Missouri Military Academy Names New Assistant Academic Dean

After an extensive search, Missouri Military Academy has named Abby Arnette as assistant academic dean. Arnette brings leadership experience in education and curriculum to the military boarding school, supporting the Academy’s military educational model based on structure, self-discipline, and accountability. Arnette joined the Academy on July 1, 2021.

As MMA assistant academic dean, Arnette will support the academic dean in leadership of the Academy’s middle school and high school faculty. She will help faculty actively engage cadets in lessons and will develop and implement curriculum in creative, effective, and efficient ways to meet cadets’ needs.

“Abby is an outstanding addition to our academic leadership team,” said MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). “Her exceptional academic credentials, experience and demonstrated record of success will greatly benefit our cadets and faculty as we continue to enhance our academic programs and faculty professional development.”

Arnette holds experience as an adjunct professor for education methodology at Central Methodist University and a high school and middle school classroom teacher, secondary curriculum advisor, and teacher mentor for the Boonville School district. She also has served at the university level as a cooperating mentor teacher for student teachers, supporting student teachers’ induction into teaching by modeling effective teaching strategies, discussing and outlining long-term planning for practice of different pedagogical strategies, providing feedback regarding focus on lessons, extent of conceptual understanding, lesson effectiveness, motivation and development, student engagement, and use of formative and summative assessments for data-driven instruction.

“Through diverse, effective lessons and relational teaching to connect with MMA cadets, we shape their lives,” said Arnette. “Their education at the Academy — the relationships they form and their experiences within all of their classes — provide clear, supportive pathways for them to take command of their futures.”

Holding a Master of Arts in Teaching from Columbia College in Columbia, Mo., and Bachelor of Arts in English from Central Methodist University, Arnette is a certified teacher for grades 9-12 in English and for grades 5-9 in language arts.

Arnette and her husband Adam have three young children, including a daughter named Adeline and twin boys Beckham and Brantley.