Episode 73 - Alison Park and Chris Thinnes

As the founder of Blink Consulting, Alison Park has partnered with over 100 independent schools, as well as public districts, community-based organizations and nonprofits to advance their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition to her work with clients, Alison has facilitated and keynoted at numerous conferences, including the Asian Educators’ Alliance, Bay Area Directors of Admission Symposium, California Association of Independent Schools, East Bay Independent Schools Association, National Association of Independent Schools’ Annual and POCC, Northwest Association of Independent Schools’ Fall Educators and Institutional Leadership and the White Privilege Conferences. Alison has also served on Park Day School's Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board of the Mosaic Project, and currently serves on the SMART program's Board of Directors. Before Blink, Alison taught for thirteen years in the public, non-profit and private sectors, including Marin Academy and Head-Royce Middle School. Alison earned her B.A. in African Studies at Yale University and two Master's degrees at Harvard's Graduate School of Education. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Alison has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area over 25 years.   https://www.rethinkingdiversity.com/Chris Thinnes, Ed.D., is a veteran independent school leader, an experienced educational consultant and facilitator, a skilled DEI practitioner, and a seasoned collaborator with education leaders from the public and private sectors. Throughout his service in schools, he has promoted a fuller understanding of the fact that deeper learning in our classrooms is dependent on diversity, equity, and social justice in our schools. He has also promoted a wide range of initiatives to transform teaching and learning by integrating technology and research-based practice, systematizing professional learning and collaboration, enriching school partnerships with other educational organizations, and engaging student, teacher, and parent voices in strategic institutional decision making—actively collaborating, all the while, with national education thought leaders, researchers, and activists from the public and private sectors to promote the transformation of teaching and learning for all our nation's children.      Thinnes has regular presented workshops and facilitated sessions at national conferences such as the NAIS People of Color Conference, the NAIS Annual Conference, the Progressive Education Network national conference, and the EdLeader21 national conference. His writing about education issues has appeared in Independent School Magazine, GOOD, Living in Dialogue (Education Week), and a variety of other publications and blogs. Thinnes currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Progressive Education Network and EduColor. He received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from LMU.