Real Support for Students, and the Adults Who Support Them
who we are
If you’re here, it’s because you care deeply about a student who’s struggling to thrive in a system that wasn’t built for them. You’ve tried structure. You’ve tried support. You’ve tried patience. And yet it still feels like a daily battle.
We see you. We’ve worked with hundreds of families and school teams navigating the exact same challenges. And we know how powerful it is when the right support finally clicks.
We can’t wait to partner with you to begin building support systems that make school (and life) feel a little bit easier.
Before founding Empower, Caroline Sumners spent years in the classroom watching some of her brightest, most creative students get labeled “lazy,” “disorganized,” or “unmotivated” simply because the system didn’t fit the way their brains worked.
She knew they deserved better. So she built it.
Empower Academic Coaching was created to fill the gap between what students need and what most schools are set up to provide. We believe smart, capable kids shouldn’t be left behind simply because they learn differently or because the support they have access to isn’t the right fit.
Today, Caroline leads a team of dedicated coaches with the same steady presence, deep expertise, and quiet advocacy that grounded her classroom presence. Together, they empower families, students, and schools to make meaningful progress without burnout, shame, or stress.
Built by a Teacher Who Got Tired of Watching Students Fall Through the Cracks
OUR STORY: FROM FRUSTRATION TO ADVOCACY
ADHD and autism-responsive coaching
Executive functioning and learning strategies
College access and application support
Teacher professional development
School-wide assessment and consulting
Inclusive, identity-based curriculum and program design
Trauma-informed and identity-affirming practices
International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum design and student success
Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum design and student success
Our Expertise Includes:
Hours Leading Academic and Executive Function Coaching
10k+
Collective Years of Experience in Teaching & Instruction
50+
acadmic coach
Megan Karafotias-Buck
(she/her)
academic coach
Tiffany Intza
(she/her)
COO & coach
Jess Forte-Paul
(she/her)
CEO & Founder
Caroline Sumners
(she/her)
When you partner with Empower, our team of coaches get to work, pooling our collective brainpower to address the concerns that are most pressing or important to you.
Each week, our team meets to share strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and make sure every student, family, and school is getting exactly what they need.
Our Team of Teachers-Turned-Coaches Are In It With You
EXPERT SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES & EDUCATORS
We believe every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and capable exactly as they are. We design coaching and consulting experiences that honor all student identities as well as their individual learning needs.
INCLUSION
We don’t do one-size-fits-all. Every strategy, recommendation, and coaching plan is crafted with intention. We think carefully about the ripple effect of every decision—how it impacts students, families, and schools.
THOUGHTFULNESS
We help students build self-advocacy skills, and we advocate on their behalf when systems fall short.
ADVOCACY
We create calm, judgment-free spaces where students and families can take a breath, gain clarity, and move forward with confidence. Our work is grounded in structure, never stress.
PEACE
We’re not hobbyist coaches. We’re career educators, certified professionals, and strategic thinkers. We’re relentlessly curious and committed to continued growth.
EXPERTISE
We believe our students and clients already have what it takes, and our job is to help them uncover it. We provide the tools, support, and encouragement to help people step into their agency and chart their own path forward.
EMPOWERMENT
We partner with families, students, and schools to build equitable ecosystems of support that cultivate confidence, resilience, and success.
What We Believe & How We Work
our guideposts
the mission
We envision a world where every student, regardless of how their brain works, is seen, supported, and celebrated.
the vision
We’re proudly rooted in Atlanta and Savannah—but our work spans far beyond city limits. Our services are available virtually nationwide, and we partner with schools and organizations across the U.S. to create more inclusive, supportive systems for all kinds of learners.
Proudly Georgia-Based, Serving Families and Schools Nationwide
where we work
As a neurodivergent educator and member of the LGBTQ+ community, our founder Caroline knows firsthand what it is like to feel unsafe or unseen in spaces that weren’t built with you in mind. That’s why she founded Empower as an affirming, inclusive coaching community where students, families, and team members from marginalized communities are welcomed and valued.
At Empower, equity is not just an item on a checklist; it’s an ongoing focus for us. The team engages in continuous learning and regular DEI reflection to examine bias, explore identity, and take aligned action to continue to improve. Through monthly conversations and shared accountability, we work to better understand the systems that shape students’ experiences and to build a coaching environment where all learners are supported in reaching their full potential.
Empower envisions a future where every student, regardless of identity, has the support and opportunity they need to thrive in whatever their version of success looks like.
Inclusion Is Our Baseline
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
5 Executive Functions and How to Support Them at Home
What is ADHD Coaching?
What is Academic Coaching?
We write about what’s working, what’s shifting, and how families and schools can support students who learn differently in real life, not just on paper.
Insights & Strategies from Our Work
resources for famliies & schools
@empoweracademiccoaching
Follow us for BTS wins, school strategy snapshots, and reminders that you’re not in this alone.
