WHO WE ARE

We Did Not Build a Test Prep Company. We Built a Movement.

The Critical Thinking Child is a full-service learning company serving families from PreK through 12th grade — built on 15 years of proven results, expert academic coaches, and a methodology that develops the one skill that matters most: how to think. Virtual tutoring available for K–12 students nationwide. PreK Programming — In Person.

OUR ORIGIN

It Started With a Rejection – and a Mother Who Refused to Accept It

I could not believe it. My 4-year-old son was denied entry to our district’s top kindergarten program. As I stared at that letter, disbelief turning into tears, I realized I had been blindsided by a system I thought I understood. Like countless parents, I had done what was supposed to be enough — bedtime stories, counting games, museum visits, and so much more.

That day I learned that the rules of education had changed. Suddenly, preschoolers were expected to test into good schools, competing for a future their parents did not even know was at stake. That rejection letter could have been the end. Instead, it became our beginning.

I set out on a cross-country journey to unlock the secrets of early childhood development. From Washington to New York to California, I sought out leading experts in neuroscience, child psychology, and educational theory. The revelation was stunning in its simplicity: during those precious early years, a child’s brain craves not facts and figures – but the neural pathways that enable critical thinking. The foundation for all future learning.

I returned to Chicago and began my work on the benches of Tuley Park and academic boot camps on college campuses. Armed with nothing more than a few flyers, I offered a different approach. While others focused on memorization and drills, we taught children to decode, analyze, and think critically. Word spread. Parents drove for hours, crossing socioeconomic boundaries, seeking something they sensed was missing in traditional education. A Chicago Tribune feature became our tipping point – and what began on a park bench grew into a company.  In 2013 we rebranded from Minds Eye Chicago to The Critical Thinking Child — a name that speaks directly to every parent who knows their child is capable of more.

OUR FOUNDER

Lemi-Ola Erinkitola

Founder & CEO, The Critical Thinking Child

Lemi-Ola Erinkitola is an award-winning educator, acclaimed children’s author, and founder of The Critical Thinking Child. What began as a rejection letter grew into boot camps on park benches and college campuses — and has since grown into a virtual learning company serving over 30,000 families nationwide, empowering students from PreK through high school with the critical thinking skills that open doors to the most competitive schools in the country. With 15 years of tutoring experience and over a decade serving families as The Critical Thinking Child, Erinkitola remains committed to making high-quality, critical thinking-centered tutoring accessible to every student.

•   Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni (2024)
•   Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) Educator of the Year (2020)
•   Stanford University’s NSSA Tutoring Badge — evidence-based tutoring program design excellence (2025–2028)
•   President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Services (2016)
•   Co-Chair, NIST/NICE K-12 Cybersecurity Community of Interest (2023–2026)
•   Kapor Foundation AI Literacy Grant Recipient — responsible AI Guidelines for K-12 students (2025)
•   National Children’s Reading Foundation Flagship Award (2019)
•   Hello Alice Business for All Emergency Grant (2020)
•   Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) Educator of the Year (2020)
•   Google Apps for K-12 Education Summit Demo Slam Winner (2016)
•   M.S., Rush University Chicago | B.S., University of Illinois | Critical Thinking Certificate, University of Edinburgh

WHAT WE DO

From One Founder to a Full Team – Built to Serve Your Family

Today CTC is more than one person. We are a team of dedicated tutors, academic coaches, and learning specialists serving families virtually across the country and globally. Every engagement begins the same way – with an assessment.

PROOF OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE

She Built It for Her Son. Then She Proved It With Her Daughters.

The same critical thinking methodology that started on a park bench in Tuley Park ultimately shaped two young women who made history at one of Chicago’s most competitive high schools – each accepted to over 30 elite colleges and universities, with SAT scores placing them in the 96th percentile nationally.

OUR MISSION

Turning Cloudy Dreams Into Clear Futures. One Critical Thinker at a Time.

Today, The Critical Thinking Child stands as more than a name – it is a proven methodology that transforms young minds. Our reach now extends globally – supporting families across Africa, Singapore, Canada, India, and beyond But our mission has never changed: to be the first and most crucial stop for parents embarking on their child’s educational journey.

In a world where AI is reshaping education and the workplace evolves at lightning speed, critical thinking has never been more valuable. Whether a child dreams of becoming a scientist, a CEO, or a star athlete – what matters is their ability to think critically, adapt quickly, and solve problems creatively.

We are not just doing test preparation. We are helping children achieve their goals from PreK all the way through high school. Every child who develops critical thinking skills becomes a beacon of hope for a future that demands problem-solvers and creative thinkers.

We have built more than an educational service — we have created the village that modern parents desperately need. Whether through personalized coaching, interactive online platforms, or AI-powered tools, we equip parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CTC

15 Years of Results. Now Powered by AI.

For 15 years CTC has been building critical thinkers one session at a time. Now we have added a dimension that sets us apart — the CTC AI Study Coach. Built on our proven methodology, designed with student safety at the center, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ready to Work With Us?

Whether you are a parent, a school, a nonprofit, or a corporate partner – we would love to connect. Let’s talk about what CTC can do for your community.