Cornell is even an Emmy-nominated producer and television host, and showed off his entertaining teaching skills in a TEDxDayton talk several years ago that’s also on YouTube.
“He has a major following with kids,” Goff said. “It’s amazing. I have volunteered at a couple of his events and I’m not kidding when I say kids are in line at the door over an hour before the event starts to get in the front row.”
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In 2016, Cornell was named the Lead PBS Digital Innovator for the state of Ohio in recognition of his outstanding use of digital media and technology as a learning tool. Mister C is known for his educational songs, dancing to his own beats, and creating unique STEAM-themed multimedia projects which he publishes to his social media platforms.
Cornell was a former teacher and principal in the Huber Heights City Schools system before deciding three years ago to fully pursue his career as Mister C.
The Mister C sensation began when Cornell would write songs about science with his students and post them to his YouTube channel. Now, Cornell travels to schools districts across the state and outside of Ohio to do live school shows.
Also throughout the year, Cornell will hit five or six big theaters on his tour, including performing in the Victoria Theatre in Dayton in front of an audience of more than 1,200 kids.
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Now that the coronavirus has temporarily halted the tour, Cornell and his wife have turned their home kitchen into a set where Mister C tests experiments in a fun and engaging show for viewers.
“I try to engage in the camera as much as I can without having an audience. … It’s really authentic, we’re just having fun. The whole purpose is — don’t get me wrong — it’s to get them excited about STEM, but the bigger part is for them to explore learning together with their family.”
“I love too that sometimes the experiment doesn’t work, and he uses that as a learning opportunity, too,” Goff said.
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Parents and kids can join the experiments every morning at 9 a.m. on facebook.com/originalmisterc while the coronavirus is keeping families at home, at least through the end of April.
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