Ashley Peterson

Ashley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. She earned her Texas Educator Certification through the Blinn TEACH program in Texas.

Ashley Peterson is an energetic coach and advocate for youth who has worked in the education field for more than 10 years as a teacher, mentor and athletic coach. Ashley began her career as a newspaper reporter, but soon found her “voice” in the work to prevent and end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

She worked as a prevention educator and communications specialist in the victim services field for more than 16 years, including work for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Voices For Children – Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth in foster care. She also worked as a freelance writer for magazines and nonprofit organizations.

In 2013, she felt called to be an advocate for youth in a different way – as a teacher and athletic coach. She began teaching 6th grade in the same year that her son was attending 6th grade, which only strengthened her sense of purpose and created opportunities to connect to students who simply needed to feel loved, valued and heard.

Coaching middle school and high school track has allowed Ashley to recognize the relationship between athletics and mental health, and gain unique approaches to coaching youth. She feels her mentoring and relationships with students have also been enhanced by teaching Art and Music over the last two years. Ashley remains in close relationship with many of her former students and athletes, serving as a mentor to them through their high school and college years. Ashley is a versatile coach whose focus areas include academics, health and wellness, relationships and family, personal development, faith and spirituality, servant leadership and overcoming anxiety.

Her approach to coaching centers on empowering her clients to both acquire knowledge from external sources and discover their true essence, power and wisdom, all of which will help them reach their goals and cultivate joy. She is a firm believer in what her father told her when she was younger – “You can do anything you put your mind to.”

She guides her clients in trusting in themselves and their capabilities by establishing trust (active listening, empathy); clarifying goals; identifying strengths and areas for growth; developing action plans; fostering self-awareness; cultivating resilience; promoting accountability; and encouraging
healthy habits.

Ashley is the proud mother of a 20-year-old United States Navy airman. She can often be found hiking in the mountains, state parks or near the beach. Ashley focuses on her spiritual growth by attending church, reading, praying and listening to podcasts. She enjoys traveling, volunteering with youth at her church, attending concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Ashley feels her son is one of her greatest accomplishments, raising him to be a kind, confident and hard-working young man while nurturing his authenticity and encouraging his compassion for others.

She has a wide range of accomplishments, including being named Community Advocate of the Year by Texas A&M University; developing a curriculum focusing on healthy and unhealthy dating relationships to present in middle school and high schools in Texas; and creating two elementary school running clubs. She most recently completed a 5K run in Frisco, Colorado!