EMPOWER, INSPIRE, EDUCATE
We equip administrators, teachers, and students with the tools and skills to create a positive school culture that ensures equitable education for all.
What We Do
The Center for Empowering Education is a K-12 professional development and education service center that strategically places its work in school communities to aid in the education and empowerment of children and those that serve them. We are committed to meeting the professional development, training, and inspirational needs of schools and organizations by creating capacity building systems that improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for students, teachers, and families!
Hear From Our Partners
See What Others Are Saying
Mr. Dinkins has proven to be an invaluable resource for me and my school community. He has shared wisdom and successful strategy that has helped me develop as a leader. The best part is he has been right there with me, coaching and guiding me every step of the way.
Jeremy Coleman
Principal
Brookview Elementary School
Center for Empowering Education (CEE) under the leadership of Mr. Dinkins has been a critical and strategic think partner in the development of our community engagement and leadership development initiatives.
Cassandra Anderson
Director of Community Engagement
UNCF
Mr. Dinkins emotional intelligence training for our teacher significantly improved our ability to model social and emotional learning needs for our students. He made an asserted effort to imbed context around addressing our implicit bias and cultural awareness.
Jason Smith
Principal
Stonybrook Middle School
Meet The Team
Dr. Brian Dinkins
CEO & Master Trainer
Dr. Brian Dinkins is a rising professional development trainer, keynote, and motivational speaker for the Center for Empowering Education where he serves as CEO. Brian teaches future principals in the educational leadership program at Marian University in Indianapolis, IN. Raised by a single mother in the inner city of Indianapolis, he achieved poorly graduating with a 1.9gpa but with support of Indianapolis Public School teachers, coaches, and mentors, earned a B.A. from Purdue University, two master’s degrees, Ed.S, and doctorate in educational leadership. He dissertation research focuses on the "Emotional Intelligence of Teachers, Impact on the Discipline Outcomes of African American Male Students in Urban Schools. Brian has served as turnaround principal in four high poverty schools, including traditional, charter, and private schools and has committed his work to serving children and families in need.
Dr. Jeremy Coleman
Master Trainer
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.
Charles Woods
Master Trainer
Charles Woods is a master trainer for the Center for Empowering Education, where she provides Emotionally-Inclusive Practices training for schools. He has served students, parents, educators, and communities through his educational career for over 17 years. During this time of teaching and administrative experiences he has done so with a data-proven track record of student success, staff development, and educational program implementation. Mr. Woods has served as an Executive Director, Head of Schools, Founding Principal, Principal, Dean of Students, Physical Education teacher and a Special Education Teacher. Mr. Woods has extensive knowledge pertaining to best practices for zero-tolerance bullying, safety concepts in facility development, gang intervention, non-violent crisis intervention methods, and trauma-informed practices. His accolades include Teacher of the Year, an Outstanding Educator Award from the State of Indiana, Distinguished Alumni from his alma mater, and an Open-Door Award from the American Heart Association. Mr. Woods is exhilarated to serve students and communities through his gift of educational leadership. He is confident that his uncompromising belief that ALL students can learn, grow, and exceed their own expectations will establish a nurturing student-first community.
Dr. Pennie Gregory
Master Trainer
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
Master Trainer
Matthew Radcliffe’s is a master trainer for the Center for Empowering Education, where she 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!
