Keeping roughly 185 students engaged is always a struggle, but when trying to balance a chaotic and busy family life, it becomes much more difficult.

David Arrington, World and U.S. history teacher, is someone whose main goal is focusing on the individual needs of each student. Yet it is his family dynamic that truly makes the greatest impact on his teaching approach.

Arrington has six children, three of them have been adopted and of those six, “three of [them] have special needs. One is diagnosed with severe OCD as well as developmental delays,” he explains, “my other two have social and anxiety disorders.”

Arrington feels that raising three children with special needs, a newborn, and two toddlers has given him “a really great passion for diversity and the way different people learn.”

He applies his parenting experience to his classroom, where just like at home, he has to help students grow in different ways.

“I try to mix it up a lot [in class], doing lectures and projects to try and reach as many people as I can,” Arrington elaborates.

The diversity of teaching methods – such as independent or visual learning – can help a student to grasp different subjects; each student learns better when approached with the topic in various way.

“I am more of a visual person,” Junior Alexis Sheffield said, “so when he does a lot of projects I think that doing it myself helps me learn better.”

Social studies department chair Jason Myers feels that Arrington’s life away from school strengthens his career.

“It gives him a sensitivity to kids from all different walks of life,” Myers said.

Focusing on school and family is an adventure, Arrington explained. When it comes to his children, a large amount of compassion and empathy is needed.

“Sometimes they have massive crying fits because they don’t know how to process [their disabilities] any other way. Trying to help them cope,” Arrington paused, “is a lot of hugs.”

Even with the pressure of helping both his children and his students grow, Arrington is optimistic and grateful, describing, “sometimes it gets tiring but it’s worth it. It is hard work but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Arrington’s students can agree that this uphill battle has payed off, molding him into the influential teacher that he is today.

“I think that since he has so much to deal with at the house, being so involved in [his children’s] lives and having to pay so much attention to them, it makes him a better teacher,” said Sheffield.

“Whether they like my subject or not if they can find a way that they like to learn then I have succeeded,” spoke Arrington with pride.