Hot Springs School District

Kristal Brandon, who has been with the Hot Springs School District for 20 years, has been named Principal of the Hot Springs Junior Academy. Brandon is currently the Principal of Park Magnet, an IB World School, a position she has held since 2022. 

Brandon, a native of Arkansas, grew up in Malvern and graduated from Malvern High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Henderson State University and later a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.  

Her tenure at the Hot Springs School District began as an intern at Park Magnet in 2005. She was hired as a kindergarten teacher in 2006 at Oaklawn Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School (OVPA) and transitioned back to Park Magnet as a kindergarten teacher in 2011. She added IB PYP Coordinator to her duties as an educator during this time period, which is a vital component of sustaining a successful IB School curriculum. She was chosen by her peers as Teacher of the Year twice, at OVPA in 2010 and at Park Magnet in 2018. In 2019, she was promoted to Assistant Principal at OVPA, which is now called Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School. She then transitioned back to Park Magnet as Assistant Principal in 2019 before being promoted to Principal.

“We are thrilled to announce Kristal Brandon as the new Principal of Hot Springs Junior Academy,” Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Nehus said. “Mrs. Brandon’s leadership at Park Magnet has been defined by her dedication to academic excellence and student success. Her experience and passion for education make her the perfect fit to lead the Junior Academy, and we are excited to see the positive impact she will have on our students, staff, and community.”

“I’m honored to take on this new role at the Hot Springs Junior Academy,” Brandon said. “I look forward to working with the students, staff, and families to build on the school’s strong foundation and continue fostering a culture of learning and achievement.”

Brandon enjoys family time with her husband, Kevin, her son, Brevin, who attends the Hot Springs World Class High School, and her bonus daughter, Deandra, who lives in Michigan. As a die-hard Trojan fan, she looks forward to continuing to support and encourage her students inside and outside of the classroom. “Families can be assured that I will remain committed to excellence in my ‘Big 3:’ fun, safety, and learning,” Brandon said.

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About the Hot Springs School District: Founded in 1881, the Hot Springs School District is a unified Trojan family of campuses spread across multiple historic school sites in the heart of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Our mission is to educate and empower students to graduate from high school college and/or career-ready, respect diversity, and be contributing members of a global society. The Hot Springs School District is Diverse. Dedicated. Unified. A Place for Everyone.