From Kindergarten Inspiration to Impactful Educator: Kristal Leach’s Journey with Champion Christian College

From an early age, Kristal Leach knew she wanted to be a teacher. The spark ignited during her kindergarten years, thanks to a phenomenal teacher who deeply inspired her. "Her name was Laurie Jordan, and she was just so loving and nurturing," Kristal recalls. “I knew then I wanted to be a teacher."

Today, Kristal serves as a fifth-grade writing and ELA teacher at Lake Hamilton Intermediate School in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her teaching journey spans multiple roles: from third grade to first and second grades, and even serving as the district dyslexia, ESL, and test coordinator in Mount Ida School District. However, she credits her time at Champion Christian College as pivotal to achieving these career milestones.

Before completing her degree, Kristal worked as a para professional at Lake Hamilton for 18 years. Balancing her career, family life, and ministry work made it difficult for her to pursue traditional education paths. While other schools required her to quit her job to attend classes, Kristal needed flexibility. "I had a family to take care of, and I was looking for somewhere I didn’t have to quit my job and attend in-person classes," she explains.

That’s when she discovered Champion Christian College. Through a conversation with Brother Capaci, she learned about Champion and its ability to accommodate her demanding schedule as a mom of five, a wife, and a full-time professional. Champion’s flexible scheduling and understanding approach enabled her to finish her bachelor’s degree without compromising her personal responsibilities.

With her bachelor's degree complete, Kristal continued her education at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where she earned her master’s in teaching. She was also selected for a full scholarship through the Impact Program, sponsored by the Arkansas State Department, allowing her to pursue an administration degree. Today, Kristal holds an administration certification for grades K-12.

"Without Champion College, I would have never been able to get my bachelor's degree," Kristal reflects. "That was the building block the Lord used to lead me toward receiving two master's degrees and becoming an educator with a K-12 admin degree."

Now, with her wealth of experience and education, Kristal hopes to return to Champion one day—not as a student, but as a teacher, to help nurture the next generation of educators.

Champion Christian College didn’t just provide Kristal with an education; it set her on a path of lifelong learning and service to others.