Former Wichita School Employee Accused of Stalking 13-Year-Old

School staff failed to check visitor ID, allowing contact with student

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:21pm

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A former Wichita Public Schools employee, 36-year-old Michael Arnold, is accused of stalking a 13-year-old student after school staff failed to check his identification when he requested to meet with the girl. Arnold was able to meet with and even hug the student on two separate occasions at the school without proper visitor protocols being followed.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about school security protocols and the potential for harm when they are not properly enforced. It also highlights the traumatic impact such incidents can have on young students, emphasizing the need for schools to prioritize student safety and provide support for victims.

The details

According to police, on Monday morning Arnold went to the school, requested to speak with a 13-year-old girl, and was allowed to meet with her without staff checking his driver's license or ID. He returned on Tuesday to try to reach the student again. The school district confirmed that all staff receive training on visitor protocols, which include checking IDs, but that the protocols were not followed in this case. Arnold was previously employed by the district from September 2024 to November 2024 as a para and future readiness advocate, and had passed a background check.

  • On Monday, March 11, 2026, Arnold met with the 13-year-old student at the school.
  • On Tuesday, March 12, 2026, Arnold returned to the school in an attempt to reach the student again.

The players

Michael Arnold

A 36-year-old former Wichita Public Schools employee accused of stalking a 13-year-old student.

USD 259

The Wichita Public School district, which confirmed that all staff receive training on visitor protocols that include checking IDs, but that the protocols were not followed in this case.

Amanda Spruill

A licensed marriage and family therapist who commented on the traumatic impact such incidents can have on young students.

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What they’re saying

“Anytime a child's sense of security and safety is in jeopardy, it can be traumatizing; also, if a child feels their life is at risk, that is trauma.”

— Amanda Spruill, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (foxkansas.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Michael Arnold out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical importance of schools strictly enforcing visitor identification protocols to protect student safety, as well as the need for comprehensive trauma-informed support for victims of such incidents to mitigate the long-term psychological impacts.