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How Can We Work Together?
Help families understand IEPs, prepare for meetings, and communicate with schools.
Practical learning sessions for parents and community groups
Customized support for schools and organizations
Professional Development for Educators and Staff
Keynotes for conferences, schools, and community events
Your Partner in Education
Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower students with diverse needs by equipping families, educators, and organizations with the knowledge, practical tools, and confidence to advocate effectively, collaborate meaningfully, and create better outcomes for every child.
Meet January
Educator. Advocate. Speaker. Bridge-Builder.
Hi, I’m January Addison Lare, founder of EmpowerED to Thrive Consulting.
I’m a special educator, behavior consultant, educational advocate, speaker, and trainer with more than a decade of experience supporting students with diverse learning and behavioral needs.
Today, I bring those experiences together to help families and schools understand one another, communicate more effectively, and build stronger partnerships around the students they serve.
But my passion for this work isn’t just professional — it’s deeply personal.
As the guardian of a sister with an intellectual disability, and as a mom who built her family through foster adoption, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful the right support can be in a child’s life.
And I’ve also seen how confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes discouraging the system can feel for families and educators alike.
That’s why I created EmpowerED to Thrive. The goal of this work is to bring clarity, encouragement, and practical guidance to the world of special education.
Through speaking, training, workshops, and advocacy, EmpowerED to Thrive focuses on:
• IEPs, 504 plans, and special education advocacy
• Family-school communication and collaboration
• Executive functioning and learning differences
• Behavior and emotional support
• Helping educators and families build practical solutions around the needs of the child
Because when we empower families and collaborate with schools, students thrive.
"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9