Anni K. Reinking, Ed.D., is the Founder and CEO of Reinking Education Consulting, LLC. She was a classroom teacher for 8 years in Mombasa, Kenya, on the Southside of Chicago, in Northwest Indiana, and in Central Illinois. She taught early childhood through middle school grades. After completing her Ed.D., she began her career in higher education. Since 2015, she has worked in the field of research and as a professor at various schools throughout Illinois. During her time in higher education, she has been able to connect with organizations and individuals statewide, nationally, and internationally. Through these connections, she has also been able to provide workshops, consultation, and leadership guidance, while also continuing her research. Additionally, she has worked at the state level as an independent contractor focused on competency-based education and embedded technology.
She is an elected official as a proud member of the Peoria District 150 (Illinois) School board, as well as serving on various other local, state, and national committees focused on equity. Finally, she is a best selling author with her most recent book focused on Implicit Bias in education settings.
She is an elected official as a proud member of the Peoria District 150 (Illinois) School board, as well as serving on various other local, state, and national committees focused on equity. Finally, she is a best selling author with her most recent book focused on Implicit Bias in education settings.
Laycee Thigpen, MS.Ed., is a lead consultant at Reinking Education Consulting. Her work focuses on creating equitable environments, including schools, organizations, churches, and wider communities. She was a classroom teacher in childcare and Head Start for 8 years in Southern Illinois. She completed her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and Masters in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville. She has instructed pre-service and in-service teachers, coached apprentices to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, designed and directed a Summer Program for children, and provided training on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Laycee focuses her work on developing racially inclusive environments for early childhood students and combating biases and stereotypes in environments.
Sue Krummel, M.Div. is a teacher, leader and minister in the Presbyterian Church. For over 40 years she has led congregations and governing bodies to move in new directions and to seek new ways to bring hope to a battered world. Her BA is in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois and she received a Phi Beta Kappa key for her work as an undergraduate. Her Masters of Divinity degree is from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and she received an award as an outstanding student upon her completion of this degree. She has extensive training from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Institute; a certificate in Executive Leadership from McCormick Theological Seminary; and years of experience teaching interim/transitional pastors. She is a recognized leader in her denomination and a sought after preacher. Others recognize in her an ability to help calm troubled systems and bring clarity to confusing situations. She is known as a truth teller. In 2021 she became a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Diversity Inventory (IDI), continuing her work to address issues of equity and equality across cultural barriers.
Recently retired as the Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago, she is continuing her work in governing body leadership in a much smaller way by serving short term in various settings. She is also continuing her love of sharing insight and challenge by consulting with and teaching organizations that are ready to change.
Recently retired as the Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago, she is continuing her work in governing body leadership in a much smaller way by serving short term in various settings. She is also continuing her love of sharing insight and challenge by consulting with and teaching organizations that are ready to change.
