The Ron Clark Story

Moving to New York00:03:00

Ron Clark leaves his successful, comfortable teaching job in North Carolina to move to New York City, driven by the desire to take risks and teach in a school where he is truly needed.

Starting at Inner Harlem Elementary00:09:33

Ron Clark secures a position at Inner Harlem Elementary, where he is assigned the class with the lowest test scores and the reputation for being the most difficult to manage.

Establishing Rules and Connection00:22:26

Clark introduces a strict set of rules to build respect and discipline, while simultaneously working to bond with his students, viewing them as a family to ensure their long-term success.

Breaking Through Barriers00:43:00

Clark builds trust with his students by learning their culture, such as Double Dutch, and using creative teaching methods to engage them, eventually earning their respect.

Academic Transformation01:25:28

Despite immense challenges, including personal health issues and resistance from parents, Clark's students achieve record-breaking results on their state exams, outperforming even the school's honors classes.