Schools are primarily designed as places of logic, curriculum, and measurable outcomes. Yet, as you know, they are also the primary sites where our community experiences its most profound human transitions. From the “ambiguous loss” felt by families in the special education system to the collective grief of a campus tragedy, educators are often expected to navigate these waters without a map.

My name is LaJuan White, and I founded White Harbor Consulting to provide that map.

My approach is rooted in a unique perspective. I grew up in a funeral home, where I watched my father provide a “safe harbor” for families in their darkest moments. Next door was a home for adults with special needs; they weren’t just neighbors to me—they were family. I witnessed firsthand how society often isolates those who are “different” because people simply lack the language to understand them.

Today, I see this same lack of language in our schools. Educators are facing unprecedented compassion fatigue, and families of children with special needs are often grieving the life they expected while navigating a system that feels clinical rather than supportive.

White Harbor Consulting helps districts bridge this gap through:

• Grief-Informed Staff Training: Moving beyond “toxic positivity” to provide educators with the actual vocabulary of support.
• Navigating Ambiguous Loss: Helping Special Education teams understand and support the unique grief cycle of families navigating lifelong diagnoses.
• Compassion Fatigue Resilience: Practical frameworks to help staff process secondary trauma and reduce burnout.
• Crisis Protocol Design: Ensuring your school has a “Harbor” ready before a crisis occurs.

I would love to offer you a brief, 20-minute introductory call to discuss the specific challenges [School District Name] is currently facing regarding staff burnout or family engagement within your Special Education department.

We cannot expect our students to focus on logic until we have acknowledged the vulnerability of their human experience. I would be honored to help you build that bridge.

With gratitude and purpose,