Ron Clark Academy Opens State-of-the-Art Educator Training Facility

Last night I watched the film about Ron Clark’s early years as an educator. It was inspiring to see where he began and how his approach has grown into a movement that has changed the lives of thousands of students and teachers. The story highlights a clear throughline: energetic teaching, high expectations, and an emphasis on character can transform classrooms.

In 2007 Ron Clark opened the Ron Clark Academy in Southeast Atlanta, and since then the institution has drawn educators from across the United States and around the world to learn its signature methods. More than 23,000 educators from 42 states and 22 countries have visited the Academy to study its style, philosophy, and practical techniques for improving student outcomes. Now the Academy has expanded that reach with a new, purpose-built Educator Training Facility designed to prepare even more teachers in innovative, hands-on approaches.

After a successful capital campaign that raised $4.9 million, the Academy unveiled a multi-purpose training center intended to train thousands more teachers each year. The new facility is meant to accommodate up to 4,000 visiting educators annually, giving them the opportunity to observe live classes, participate in interactive workshops, and leave with classroom-ready strategies they can apply immediately. Over the next decade, the Academy expects this expanded capacity to enable tens of thousands of educators to experience its programs in person.

Facilities and Features Designed for Learning

The new training space blends theatrical design with advanced classroom technology to create an immersive learning environment. Iconic features include a two-story dragon skeleton, a dramatic gym floor design, handcrafted oak tables in a great hall, and a massive video wall composed of multiple screens. Each classroom is equipped with Promethean boards, cameras, and other state-of-the-art technology so visiting teachers can both observe and analyze instruction in real time. A theatrical lighting and sound system adds energy to presentations and demonstrations, while other carefully designed elements contribute to an atmosphere that encourages creativity and high academic standards.

The RCA Experience: Observe, Participate, Transform

The Academy’s signature training program, known as “The RCA Experience,” combines observation of best practices with hands-on workshops. Participants watch Ron Clark, co-founder Kim Bearden, and other master teachers demonstrate techniques that blend academic rigor with engaging, student-centered instruction. The training emphasizes practical methods that teachers can take back to their schools, including a focus on character development, classroom routines, and relationship-building.

Central to the Academy’s approach is Clark’s “Essential 55,” a set of rules that promote manners, respect, responsibility, and life skills alongside academic learning. These expectations are taught consistently and clearly so students understand not only classroom procedures but also how to behave respectfully and take responsibility for their learning. Visiting educators see these methods applied across subjects and grade levels, which helps them visualize how to adapt the techniques to their own contexts.

Who Benefits and Why It Matters

Educators who attend RCA training leave with concrete strategies for increasing student engagement, improving classroom management, and raising academic expectations without sacrificing creativity. The facility’s design supports large-scale training while preserving opportunities for small-group workshops and individualized feedback. By observing effective instruction and then practicing new approaches in workshop settings, participants gain both the inspiration and the practical tools needed to enact change in their schools.

More About the Ron Clark Academy

The Ron Clark Academy is a private, nonprofit middle school located in Southeast Atlanta. The school serves fifth through eighth grade students from diverse socioeconomic and academic backgrounds and is recognized for pairing energetic, innovative teaching with a clear code of discipline. The Academy relies on outside funding to offer scholarships and broaden access to students from varying backgrounds. Oprah Winfrey has called the Ron Clark Academy “the best school in America,” a comment often cited when discussing the institution’s national profile and influence.

For educators seeking to refresh their practice, the new Ron Clark Academy Educator Training Facility represents a rare combination of theatrical inspiration, practical pedagogy, and advanced technology. Its expanded capacity and purpose-built spaces make it possible for many more teachers to experience RCA’s methods first-hand, bring new energy into their classrooms, and ultimately help more students reach higher levels of achievement.

To learn more about the Academy’s approach and programs, see coverage of the opening and related stories: http://www.11alive.com/story/news/education/2015/01/14/ron-clark-academy-education-training/21775733/