Acting Superintendent
Mr. Martin Mahan
Martin Mahan
Acting Superintendent
Martin Mahan serves as the Acting Superintendent of Fort Smith Public Schools. He has been in this role since April 2025.
During his tenure with the Fort Smith Public Schools, Mahan has held a variety of roles, including Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Campus Support, Executive Director of Human Resources, Director of Secondary Education, Principal at Northside High School, Principal at Kimmons Junior High, Assistant Principal at Darby Junior High, and Social Worker/Counselor and Instructor at Belle Point Alternative Center.
In Fort Smith, he has been part of the Closing the Achievement Gap Committee, District Technology Applications Committee, the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program, the development of the Peak Innovation Center and the Health Sciences Academy, the development of the FSPS K-12 Virtual Option, the creation of the Aspiring Leaders’ Institute and other initiatives.
In addition to his administrative work, Mahan is a member of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators and was the chairman of the Board of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science.
Mahan holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Henderson State University and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas. He also holds an Educational Specialist degree from Arkansas Tech University.
Student Engagement
Superintendent Mahan believes in fostering strong connections between district administration and the student body. Under his leadership, the Superintendent Stars program recognizes elementary and middle school students for their model behavior in the classroom amongst their peers. The program provides the staff, students, and families with the opportunity to engage directly with the superintendent and school board. Additionally, the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council furthers the superintendent's commitment to inclusivity and student representation by providing high school students with the chance to provide feedback, ideas, and concerns to district staff. Through this initiative, students can develop leadership skills by collaborating with their peers and school administration.
Superintendent's Star Program
The Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent's Star program recognizes elementary school students who serve as a role model for their peers. Superintendent’s Stars show a healthy respect for others through their interactions with classmates and staff members. These students demonstrate positive attitudes and work hard to exceed academic and behavioral expectations at school.
The Superintendent's Star program helps support the district's vision and values by building strong relationships and creating a culture of excellence.
The superintendent and a school board member visit the school to deliver the award to the student. The recognition occurs in the student’s classroom so their peers can witness the honor. Presenting the award at the school gives the student's classmates a chance to congratulate them and hear about the qualities that a star recipient models - so they too become aware that they can become a star one day!
Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Since 2017, the FSPS Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council has provided solutions-oriented feedback to the superintendent and executive team. The students communicate their challenges and experiences to better inform staff about their experiences and needs. Through this volunteer work, the students develop leadership skills while collaborating with district staff. Some students apply to the council based on their interest in serving, while others serve as part of an elected position at their school.