Ron Clark

Ron Clark is an American teacher who has worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and Harlem, New York City. He is known for his books and multiple teaching awards.

Background

Clark was educated at East Carolina University through the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program and accepted a job in Aurora, North Carolina upon graduation in 1994. Five years later he departed for Harlem to take a job teaching elementary school in an inner-city setting. Clark's latest project is the Ron Clark Academy, a private non-profit school in Atlanta, Georgia where students follow a unique curriculum. The school also gives students opportunities for international travel and offers training workshops for teachers to learn more about Clark's teaching methods.

Accolades

Clark's first year spent in Harlem was the focus of a 2006 made-for-TV movie, "The Ron Clark Story", (also known as "The Triumph" in Australia, the UK and the Philippines), starring Matthew Perry.

Clark is known for his ability to raise test scores by using unique and innovative methods that incorporate innovation, creativity and 55 classroom rules. He has appeared on many national TV shows, including two appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where Ms. Winfrey named him as her first "Phenomenal Man."

Clark received the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year award. [cite book|last=Clark|first=Ron|title=The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child|publisher=Hyperion|year=2003|isbn=1-4013-0001-4]

The Ron Clark Academy

History

The Ron Clark Academy, housed in a renovated red brick warehouse ["Change the World - Atlanta." www.hgtv.com. 24 Feb. 2008 .] , is located in southwest Atlanta, Georgia, and accommodates fifth through eighth grade students from low-income families. Clark had planned to build the school for ten years before construction began. Along with the proceeds of his two books The Essential 55 and The Excellent 11, Clark raised additional funding for the project which eventually cost over $3.5 million. The academy was established on June 25, 2007. Classes began for students on September 4, 2007.

Technology and facilities

Each classroom provides students with technology such as notebook computers, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, projectors, and audio video equipment. In addition to the technologically-equipped classrooms, the school provides students with accessible amenities such as a recording studio, a dark room, a two-story vaulted ceiling library, a gymnasium, and a dance studio.

The Ron Clark Academy uses donated computers in all classrooms and offices ["Dell, Intel Transform Ron Clark Academy Into Interactive Learning Environment." BNET. 25 June 2007. Gale Group. 24 Feb. 2008 ] . As a result, students will be able to study photography, music production, and business leadership.

tudent population

The students that attend The Ron Clark Academy come from low-income families. Students must go through an application process in order to be accepted into the school. Only 50 students were accepted out of 350 applications the first school year. Students must be nominated for the school and then must apply. Students' applications are then reviewed by Ron Clark and other teachers and students are selected to be interviewed by the school. If accepted, students' parents must sign a Contract of Obligation in which parents agree to volunteer 10 hours of their time each quarter. [ [http://www.ronclark.info/ron_clark_academy/student.asp Ron Clark -ron clark academy ] ]

Books

Ron has written two books. The first, called "The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child" (2003), is being published in 25 countries. In 2004 he followed with "The Excellent 11: Qualities Teachers and Parents Use to Motivate, Inspire, and Educate Children".

References

External links

* [http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/meet-the-team.aspx#ronClark About Ron Clark]
* [http://www.ronclarkacademy.com Ron Clark Academy Website]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473389/ The Ron Clark Story on IMDB]
* [http://www.oprah.com/rys/omag/rys_omag_200111_phenom.jhtml Article in O, The Oprah Magazine]