Meet
Keaton Ekoniak
Keaton graduated magna cum laude with a BSE in Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He has 7 years of experience tutoring students in math courses from Algebra II to Calculus III. Additionally, he has 2 years of experience coaching students in Executive Functioning. In high school and college, he excelled academically, but also placed a large importance on pursuing extracurricular interests. In high school, he played baseball and tennis, heavily invested himself in a nonprofit called YouthRoots, and started a business selling homemade beef jerky.
Keaton believes that every student has the potential to excel in their interests, but that many students never learn the skills necessary to do so. One of Keaton's current goals is to help equip students with the skills they need to excel in and outside of the classroom. He does this by employing experienced tutors who make the learning process fun and offering Subject Tutoring and Executive Function Coaching to provide comprehensive academic support for all students.
About
Us
What Sets Us Apart
We specialize in personalized in-home subject tutoring and executive function coaching for students in the Bay Area. Our tutors help students balance school and extracurriculars by strengthening executive function skills like organization, time management, and focus—while also helping them excel in their academic subjects. We most commonly work with middle school students who are bright and capable but benefit from extra support managing their workload and building study habits, although we are here to help students from all age groups.
At Ekoniak Tutoring & Coaching, we help students become confident, independent learners. Families can choose subject tutoring, executive function coaching, or both through our combination tutoring model. Our tutors are handpicked for their ability to connect with students, simplify complex concepts, and deliver real results. Whether your child needs help with homework, long-term planning, or preparing for a big test, we’re here to support their growth every step of the way. Together, we turn academic challenges into meaningful breakthroughs.
What sets us Apart
Keaton believes that many of the most important life skills aren't taught in the classroom. One of his goals is to help students do more than just get good grades; he wants to prepare his students to succeed in life by learning the skills necessary to be independent.
Keaton understands that every student learns differently, and teaches his tutors to tailor their approach to the preferred learning styles of each student. Through building strong personal connections, he strives to make his students feel as if they’re being supported by a friend, creating a space where our students feel comfortable and motivated to thrive academically and personally.
As a recent college graduate, Keaton understands the current educational environment and common challenges that middle and high school students must navigate. He includes these insights in the training that he provides to his tutors to ensure that they can empathize with students, and be seen as more of an overqualified “study buddy” than a tutor. He believes in the importance of students connecting with their tutors, so he only hires tutors who can connect with their students on a personal level. Frequently, our tutors have common interests with their students in sports, video games, books, tv shows, and more.
Keaton's unique Tutoring Approach
Keaton's Personal Statement
Hi, I'm Keaton Ekoniak. I started Ekoniak Tutoring & Coaching because I realized that the skills that helped me excel academically and professionally often are not taught in the classroom. These skills, called Executive Function skills, include time management, organization, and study habits. Harvard University argues that Executive Functioning skills are the foundation that students need as they navigate life; whether they are learning in the classroom or applying themselves outside of school. However, these skills aren't all that students need to reach their full potential. These skills give students the ability to learn their school material faster and more efficiently, but they still need to be taught classroom material in a way that they can comprehend. That is why my goal is twofold: To provide traditional subject tutoring services to students and provide academic support that teaches students the fundamental Executive Function skills that are needed in school and everyday life. Below, you can read my story about how I realized the importance that Executive Functioning skills pose to students and why I believe they are often overlooked in a classroom setting.
Now a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.S.E in Industrial & Operations Engineering, I still remember feeling overwhelmed as a freshman in high school. I didn’t know the best way to prioritize my rigorous course load, manage my time after school, or balance my extracurricular activities and social life. As a result, I began high school stressed and apprehensive.
Wanting to enjoy high school, I started what turned into a 4-year journey of learning how to manage my academic and personal life by educating myself in executive function skills such as time management, organization, and planning for the future. By setting time apart each week to review my productivity, monitor goals, and plan for the week ahead, I graduated high school with an exceptional ability to organize, plan, and self-regulate. I used my newfound skill to pursue many of the goals I had for myself when I started high school. I joined competitive baseball and tennis, volunteered weekly, participated in an extracurricular club, and started a business selling homemade beef jerky, all while excelling academically. While I started high school struggling to manage my school work, I finished with the ability to excel at multiple engagements.
When I began college, I was surprised to see that I was still surrounded by exceptional students with less-than-exceptional executive function skills. So I made it my goal to figure out why so many academically gifted students struggled with dysfunctional life skills. By interviewing numerous parents and students, I learned that while middle and high school curriculums focus heavily on teaching academic content, they often forego teaching the executive function skills that are required to functionally navigate everyday life. This leaves students entering high school with the expectation of being independent without any understanding of how to act independently.
I started Ekoniak Tutoring & Coaching to help students avoid the stress that often characterizes middle and high school by teaching students how to balance school work, extracurricular activities, personal health & fitness, and social relationships. I spent years teaching myself how to do this well, and I want to pass my knowledge on to younger students. I want to help students master these skills so that they can succeed academically while enjoying their youth.
I use my personal experience and research-backed techniques used by educational institutions such as Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child to introduce my students to executive function techniques and apply them to every aspect of their lives. Additionally, I offer subject tutoring for students who need an extra boost in class. Students of Ekoniak Tutoring & Coaching will develop foundational learning skills that they will use to become independent learners, navigate high school, and accomplish any goal, academically and beyond.