Lesley Russell and her husband, Joe, are co-founders of Next Generation Ministries whose mission and vision are to raise up the next generation to fulfill their individual God-given purposes based on Ephesians 2:10. Lesley also founded the Independent Learning Academy (ILA) which is a K-12 parent choice homeschool educational model with over 1,300 students and six locations, five in southern California, and one in Meridian, Idaho with new campuses being added for fall 2022. ILA partners as a ministry of churches to help equip the church in running innovative, Christ-centered homeschool programs. In 2012, Lesley became the Charter Head for a Trail Life and AHG troop. In spring 2021, she started the homeschool advocacy group R.O.A.R (Reach Out And Rise) which helps to support and defend homeschooling and parent’s rights in the state of California. She is also on the consulting committee of Public School Exit. Lesley has a B.A. in English from Gettysburg College and a Master’s in Secondary Education from Manhattanville College and has been a homeschool mom of 20 years.