# Educator Profile: Chad Arnett, Murlin Heights Elementary
**Date:** October 1, 2012
**Source:** Vandalia Drummer News
**Location:** Vandalia, OH
### Overview
Chad Arnett is a second-grade teacher at Murlin Heights Elementary School, currently in his tenth year of teaching. He is recognized for his high-energy, "hands-on" approach to education and his commitment to making the classroom an engaging environment for young learners.
### Key Teaching Philosophies & Methods
Arnett focuses on positive reinforcement and sensory-based learning to reach his students:
* **Hands-on Learning:** Arnett believes second grade is a critical age for exploration.
> “Kids want to explore. They need to touch, feel, take things apart and see how they’re made.”
* **Positive Reinforcement:** He utilizes "pats on the back" and high-fives. A signature tool is his **"giant Mickey Mouse glove,"** which students are highly motivated to earn a high-five from.
* **The "Crazy Hat" Tradition:** To make reading time more engaging, Arnett wears a different "crazy hat" every day (selected by students). His collection includes characters like the Cat in the Hat, Curious George, and various Disney figures.
### Integration of Technology
Arnett uses **Skype** to provide "virtual field trips," allowing students to experience locations beyond Ohio:
* **Animal Habitats:** A planned trip to a South Carolina aquarium.
* **Space Exploration:** Researching virtual trips into space.
* **Goal:** To provide experiences and sights that students would otherwise not have access to in their local community.
### Background and Education
* **Early Ambition:** Arnett decided he wanted to be an elementary teacher in the third grade.
* **Education:** Earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from **Wright State University**.
* **Specialization:** Holds a Master’s degree in **gifted education**.
* **Formative Experience:** Developed his classroom management and engagement style while working at the YMCA during his college years.
### Professional Dedication
Arnett emphasizes that teaching extends far beyond the standard school day:
> “When I’m home, I’m working on how to reach kids, working on lesson prep, researching new ways to present material. I’m always doing something.”
### Local Context (Sidebar Information)
At the time of this article's publication, the following local news items were trending in the Vandalia community:
* **School News:** Murlin Heights Elementary was slated to close (the most viewed article with 512 views).
* **Sports:** Wayne High School defeated the Vandalia Aviators in football; Butler United '00 won a soccer tournament.
* **Public Safety:** Recent police reports from September 27 were a high-interest topic for readers.