Lesley Russell

Founder

         Lesley Russell is the Founder of EQUIP 210 and Next Generation Ministries dba Independent Learning Academy (ILA). ILA is a K-12 parent-choice homeschool educational model with over 1,200 students and three locations, two in southern California, and one in Meridian, Idaho. For the past 11 years, ILA has been pioneering and innovating education and has been the leading alternate education movement in southern California with thousands of K-12th grade students having attended with many of their graduating seniors receiving Trustee and Presidential Scholarships. Many of the ILA graduates also start their own companies, join the mission field, or serve in various military branches. They are truly world changers

Lesley and her husband, Joe, are originally from NY and have been married for 30 years. They have four children who are either currently attending ILA, are now in their careers of choice, or in graduate school programs. They all loved their homeschool educational experience through the Independent Learning Academy.  Lesley is so excited to be serving in the role as Senior Advisor Equipping Specialist training local auxiliary teams in leadership and continuing to innovate and reinvent education.

Lesley received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Gettysburg College and a Master’s in Secondary Education from Manhattanville College. She taught middle school Language Arts in NY before starting her own family. Lesley has been a homeschool mom of 22 years and has worked to develop various teaching pedagogies for children’s various learning styles that have been implemented over the years at ILA. She is excited to step into the calling that she has received from the Lord to equip the next generation of children to walk in the masterpiece of their individual Kingdom identity and the calling that He has for them. As the Lord leads, she is excited to bring the EQUIP 2:10 educational model and movement to other communities and states. EQUIP 2:10 Integrated Auxiliaries are available for churches to start to raise up and influence the next generation of children for Christ.

Meet the Team

Passionate for our children finding their identity in Christ

Meet Your Wilmington Team

Marissa McCrory

Brad McCrory

Meet the Equip Executive Team

Lesley Russell

Heather Sorenson

Kimberley Hart

Cailin Hart

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