MEET OUR TEAM

Jeremy Coleman Ed.D, is the principal of Brookview Elementary school in Indianapolis, In. Dr. Coleman has taught and led in public schools for nearly 20 years. He started his career of service as a youth mentor and has served as a correctional officer, coach, teacher, and administrator. Dr. Coleman has consulted for private and public schools on a range of topics including school climate and classroom culture, parent and community engagement, and school leadership. Dr. Coleman has partnered with The National Organization of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers (NoBBChe) to deliver cutting-edge STEM programming to students in elementary, middle, and high school. He worked with the PassWord Community Mentoring program, The 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, Student Development Resources and Scholarships (SDRAS) and served as a guest lecturer at Marion University. He worked as a professional development coach for Teach for America. He currently serves as a committee member for Keep Indiana Learning where he is tasked with improving Indiana school leadership and school culture. Dr. Coleman earned his Ed.D in Building Administration from Ball State University.

Pennie Gregory is a master trainer for the Center for Empowering Education, where she provides Emotionally-Inclusive Practices training for schools nationally. She has over 20 years of experience as an educator. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools. She has previously served as a Lead Special Education Specialist for Indianapolis Public Schools, the Coordinator of Exceptional Learners for Tindley Schools Charter Network, and most recently as the Assistant Director of Secondary Special Services for the MSD of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, IN. She was an executive member of the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) and served as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair. She helped to create Indiana's first Aspiring Special Education Leadership Institute (ASELI) and served as its Director. She is the Capacity Events Director for MelanatED Leaders, an organization created to support educational leaders of color in Indianapolis. Ms. Gregory earned her undergraduate B.S. degree from Ball State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Marian University. She recently accepted admittance to the Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she will begin full-time study in the fall of 2022 as a member of Cohort 12. Pennie Gregory founded EdPlus LLC, a company dedicated to a higher level of service to honor students who receive special education services by training, coaching, and educating the adults who support their social, emotional and academic growth.

Matthew Radcliffe is a master trainer for the Center for Empowering Education, where he provides Emotionally-Inclusive Practices training for schools. He is an expert in positive behavior systems, certified in Restorative Practices and Mind-Body Medicine training. He has seen education in urban schools in Indianapolis, IN at all levels, elementary, middle and high schools. He taught in five different schools and earned two Teacher of the Year Awards in two separate schools, leading him to be a building administrator before moving on to district-level support. He has led two high-poverty districts in rebuilding foundational systems to increase their schools’ climate, culture, and equity. His masterful educational coaching is second to none. His unique effectiveness derives from his struggles as a young boy, growing up in a single-parent household after his father was a victim of a violent crime, to his academic struggles through high school and college, leaving him a college dropout. Those experiences have led to a seventeen-year career in education. He earned a BA from Purdue University, a master’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan, and an administrator’s degree at Marion University.. He is dedicated to collaborating with other educators to create thriving school climates for all stakeholders!

Brenice Armstrong is the Executive Director at the Center for Empowering Education. Her role involves nurturing and developing stakeholder relationships, leading the strategic charge of our organization, and facilitating the progress our team makes in schools across the country. Prior to joining CEE, Brenice worked in public education for over 14 years, most notably serving as a public school principal with a strong commitment to improving the quality of life in communities with low-income populations and people of color. She successfully helped to launch a startup charter school in Indianapolis, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; and Wilmington, Delaware. These schools aimed to provide high-quality education for students in at-risk communities and develop highly skilled educators who could deepen their impact. She is also an award-winning science and history teacher with a passion for developing self-efficacy skills in her students. Originally from Los Angeles, Brenice earned her Bachelor's Degree in International Studies and Public Policy from UCLA. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbia University. She holds additional degrees from Wilmington University and RELAY Graduate School of Education. In her free time, she enjoys indoor spin classes, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with her family, including her two children.