About Us

At the heart of my teaching philosophy is a deep commitment to education as a transformative force for personal empowerment, community advancement, and social equity. Grounded in my diverse professional experiences—spanning education, law, finance, and real estate—I approach teaching as an opportunity not merely to transmit knowledge, but to cultivate critical thinkers, compassionate leaders, and lifelong learners who can navigate and challenge the systems that shape their lives.

I believe that every student brings a wealth of experience, culture, and potential into the classroom. My role as an educator is to create an environment where that potential is recognized, nurtured, and expanded. I design my lessons to be inclusive, rigorous, and relevant, connecting theoretical knowledge to real-world applications, particularly for historically marginalized communities. By drawing on my background in sociology and law, I embed discussions of policy, social structures, and systemic barriers into academic content, helping students critically engage with the world beyond the classroom walls.

My approach to instruction is student-centered and relational. I employ a combination of high expectations and high support, offering clear structures while also allowing students room for creative inquiry and self-expression. I integrate differentiated instruction, authentic assessments, and project-based learning to ensure that diverse learning styles are honored and every student has the tools to succeed. My experience as a success coach, classroom teacher, and substitute across varied contexts has strengthened my ability to adapt to different student needs, build trust quickly, and foster resilient academic communities.

I also view teaching as a collaborative process. Inspired by transformational leadership principles, I aim to model integrity, empathy, and resilience, encouraging students to develop these traits within themselves and in their engagement with others. Professional growth, for both my students and myself, is a continuous journey. I openly share my own academic and professional pathways—including my pursuit of doctoral and legal education—as a way to demystify success and inspire perseverance.

Finally, I believe education must always aim toward justice. Whether in the humanities, social sciences, or financial literacy, I challenge students to think critically about inequities and to imagine ways they can be agents of positive change. I view my classroom as a small but significant site where systemic transformation begins—through dialogue, discipline, and the daily practice of hope.

Teaching is both my vocation and my contribution to a larger legacy of advocacy, empowerment, and transformation. It is a responsibility I embrace with humility, passion, and a relentless belief in the power of education to open doors that generations before us only dreamed could exist.

Malik Padgett is a proud graduate of Nova Southeastern University, having earned his doctorate in education with a concentration in organizational leadership. He believes that education is a precious commodity that must be preserved and that the freedom to express the values born from education must be protected for future generations. Dr. Padgett affirms that every good leader must aspire to remain an even greater student—recognizing that life's journey is about continually absorbing knowledge while understanding that we never fully arrive at its final destination.

Dr. Padgett has embraced transformational leadership as the foundation for building authentic relationships, grounded in ethical principles, conviction, mutual admiration, and integrity.

Dr. Padgett is an educator, lecturer in Miami, and author of the newly released book Unintentionally Biased and Exposed. He holds a double major—a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Legal and Policy Studies from Fordham University—and a Master of Science in International Real Estate from Florida International University, and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

A steadfast activist for educational equity, Dr. Padgett passionately advocates that education is the key to transforming lives. He believes that service to others must remain a fundamental value and that our pursuit of self-realization should focus on uniting the strengths we collectively possess rather than amplifying the differences that divide us. In his ongoing pursuit of justice, Dr. Padgett maintains that rehabilitated lives challenge systems of oppression and social disparity, fostering environments where parity and equity can flourish for the benefit of all.