The Founding Board Members of LPAEF bring over 40 years of combined experience in education, leadership, administration, and media.

Mrs. Padgett has over 25 years in education as a high school science teacher, college academic support specialist, educational consultant, tutor, standardized test preparation specialist, and Lead Principal. She has successfully run after-school, summer, tutoring, and standardized test programs through her company, Sherre Padgett Education Consulting Services (SPECS) since 2010 and continues to serve organizations (including nonprofits) and students through her highly sought-after ACT and GRE Prep courses and boot camps for clients including Auburn University, Tuskegee University, Women in Training, Inc., UNITE, Inc., and Tennessee Technical University. Mrs. Padgett is also the Lead Principal of Life Preparatory Academy, an online K-12 church school serving students across the state of Alabama where graduates have successfully entered into the workforce and college with scholarships, most notably the Gates Foundation scholarship.

Mr. Padgett serves as Pastor of Iron Life Ministries, Inc. and has served in ministry at the support and pastoral levels for over 20 years. Through his visionary leadership and love for education, he established Life Preparatory Academy under the ministry to serve to provide transformational education opportunities for students in rural Alabama. He is also the owner of Padgett Media 360, an entertainment company that specializes in creating products and providing services for stage, screen, print, digital, and music media. With an extensive background in entertainment and entrepreneurship, Mr. Padgett continues to use his experiences to promote and expand opportunities for his clients. He is an avid mentor, teacher, team-builder and leader that is a proven asset to students, businesses, nonprofits, religious organizations, and his community.