Dr. Penny Armstrong
EXECUTIVE LIFE COACH & EDUCATION SPECIALIST
ABOUT
COACHING
EDUCATION
EVENTS
BOOK
Ed.D. Educational Leadership ◆ Board Certified Life & Wellness Coach ◆ Certified End-of-Life Doula ◆ S'Cool Moves Regional Trainer
◆ Simplicity Parenting ◆ Sexual & Gender Justice
ABOUT
Three decades in the room
where the change happens.
DR. PENNY ARMSTRONG, ED.D.
Dr. Penny Armstrong brings over thirty years of professional experience in school leadership and change initiatives. She is a leader in the fields of emotional wellness and human development and is a board-certified Life and Wellness Coach.
She holds specialist certifications in personal and organizational
change, along with added certifications in Sexual and Gender Justice
and Simplicity Parenting. As a career educator, public speaker and
Life Coach, she provides support and guidance in the areas of
personal growth, parenting and family dynamics, and sustainable
organizational change.
While earning her doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from St.
Thomas University in Minneapolis, Dr. Armstrong worked in both
elementary and secondary public school administration, including
two years in an alternative high school serving inner city youth and
young adults. Her dissertation was completed in 1999, later re-
written for public distribution and published by Rowman and
Littlefield in 2008. The book, What Teachers Expect in Reform, is
available through commercial distribution and used in graduate level
instruction. She was a contributing author to The Value of Academic
Discourse, published by Rowman and Littlefield in 2015.
In recent years, Dr. Armstrong has expanded her school leadership
work to include workshops in support of schools and classroom
teachers. She is a certified regional trainer for S'Cool Moves and
provides teacher workshops on classroom management strategies
and administrative supports in Colorado and Texas.
LIFE COACHING
Life is complicated.
Coaching can help you sort
it out.
Professional coaching is a creative partnership in which a
safe space is created to examine current circumstances,
inspire new ways of thinking, and move toward desired
changes.
Nationally board-certified, I specialize in helping people
identify and achieve their personal and professional goals.
The Strong Interest Inventory
An added tool in personal exploration. Your interests are
matched to potential careers, directions in education, and
life choices — all deepening personal understanding and
sustainable next steps.
EDUCATION SERVICES
Workshops built for the people in the
classroom.
With a broad background in teaching and school
administration, Dr. Armstrong speaks with authority and
personal knowledge about the challenges facing our
teachers and our schools today.
The following workshops are available individually, for small groups, or as full district
level professional development programs.
TWO-DAY WORKSHOP
S'Cool Moves
Founder Dr. Deb M. Wilson
A comprehensive teacher development
program that combines behavior
management strategies with best
instructional practices to improve
classroom management and student
outcomes.
An overview of neuroscience research
and brain development as they relate to
best teaching practices.
Strategies to improve student self-
regulation, focus, and developmental
skills.
Advanced strategies for middle and high
school students with special needs.
A set of materials for easy application in
the classroom or clinic setting.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
The Nervous System in the
Classroom
For teachers and support staff
Teachers are meeting increasing numbers
of students identified with complex
learning and emotional challenges and
trauma. This workshop introduces ways to
monitor and manage the effects of
emotions and trauma in daily classroom
practice.
An introduction to the nervous system
and emotional development.
The ebb and flow of the autonomic
nervous system and Polyvagal Theory for teachers and students.
Trigger points in the school day.
Strategies to co-regulate nervous
systems in the classroom.
School applications for student and
teacher well-being.
SMALL GROUP SERIES
Group Coaching
Five to twenty participants
Group coaching strategies blend expert
facilitation with peer learning, allowing
participants to brainstorm solutions, shareexperiences, and build a supportive
community.
Small group open dialogue, five to twenty people.
Participants are led through individual
and group discoveries.
Outcomes include deeper self-
awareness and collaborative growth.
Shared goals and understandings to
carry forward.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Where to find
Dr. Armstrong this year.
Our Amazing Brains: A Walk Down Memory Lane
SILVER FROGS · TCU EXTENDED EDUCATION
Changes in how memory feels and works are common concerns many of us share as we
age. This presentation takes a closer look at the thinking brain and how the three pathways to memory directly influence how and what we remember. The impact of stress, sleep
patterns, and superfoods is introduced, with practical tips for better brain health and
function.
SEP
14
2026
SEP
26
2026
Building a Meaningful End-of-Life Doula Business
440 SOUTH MAIN ST., FORT WORTH
You have completed your training — now it's time to build a practice. In this interactive
workshop, certified doulas clarify individual strengths, define mission and vision, identify the people they are best equipped to serve, and lay the foundation for an authentic and
sustainable practice.
Walking Each Other Home: A Conversation on End of Life
SILVER FROGS · TCU EXTENDED EDUCATION
Human beings have few certainties in life, but one of them is that eventually we will die. Why, then, is it so difficult to talk about? This presentation looks at end-of-life care and how we can prepare ourselves and help those we love through this tender time of passage. Topics include health care options, palliative and hospice care, and the documents needed to ensure a final passage that is respectful and desired — along with how to make the most of our lives while we are still here to enjoy them.
OCT
07
2026
Caring for Aging Animals
SILVER FROGS · TCU EXTENDED EDUCATION
Unless we have owned and loved a companion animal, it is hard to understand the
commitment and love surrounding these friendships. Certified by the University of Vermont School of Veterinary Science, Dr. Armstrong introduces the care of aging pets and an examination of an aging pet's health and care options. Topics include quality-of-life tools, palliative and hospice care for animals, memorializing, and working through the grief of losing a much-loved companion.
NOV
13
2026
NOV
14 & 21
2026
Grief Support Training
TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKEND CLASSES · CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS
Living with or through grief can be a painful and lonely experience. This series is designed for people who are experiencing grief as well as for people supporting others facing grief and loss. Across two weekend classes, we examine fundamental understandings about personal grief through this healing time and approaches to serve and support others.
JUN
05 & 12
2027
Aging Companion Animal Workshop
TWO CONSECUTIVE SATURDAYS · $225 · EARLY BIRD $200 BEFORE MAY 15
Handling the special needs of an aging and beloved pet can be confusing and costly, and
the loss of a companion animal can be devastating for the owner and extended family. This workshop includes training on specific levels of assistance, care, and support for aging companion animals and their caregivers.
ALSO AVAILABLE TO BOOK
The Mystery of Prayer
Prayer is found in every faith tradition — even the most ancient tribes show evidence of communing
with a higher power. Gallup polls indicate that nine out of ten people pray regularly, yet they rank
actual satisfaction very low. In this age of social media and rapid change, where is the place for
prayer? This two-part series examines what science is uncovering about contemplation and prayer,
then returns to what faith traditions teach us. No dates scheduled at this time — get in touch to host
this series.
ALSO FROM DR. ARMSTRONG
Legacy Passage
THE BOOK
What Teachers Expect in
Reform
Making Their Voices Heard
Education reform and policy making have captured the attention of the
American public. Federal and state improvement plans have become national
platforms with stiff penalties for schools and teachers who don't "make the
grade." Test-driven curriculum reflects new standards of what will be taught
and assessed at each grade level. Through all of this, classroom teachers
have been identified as the reason for our failing schools and the focus for
improved performance.
Between 1998 and 2006, Penny Ann Armstrong
interviewed over 300 classroom teachers and
administrators in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and
Texas. This book tells their stories.
Their narratives are candid, often impassioned, and many times troubling.
They describe reform efforts that may be well-intentioned but have resulted
in serious and far-reaching consequences — teachers robbed of
professional authority in their own classrooms, and changes that limit their
opportunities to teach. The book brings the reader into the classroom to see
what is really happening in our schools today, and why the current reform
efforts cannot succeed.
CONTACT
Let's start with a conversation.
Reach out about coaching, a district workshop, or
a speaking engagement. Introductory coaching
sessions are offered at no charge.
TELEPHONE