Meet our President

Tynisha D. Gardner, M.S. is a strategic leader and community activist.  With over 10 years of experience in education and 20 years in business, she advocates for the next generation of leaders.  Notably, she has coached professionals at all levels in education including collegiate as well as in fortune 500 corporations. Mrs. Gardner is a community stakeholder who is a dedicated member of the Lake County State’s Attorney Citizen Advisory Board, active alum of the Zion Benton Leadership Academy, a faithful servant in her church and she is also a former board member of Zion Benton Township’s High School District 126.

 

Mrs. Gardner has become a staple in education serving families from all walks of life in the private, public, and charter sectors.  She cherished the many opportunities to have taught children in grades K-12^th.  Mrs. Gardner’s education journey has afforded her the opportunities to develop and implement life-changing programs focusing on high school readiness and placement, college-readiness, as well as career coaching.  She believes that any child regardless of zip code and economic status deserves a high-quality education and should be empowered to “pay it forward” for the next generation.  Over the course of her education career, in a short span of time, Mrs. Gardner has placed over 500 young-people in some of the country’s most prestige secondary independent, parochial, private, and boarding schools.  

 

An advocate for children and families who experiences the impact of living in underserved and underrepresented communities, Mrs. Gardner has become a highly sought out influential leader to help catapult change within her own community where funding, resources, and opportunities are limited. She is committed to helping the girls of ALCA find their identity in Christ, cultivate their gifts and talents, and position them for success. From her own life journey, she champions the cause to raise up leaders who will impact generations and transform the communities they live in.

 

Mrs. Gardner obtained an associate degree in Business Administration in 2006 followed by a bachelor’s degree in 2007 with a Concentration in Management from Roosevelt University formerly known as Robert Morris University in Waukegan, IL. Mrs. Gardner further pursued a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Dominican University in River Forest, IL in 2009. She also co-authored “Emotional Wellness for Women Vol. III” through the Professional Woman Network. While these accomplishments have opened the door to many career experiences, it is the success of a child that is the greatest reward for her. 

 

Tynisha values her family and faith and is dedicated to answering the call of God. She strives to align her life with the scripture Ephesians 2:8-10. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”