By breaking down expectations into meaningful, achievable steps and maintaining consistency as a family, we created lasting change.
Today, our children, now 7 and 8, are confident routine followers, home helpers, and capable problem-solvers—supported by clear expectations and steady encouragement.
Throughout my parenting journey, I’ve shared my knowledge and experience with other families and discovered that strategies designed for neurodivergent brains are often just as effective for all children. As the go-to parent in my community for navigating challenging parenting situations, I’ve developed a genuine passion for coaching and knowledge sharing. Seeing families gain confidence and experience more ease and success at home is incredibly rewarding.
I am here to partner with you—offering practical, compassionate support to help improve your family’s quality of life through research-nformed, parent-centered strategies.