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 admired innovative educators, especially when the dramatizations feature real-life instructors. These teachers bring a unique perspective to learning, infusing it with joy while emphasizing the importance of discipline and hard work in all aspects 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 initially worked as a teacher in North Carolina, where he demonstrated a strong passion for educating students, especially those considered underachievers. He made a bold move by leaving a secure position at a middle school to teach in the inner city of New York. Clark’s unconventional teaching methods not only captured the attention of his students but also yielded remarkable results that put the Department of Education in a less favorable light. In 2000, Clark was honored with the Teacher of the Year award, alongside another educational visionary named Kim Bearden.
Driven by a shared vision for educational transformation, Clark and Bearden joined forces to establish an educational center for students in grades 4 to 8, as well as for teachers eager to innovate their teaching approaches. The idea for the Ron Clark Academy took shape in 2004, a building was acquired in 2005, and by 2007, the Academy welcomed its inaugural 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:
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:
“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.
Jaycob Linsey, the student who went viral for his dance after his class was told they were going to see ‘Black Panther,’ has graduated from high school. pic.twitter.com/W3mdB61OAR
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 23, 2024
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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