Our Philosophy
Neurodiversity
We celebrate neurodiversity! A core belief at GOALS is that each brain is unique in its structure and chemistry. We all learn in a different way. Our mission is to work with each student to help them understand their brain and how to work best with it.
Honesty
At GOALS we are 100% honest with our students, and we make it a safe place for students to be honest with us and themselves. We do not dwell on missteps or failures; instead we work to grow with new habits and skills.
Continuity of Care
We work hard to ensure that our students are paired with the right GOALS staff throughout their journey. We coordinate our support among all the staff in our different services to make sure each student has the right mix of care. We guarantee continuity of care; during our intake process we will help you select the mix of services that will serve your student the best.
Building New Habits
Building new habits is hard work that requires guided, diligent, consistent problem solving. Our selection of services and the skills of our instructors are both oriented to support our students’ growth and transformation.
Keeping Track
We check and track student grades, grade trends and missing assignments, and we teach them how to do the same. We also provide detailed session notes to parents which share the specific learning strategies that have proven to be most successful with each student.
Working Ourselves Out of a Job
Our end goal is to transform our students into skilled, independent self-learners. We are experts at working with students to define their own goals and find the motivation to succeed. The happiest days at GOALS are when our students no longer need our support and services.
We Celebrate Neurodiversity
Navigating Learning Disabilities
If you suspect that your student has a learning disability or difference or was recently diagnosed with one, GOALS is here to help you navigate what to do next. We are available to help you:
Determine if a private or school neurophsycological assessment is needed
Help you negotiate the right 504 Plan, IEP, or private school accommodations for your student
Teach the habits and skills that work best for your student through our Executive Functioning Coaching
Raise their grades through content tutoring
“At GOALS my son has learned that academic success is a learnable skill, not an innate talent. The team at GOALS helped him to identify the right strategies for learning and his performance (and grades) are proof that their methods work.”
Laura
Parent of Junior, Mountain View High School
“GOALS directed my approach to learning into a highly synthesized, personalized and carefully constructed process that allowed me to break down my obstacles and achieve my actual potential. GOALS helped me throughout high school and I’m now a successful student in college.”
Jackson
Junior,
University of Nevada
About the Founder - Phillip Roberts, CEO
Phillip Roberts is the founder and CEO of Goal Oriented Academics LLC based in Cupertino, California. He studied cognitive neuroscience at the University of California at Davis. In his early professional years Phillip worked for the Santa Clara County Office of Education, where he taught youth in the department of special education. In this position, he gained extensive experience working with at-risk youth. Phillip developed a strong passion for helping students with ADHD, as well as anyone struggling with cognitive development or synthesis. He has also done professional research, specializing in computational neuroimaging with a focus on Autism, ADHD, OCD and memory associated with traumatic events.
Throughout his life, Phillip has been in many positions of mentorship, having coached rock climbing, swimming and diving teams. Through these coaching experiences, Phillip developed and honed the skills of individualized leadership within the context of a team while still achieving a dynamic community environment. These roles solidified in his mind that the drive of the pupil is just as valuable as the opinion of the coach. This belief is a core foundation of GOALS’ underlying philosophy.
Phillip has had a lifelong passion for both science and teaching. His professional career and personal aspirations have culminated into the realization that a reformation of the education system through the wholehearted acceptance of neurodiversity and individual focus is his true passion. GOALS first opened its doors in 2012, and has seen rapid growth since that time. Through decades of experience working with youth who feel alienated by mainstream education, Phillip has built GOALS into a place that fosters free and honest exchange, accepts and welcomes diversity, and embraces holistic values where students are encouraged to love learning with voracious tenacity.
Whenever he has time to head out of the office, Phillip embarks on rock climbing trips with his dog, Sophie.
"You can achieve anything at GOALS through hard work and structure…and Phillip."
Carlos
Junior, St. Francis High School