Welcome to
WholeheartEd Advocacy Consultants
supporting parents and guardians of exceptional students
We are so glad that you are here. Our goal is to partner with you to make your educational journey easier. As educators and parents, we have been there, and we get it! Navigating the world of education can be challenging, frustrating, and lonely. But, you don't have to do it alone!
Our Services
We are professional educators and parents. We have navigated the educational system from both of these places and are able to bring a unique perspective and skill set to your educational needs.
We are here to partner with you every step of the way.
Some of the ways we can help you and your child include:
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Advocating in a firm and fair way
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Explaining IEPs and 504 plans in easy-to-understand language as Educational Coaches
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Reviewing and offer suggestions for improved school plans
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Helping you to understand what schools are able to offer, accommodate, and provide
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Attending school meetings with you
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Serving as liaison between families, schools, and providers to ensure the best educational experience for your child
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Guiding you through the Special Education evaluation process
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Ensuring that your student's disability rights are being met in regards to equity, inclusion, and school discipline
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Consulting as non-attorneys regarding school law
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And, much more, just ask!
Please note that we are not attorneys, and our consultation services do not take the place of legal advice. We provide free initial consultations and are happy to recommend a school attorney should you need one.
WholeheartEd Advocacy Consultants supports the rights of students and their families to have full access to public educational institutions regardless of ability, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ethnicity or immigration status.
Our Process
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Initial Intake Meeting
To best serve you, we want to know as much as possible about your child, their schooling experience, their life outside of school, school history, relevant medical history, and more. During the intake, we will also explore your ideal resolution to help your child as much as possible.
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Follow Up & Next Steps
Based on your goals, the intake information, and our professional expertise, we offer a number of follow up solutions which may include a written recommendation document, in-person school meeting, ongoing consultation, IEP coaching, and more. We will work together to find the next best steps for you.
Our Educational Stories
Carrie Jarvis brings a unique blend of professional and personal expertise to all clients. Professionally, she was a public school educator for 20+ years at the secondary level holding the roles of English teacher, college counselor, dean of students, and assistant principal. During this time, Carrie worked with countless families to help their children achieve success and happiness at school. Success looks different for every child and every family. Carrie's goal is to help each family find their version of school success. Personally, Carrie is a parent to two neurodivergent kids. Like you, she has had to navigate the school system from the parental perspective. Even with her professional expertise, Carrie has worked to overcome challenging and frustrating situations on behalf of her own kids. She wants to be in your corner helping to ease the burden and exhaustion of advocacy. Carrie knows, firsthand, how to advocate for kids both as a parent and educator.
The fine print:
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BA English Education & Certificate Sexuality Studies, University of IA
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MEd Instructional Leadership, University of Illinois at Chicago
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EdS School Administration, University of Saint Thomas, MN
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Licensed 5-12 Communications/Language Arts Teacher, MN
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Licensed K-12 School Principal, MN
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Certified Cognitive Coach
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COPAA Member
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Handlettering and visual artist
Brooke Deacon earned her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education with licensure in Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional Behavioral Disorders. Additionally, she has experience as a special educator supporting students with Other Health Disabilities/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delay, and Developmental Cognitive Disability. Brooke holds a Master’s degree in Education in Differentiated Instruction and has taught in both the in-person and virtual classroom settings. She also has professional experience as a corporate trainer and learning and development consultant.
As a special education teacher, the most important part of Brooke's work was to advocate for children and families and helping students struggling to find their way. She believes in schools making data driven decisions and enjoys creative problem solving and helping families understand their child’s educational rights.
As a parent, Brooke has experience advocating for schools to evaluate, provide support, take action when appropriate, and meet ongoing needs. Having knowledge of how the process works and why decisions are made is helpful at every level of the special education process. Brooke's goal is to share that knowledge with you and your family.
The fine print:
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Bachelor’s degree in Special Education through Minnesota State University, Moorhead
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Master’s degree in Education in Differentiated Instruction through Concordia University, St. Paul
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Licensed K-12 Special Education Teacher, MN
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COPAA Member
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Informed in PBIS and RTI practices
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Phonics, fluency and reading comprehension tutor
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of services do you provide?
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Navigating all school systems: public, private, charter, online, homeschool, etc.
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Advocating in a firm and fair way
-
Explaining IEPs and 504 plans in easy-to-understand language as Educational Coaches
-
Reviewing and offer suggestions for improved school plans
-
Helping you to understand what schools are able to offer, accommodate, and provide
-
Attending school meetings with you
-
Serving as liaison between families, schools, and providers to ensure the best educational experience for your child
-
Guiding you through the Special Education evaluation process
-
Ensuring that your student's disability rights are being met in regards to equity, inclusion, and school discipline
-
Consulting as non-attorneys regarding school law
-
And, much more, just ask!
How much do your services cost?
Please click here to see our current pricing guide. We offer in-person, remote, and indirect services.
Are you licensed or insured?
Advocates do not require licenses to provide consulting services in the United States. We currently hold educational licenses in the state of Minnesota. We are also insured as an LLC and are proud to be members of Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).
What is your service area?
We provide in-person and remote services within the Twin Cities, MN. We are able to provide remote consulting and limited support outside of this area.
Does my child need to have an IEP to benefit from your services?
No! Sometimes the most difficult part of navigating special education is in the early stages of identification and throughout the evaluation process. Please contact us for a free consultation if you are having any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education.
Do you only support students with special education needs?
No! We advocate for all students from health-related needs that might require a 504 plan to ensuring that schools are following appropriate disciplinary procedures. We are passionate about equity and inclusion for all students.
Aren’t there free advocacy services available? Why should I hire you?
We know that you have a choice in services to support your child and family including free volunteer services. When you hire WholeheartEd Advocacy Consultants, you are guaranteed a professional educational consultant, dedicated to your case and able to take the time to get to know you and your child. Our consultants can help coordinate communications, make recommendations based on documentation history, represent you at formal and informal meetings, and document our support along the way for your records. We always offer a free initial consultation to ensure we are a good fit for your needs.
When working with a free advocacy service, you are oftentimes working within the schedule of a parent volunteer with long waits for appointments and limited services. While that person may be knowledgeable regarding their own child’s needs, they may not have the breadth of experience and knowledge that we bring to the table as parents who are also educators with 20+ years of experience. Our clients have shared their appreciation for WholeheartEd Advocacy Consultants' quick response times, flexibility, and expertise as a being value for their investment.
Should I hire an attorney instead?
While your child’s education may not be in compliance with educational policies and laws, many times this is due to inexperience or ignorance versus a willful denial of services. These situations can often be rectified during a school meeting with a knowledgeable advocate by your side providing a swift and positive outcome without the need for legal costs. We always offer a free initial consultation to ensure we are a good fit for you and can recommend a school attorney if your needs are beyond the scope of our advocacy services.
The school says that there just isn’t anything else they can do, even if I get an advocate. How can you help?
Sometimes a solution to a big problem can be solved with creative thinking and an outside perspective. As your advocate, we can help you and your school’s team navigate barriers that prevent your child from reaching their full potential. We are also knowledgeable in what is expected and included in providing your child with FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education).
I don't know what I need, but I need help! How can you help me?
We completely understand the frustration and confusion of not knowing the best way to help your child; that's where we come in! With our professional and personal experience, we will help guide you and give you options for ideas and next steps. We are here to partner with you and be by your side every step of the way.
Client Testimonials
Brooke and Carrie were patient, kind, empathetic, and made me feel supported and sane! They explained things in a way that was easy to understand and took the time to answer my millions of questions. This service is invaluable!
Diana, Eagan
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WholeheartEd partnered with me and attended my son's first IEP meeting. They acted as a bridge, a translator, an advocate, and most of all, as moral support at a time when I felt overwhelmed and clueless.
Jessie, Saint Paul
More than anything, working with Carrie and Brooke gave me peace of mind. Knowing I wasn’t alone in this complicated, emotional process was invaluable. Their care was not just professional—it was deeply nurturing. They helped transform a time of fear and overwhelm into one of clarity, confidence, and hope. I cannot recommend Wholehearted Advocacy Consultants highly enough.
Anya, Saint Paul
This was worth every penny! Thank you!
Michael, Hopkins
Because Carrie & Brooke knew the questions to ask, the things to request, and who to talk to, there was no more trying to guess what we needed to know, who we needed to ask, or what we wanted to have happen to improve the situation for our kiddo.
Heather, Saint Paul
We came to WholeheartED after a year of frustration and difficulty with our child's special education services. Carrie and Brooke gave us comfort and reassurance that we were taking the right steps to help our child. We felt prepared and empowered heading into the IEP meeting.
Abbey, Saint Louis Park
