District Admin. & Staff: Principals: High School

Lincoln Native Starts Year Two as WHS Leader

July 26, 2006

Chris Arent, Principal
Wahoo High School
2201 N. Locust
Wahoo, Nebraska 68066
(402) 443-4332
carent@esu2.org

Hometown:

Lincoln, Nebraska

Education:

"I graduated from Lincoln Southeast and then attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where I graduated with both my Bachelors in Physical Education and Coaching and Masters in Secondary Administration."

Experience:

"I began my career in Lincoln Public Schools where I stayed for nine years as a teacher and coach. After finishing my Masters, I was hired to be assistant principal at Elkhorn High School, where I spent the past three years [before coming to Wahoo]."

Interesting Facts about Yourself:

"I am next to last of eight children. I enjoy most outdoor activities. We enjoy canning pickles and salsa, although I eat neither."

Role Models:

"My role models would be my parents as well as the many fine educators I have had the opportunity to be taught by as well as consider my colleagues."

What have been the most significant changes to education in your tenure?

"I would say that technology and its applications in the classroom have been pretty significant through my first 12 years. When I first began I did not have e-mail. Now it is hard to imagine a classroom without a computer, DVD or VCR, and some sort of projection system. The real issue within these changes is how do we continue to incorporate these advances so as to continue to improve student learning."

What significant changes do you foresee in the future of education?

"The changes that I see coming are an increased focus on the individual needs of all students. I think the powers that be are beginning to see that not all students fit into certain systems or tests. I think Nebraska as a whole is a tremendous model for how local control can be maintained while still meeting the accountability requirements that exist today. We certainly have a need for standards and being held accountable for meeting those standards, but we need to remember that each student is unique and should have the opportunity to learn in a manner that best suits his or her learning style."