From "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" to "Lean on Me" to "Music of My Heart" to "Stand and Deliver" to "Dangerous Minds," and "Mr. Holland's Opus," I have always been a fan of innovative educators, especially when the dramatizations represent true-life instructors, as some of these films do. These types of teachers make a difference by infusing learning with joy and a unique perspective, while showing their students that discipline and hard work matters across all of life.
Ron Clark, co-founder of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, is one such real-life educator, and the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
Ron Clark started out as a North Carolina teacher with a passion to actually teach students, particularly those labeled as poor performers. He left a comfortable position at a middle school to teach in the inner city of New York. His out-of-the-box teaching methods won the attention of his students, but more importantly, produced outcomes that put the Department of Education to shame--not that that's a difficult thing. Clark won the Teacher of the Year award in 2000, along with another educational innovator named Kim Bearden.
They both had a vision for more, so Clark and Bearden partnered together to build a 4th-to-8th-grade educational center not just for the kids, but for teachers who wanted to revolutionize their teaching methods. In 2004, the Ron Clark Academy vision was birthed, in 2005, a building was purchased, and in 2007, the Academy saw its first class of students.
Oh, and Clark has also had his life and teaching dramatized on film: Clark was portrayed by the late Matthew Perry ("Chandler Bing" from "Friends") in 2006's "The Ron Clark Story."
But this 2025 graduation season, a moment between Clark and one of the Academy's graduating students has gone viral:
“We tell the kids: You can dance, wave to your family or shout,” Ron Clark, the co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Georgia, tells TODAY.com. “They have complete freedom to celebrate.”
In the video, posted to Clark’s Instagram account, Zyon Malcolm, a graduating 8th grader, made her way across the stage dancing to a popular song. She was met by Clark who immediately fell in step with Malcolm. Clark broke out into his own energetic dance before handing Malcolm her diploma.
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The Clark Academy's model includes eccentricity, energy, and probably lots of standout musical moments. However, just because the school's structure is unorthodox does not mean that it is undisciplined. Clark sets high expectations for himself, and this translates to high expectations for the entire school community. Clark's system of rules is known as "The Essential 55," and these were published as a book.
Clark further explained to TODAY:
Clark says the fun atmosphere doesn't mean the school lacks rules, structure and respect.
“My grandmother raised me very strictly, so I am strict,” he says. “A lot of people see me dance with students ... but I am not playing when it comes to academia.”
Clark is also intent on his students learning social skills, something that is sorely lacking in our society today. When visitors come to the school, they are asked to have lunch with the students in order to assist them in this process.
But another hallmark, and the reason why parents of all stripes clamor to have their children accepted at Clark Academy, is how each student is loved and seen. This was apparent in the 2025 graduates.
And with alums from Clark Academy, who are now graduating high school in the Class of 2025.
Here's another fun social media moment: In 2018, a Clark Academy student's spontaneous, joyful dance was captured when it was announced they would be seeing "Black Panther" in the theater. That young man has graduated from Therrell High School as part of the class of 2025.
Engaging and passionate instructors are worth their weight in gold. Our public educational system has been obsessed with indoctrination and activism rather than infusing the power of achievement, accomplishment, and the pure joy of simply learning. Thank God for schools like The Ron Clark Academy, but more importantly, thank God that Ron Clark wants to replicate his methods and pass them down to other educators so that they can revolutionize, innovate, and change a young person's outcomes, and in turn, change their life.
Here's the school's viral story. Eleven minutes and well worth your time.
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