Mark Arnholt was raised on the north side of Milwaukee by a family of educators. Mark’s parents fostered a love of science, athletics, music, and the outdoors. Mark showed an affinity for science at an early age. Mark’s love of science was encouraged by Mr. Jim Berg as he attended Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa. He attended Milwaukee Lutheran High School before moving out to Mequon and graduating from Homestead High School. Hard work pays dividends, but you only get out what you put into it.
Mark attended Concordia University as an undergraduate, where he majored in Secondary Education and Biology. Mark was interested in ecology and traveled to the everglades, Belize, and Germany to investigate ecological relationships further than the classroom would allow. Mark was presented with an internship opportunity at Messmer High School during the first semester of his senior year. He jumped at the opportunity to get into a classroom and begin to hone his craft. Later that year, his student teaching experience brought him to Hartford Union High School where he was mentored by Mr. Gene O’Brien. Mark was surprised by the curriculum at the high school and started to see what could be done in education by watching Gene teach BBG (Bacteriology, Biotechnology, and Genetics).
After graduation, Mark was hired as a full time teacher at Messmer High School in Milwaukee where he taught Biology, Honors Biology, and Anatomy Physiology. The opportunity to come to Hartford presented itself in 2001. Mark was very excited to go back to the place where he student taught. He would again learn from his mentor and work closely with 2 young educators, Kevin Martin and Melanie (Hardel) Axford, as they put together a new Freshman Science Curriculum. In his second year, Mark expanded his teaching role to include Biology and later added Aviation. In 2011, Mark began teaching PLTW: Biomedical Sciences. He began teaching year 1, Principles of Biomedical Sciences. As the Biomedical Science program grew, so did the course offerings. Mark began teaching year 3 (Medical Interventions) and year 4 (Biomedical Innovations). He began the SMART team at HUHS as an extension of Biomedical Innovation and has taken students to present at the national conference for the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2014 and 2015.
Mark loves going to work and shaping the thought process of aspiring young scientists and medical professionals. He gets to work alongside an amazing staff and has received lots of support from administrators and the school board.
Arnholt, who is a 2016 recipient of the Herb Kohl Fellowship Grant as well as the Teacher of the Year at HUHS for 2015, is very deserving of this recognition as it is a very prestigious award for teachers.
Each year, the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation recognizes 100 outstanding teachers throughout the state based on each person’s (1) personal educational philosophy, (2) demonstrated ability to inspire students’ love of learning, (3) creation of innovative projects or programs, (4) commitment to community, (5) unrealized goals for their classroom or professional development, and (6) positive qualities they see in education, and changes they would like to see made to strengthen and improve teaching.
The selection of Fellowship recipients is difficult and rigorous. The number of nominations allowed per school district is limited, the application process for the nominee is extensive, and applicants are selected at a regional level before moving on for consideration at the state level. This is truly an honor for any teacher selected.
Congratulations Mr. Arnholt, HUHS is very lucky to have you!!!