Dear Brandon Academy Families,
I am honored to serve the Brandon Academy community as Head of Lower School. The lower-school years are a remarkable time when curiosity comes alive, friendships take root, and students begin discovering what they are capable of achieving.
We want every child to feel known, supported, and excited to come to school. Our Lower School combines strong academics with the encouragement, relationships, and sense of belonging children need to grow with confidence.
Ashley Smith
Head of Lower School
(813) 689-1952 ext. 113
For the past 15 years, Brandon Academy has been much more than a workplace—it has become a second home.
My daughter, Ellie, has attended Brandon Academy since Pre-K and is now a seventh-grade student. Her experience here has allowed me to see Brandon Academy through two important perspectives: as both an educator and a parent.
That personal connection has only deepened my commitment to creating the kind of school community where students are known, families feel connected, and children genuinely want to be here.
Every child arrives with their own interests, talents, personality, and way of learning. Our teachers get to know those differences and use them to help children grow academically, socially, and personally.
Through strong academics, meaningful relationships, and a supportive school culture, students develop confidence in themselves and consideration for others.
Our lower school is a place where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, build lasting friendships, and discover the joy of learning.
I am grateful to the students and families who have allowed me to be part of their educational journeys. Those relationships are what make this community special and what make the work we do together so meaningful.
By working together, our faculty, families, and students can preserve the caring character of Brandon Academy while creating new opportunities for our children.
I am excited about what lies ahead and confident that our community will continue accomplishing great things together.
Ashley Smith
Head of Lower School
Visit our campus, meet our teachers and students, and discover what makes Brandon Academy such a distinctive place to learn and grow.
