Dr. Carole
Dr. Carole Rene’ Collins Ayanlaja, a native of Indianapolis, IN and a Chicagoan for three decades, holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a parent, teacher, educational leader, and researcher. A commitment to educational success for k-12 students through effective teaching and authentic equity-driven leadership is the hallmark of her professional career.
She began her educational career as a Chicago Public Schools 6th and 8th grade teacher in the Latinx community. In 1998 she launched her leadership journey in suburban Cook County, soon thereafter joining Chicago Public Schools. Prior to joining higher education in 2016, Dr. Collins Ayanlaja served in public education for over 20 years with 16 years in the capacity of elementary assistant principal and principal; high school assistant principal and principal; district director of curriculum and assessment, chief academic officer, chief assessment officer, and superintendent in Chicago, Suburban Cook County (IL), Ohio, Iowa, and Connecticut.
Currently, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, College of Education, Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Collins, as she is frequently called, prepares graduate candidates for the principalship and superintendency in the state of Illinois. Her research incorporates intersectionalities of race and gender in educational leadership and schooling experiences. Carole promotes democratic engagement for diverse children and families in equitable learning environments that propel anti-racist pedagogy and inclusive practices. She most recently served a three-year term on the CARE (Commission on Anti-racism and Equity) for the Chicago Presbytery which serves 30,000 congregants and more than 90 diverse congregations and houses of worship.
Dr. Collins Ayanlaja engages in broader community work by partnering with schools, community organizations, and businesses to strategically plan, develop, and implement culturally responsive practices by building principal, teacher, and staff capacity to engage with families and propel programming that ensures access and equity. She is an initiator, propeller, and implementer of inclusive teaching and leadership thinking and practice
Alanti Consulting, LLC.
Alanti Consulting, LLC provides quality leadership consultation to improve operations, levels of productivity, and impact. Carole influences successful outcomes for schools and community-based organizations through providing thought provoking presentations. She engages staff, students, and community members in interactive professional development that builds reflection and higher levels of awareness of equity-based approaches Through individualized coaching, Dr. Collins guides principals and other educational leaders in developing key best practices that propel their organizations forward. She mentors professionals to build their capacity to implement effective strategies that promote a shared culture, improved climate, and goals attainment.
Services Offered
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference”
-Robert Frost-The Road Not Taken
To develop professionally we must be willing to recognize what we know, what we don’t know, and where to acquire skills and support to reach our goals. When we take the road less traveled, we leave our comfort zone. Alanti Consulting, LLC is a partner in progress that makes the journey a smoother ride!
Customized Professional Learning
Keynote Presentations
Qualitative Research and Program Evaluation
Executive Leadership Coaching
Organizational Strategic Planning and Operational Support
Informed Development and Feedback
Assessment and Grant Review
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”
-Bob Marley, Musical Poet