OUR MISSION
To deliver the highest qualiity educational experience where global citizens are born through academic excellence, engaging teaching methods, and a passionate climate and culture.
WELCOME
TO THE RON CLARK ACADEMY
The Ron Clark Academy is a model school with a vision to transform classrooms around the world by demonstrating transformative methods and techniques that are embraced and replicated everywhere.
Since our school’s inception, more than 120,000 superintendents, district level administrators, and teachers from around the world have participated in the RCA Experience to learn better ways to engage students, promote academic rigor, and create a climate and culture that promotes success.
Founded
Fall 2007 by Ron Clark and Kim Bearden
Location
Southeast Atlanta, Georgia
Enrollment
137 Students
Grades 4th-8th
Energy
We believe in using music, movement, and creativity to add energy to lessons.
Volunteers
Parent volunteers are essential to our school programs. Parents are required to volunteer 40 hours a year.
Travel
We believe that integrating travel into the curriculum creates global citizens.
House System
Our school is divided into four houses to create unique communities.
Houses include:
Altruismo (black house) Givers Amistad (red house) Friendship Isibindi (green house) Courage Rêveur (blue house) Dreamers
Educator Training Program
Over 15,000 educators visit RCA each year to learn our strategies and observe our classrooms.
After School Offerings
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Dance Team
• Essentials Step Team
• Model United Nations Team
• Lego Robotics
• Girls Who Code
• Minecraft Club
• Merchandising Club
• MathCounts
• Legacy Drumline
• Pep Band
• Coding with Culture
• Study Hall
Academic Excellence
Student Engagement
Climate & Culture
CURRENT RCA STUDENTS CLASS OF 2024 - 2028
RCA GRADUATES CLASS OF 2010-2023 OF RCA GRADUATES ATTEND COLLEGE OR SERVE IN THE MILITARY
DEAR FRIENDS,
As we enter our seventeenth year, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude for the strides we have made together as a community who is, committed to fostering excellence in education and empowering our next generation of leaders. The Ron Clark Academy has become a beacon of learning across the globe, and we are forever grateful for the support of all of our stakeholders. This annual report provides an illuminating snapshot of the passion, resilience, and innovation that define our academy and highlights the accomplishments that we have collectively achieved.
Our RCA House System has not only continued to flourish within our own walls– it has transcended them to inspire a global movement. The distinctive characteristics and values of our original four houses, now trademarked, resonate in schools worldwide. Recognizing the expansiveness of larger schools, we have also introduced and trademarked four additional houses, further amplifying the impact of this transformative initiative. Additionally, our innovative house app has become a quintessential tool for schools across the United States, marking a pivotal step in harnessing technology to enhance the educational experience. The induction of an in-house team of skilled developers is poised to revolutionize this digital engagement, ensuring that it continues to be both dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of our educators and students. Furthermore, our RCA House System professional development experiences– House Mania, House Con, and House System Leadership Academy– offer educators and students the opportunity to delve deep, exchange insights, and emerge equipped with enhanced ways to create a culture of belonging in their own schools.
In fact, our unwavering dedication to empowering educators is mirrored in the continuous participation in all of our professional development days. While here, educators attend workshops and observe our classrooms to learn ways to engage students, promote academic excellence, create a climate and culture for success, and build rapport in their school communities. Over 120 thousand educators have embarked upon this journey with us, equipping them with tools and insights to amplify their impact in the classroom to millions of children.
At the heart of our successes are our students, who continue to exemplify academic excellence, resilience, and leadership. Their journeys do not end at RCA; they transition into some of the nation’s premier high schools and universities, carrying forward the values and skills imbibed here. We are immensely proud of their achievements and are steadfast in our commitment to nurture their potential.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our parent community, whose involvement and support have reached new heights. This partnership is pivotal, for it is together that we weave the fabric of a nurturing, empowering, and innovative learning environment for every student at RCA.
As we turn the pages of this annual report, let us celebrate our shared achievements, acknowledge the challenges, and rekindle our commitment to fostering an educational paradigm that is rooted in excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Ron Clark & Kim Bearden
Cofounders of the Ron Clark Academy
YEAR IN REVIEW
Global Amazing Shake Competition
Congratulations to Dante Beaumont for winning the 2023 Global Amazing Shake.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
2023 Amazing Shake Champion: Justin Rolls!
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Niles Boyd was named the student body president at the University of Miami.
Ryann Gholston, Gabby Erawoc, and Kameron Hayes each won the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Scholarship that will pay for all of their college tuition costs.
Osei Avril graduated with his master’s in business from USC.
Brielle Smith and Kyndall Dunn were commencement speakers for Howard University’s School of Communications.
Zyan Wynn graduated from Princeton and will be getting his master’s degree at Harvard this fall.
TEAMS
Throughout the year, RCA’s Model UN Team competed in three competitions, garnering multiple awards, including the prestigious Best Delegation award.
RCA’s Team Nevermore were the 2023 National Mathcounts Math Video Champions, earning RCA our 6th National Mathcounts Championship.
The Essentials Step Team won first place at the 2023 Stomp Wars USA Championship.
RCA’s Lego Robotics Team won the 100 Scholars Regional Champion’s Award and Robot Performance Award! Under the leadership of Mr. Bernadin and Mr. Thompson, our scholars showed out with the highest scores in both the robot games as well as the overall competition.
COMMUNITY
Extreme Bedroom Makeover
We are so grateful for NAIOP, the Mixson Family, Hometown Collective, and Connor Beecham and friends for creating magical bedroom spaces for four deserving students. These teams went above and beyond, and the families affected will be forever changed by their generosity!
The House of Isibindi had an opporutnity to reflect on the generosity of the RCA family as they completed a service project benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of Altanta (RMHA).
Each year, the House of Amistad hosts their Annual Crossroads Homeless Organization sandwich donation party! Thank you to all the students, parents, and staff that contributed in any way.
On April 23, 2022, the House of Rêveaur put in the work to give back to our community! Thanks to Trees Atlanta our students and parents were able to help plant trees to increase the tree canopy cover in Atlanta, subsequently improving air and water quality, creating shade, and enhancing the districts aesthetic.
Altruismo’s Inaugural Community Clean Up Over 80 Altruismians and friends join together to give back to our community.
DELTA WING Flight
Students boarding a historic first all-woman flight on a commercial aircraft to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
DELTA WING Flight 2022
Our students were able to be a part of history as passengers on the first all-woman flight on a commercial aircraft to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Having exposure to aviation and aerospace careers opens new doors for these young girls. Marian Wright Edelman coined the phrase, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” After the WING Flight, our young ladies were introduced to some of the many opportunities in aviation, and we’re empowered by the possibilities that their futures hold.
Wakanda Forever
Four years ago, the Ron Clark Academy garnered worldwide attention around the release of Black Panther, due to our teachers’ integrated lessons and our students’ passion for the film.
The release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever inspired a whole new round of immersive experiences for our students! Our teachers wove STEM, art, literature, and culture into fully integrated lessons inspired by the new film before going to see it!
Google Atlanta Hosted RCA
Google Atlanta hosted our 8th graders in their new Atlanta headquarters for the coolest panel discussion and tour with Google employees.
TRAVEL CURRICULUM
8th Grade in NYC
Our scholars had the opportunity to admire thought-provoking masterpieces at the Metropolitan Museum. They studied numerous works of art before this trip, and their hard work was put to the test as they competed throughout the MET to demonstrate their knowledge.
8th Grade in Savannah, Georgia
RCA 8th graders experienced Georgia history in the beautiful city of Savannah! Guiding us through the streets of Savannah, our knowledgeable guides opened our students’ eyes to rich history and culture upclose and personal.
We toured First African Baptist Church; we visited the Gullah Smith’s forge; we learned the relationship between the Haitian Revolution and the city of Savannah, and we ate local cuisine. The RCA students also visited the place where enslaved people were kept before they were distributed to harsh conditions on Savannah’s urban plantations.
8th Grade in Rome, Italy
We continued our tradition of inspiring global exploration by visiting iconi landmarks in Rome, Italy, including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and more. These experiences provided students with a deeper appreciation for history, culture, and the world beyond their classrooms.
8th Grade in Egypt
We traveled from Cairo to Luxor and then to Aswan. We took in quite a few sites including the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor Temple, the Tomb of Queen, Karnak Temple, the UNESCO World Heritage Philae Temple. We also embraced the culture of a Nubian Village.
The Woman King
Students explore West African culture as Assane Kouyate teaches traditional dance.
GLOBAL CITIZENS
“Travel with our students around the world in order to cultivate global leaders who have a deep understand of other nations and cultures” - RCA’s Founding Principles
Our annual New York City trip gives students an opportunity to visit museums, see Broadway shows, and take in the iconic sites they learned about. 1 2 3 4 5
PHOTO 1
8th grade students pose in front of an obelisk in Eygpt.
PHOTO 2
Students and staff stop for a photo on the Great Pyramid of Giza.
PHOTO 3
The Pantheon in Rome always leaves students in awe.
PHOTOS 4 & 5
ALUMNI SUCCESS
Zyan Wynn, Class of 2015, graduates from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and a certificate in Teacher Preparation with a focus on History.
EMPOWERING FUTURES:
RON CLARK ACADEMY ALUMNI SOAR TO SUCCESS
The Ron Clark Academy celebrates another graduating class, achieving a remarkable 100% graduation from high school. The latest class of graduates join the rest of the RCA alumni who have been accepted to prestigious institutions such as Howard University, Yale University, and the University of Southern California, solidifying their place among the academic elite.
We are proud of our alumni network because they represent the personal and academic growth which was fostered during their time at RCA. As these graduates venture on new journeys, they carry resilience, integrity, and a passion for lifelong learning – all of which have been instilled in them through RCA. Their achievements not only inspire those within the RCA family, but also serve as inspiration for generations to come.
CLASS OF 2019 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
RCA ALUMNI
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
We are so proud of all the students that have graduated from the Ron Clark Academy. The RCA classes of 2010-2019 have also graduated from high school and are attending these colleges, universities, and United States Armed Forces.
Agnes Scott College
Alabama State University
Albany State University
Arizona State University
Armstrong State University
Atlanta Technical College
Augusta University
Austin Peay State University
Brandeis University
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Monterey Bay
Clark Atlanta University
Coastal Carolina University
College of the Holy Cross
Concordia University Irvine
Davidson College
Dickinson College
Duke University
Florida A&M University
Florida International University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University
Gordon State College
Gwinnett Technical College
Hampshire College
Hampton University
Howard University
Kennesaw State University
LaFayette College
Lagrange College
Louisana State University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University New Orleans
Mercer University
Morehouse College
New York University
North Carolina A&T State
University
Pennsylvania State University
Pittsburgh University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Savannah College of Art & Design
Savannah State University
Spelman College
South Carolina State University
Southern Polytechnic State University
Southern University
Stetson University
Texas A&M
The George Washington
University
The University of Akron
Tuskegee University
University of Alabama
Unversity of Buffalo
University of Connecticut
University of Georgia
University of Iowa
University of Miami
University of New Haven
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Souther California
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University
Washington University
Wheaton College
Xavier University
Yale University
United States Navy
United States Air Force
United States Army
Unitied States Military Academy at West Point
EDUCATORS
“Teach in ways that promote creativity, innovation, wonder, joy, and a passion for learning.” - The Founding Principles
MASTER EDUCATORS & STAFF
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ADVISORY COUNCIL
LOUIS ALTERMAN
President & CEO, Stratix
CROMWELL BAUN
First VP, UBS Financial
STEVE BEECHAM
President, Home Town Mortgage
KAREIM CADE
President & CEO, Great Lakes Benefit Group
ANN W. CRAMER
Senior Consultant, Cox Curry & Associates
BONNIE DEAN
SVP, Selig Enterprises
MARK ELLIOTT
Retired CEO, Boxlight
CHRIS FULLER
Chief Communications & Impact Officer, Inspire Brands
BEN HILL
EVP, Warner Media
BEN HASAN
Retired SVP & Chief CDEI Officer, Walmart
MINDY JONES
Platinum Ambassador, Reliv International
MIKE KIEPURA
Retired President, Westrock
CHAD KOENIG
Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield
DEBBIE KOENIG
Retired Exec Director, NAIOP Georgia
ALONZO LLORENS
Partner, Gordon & Rees LLP
STEPHEN MACDONALD
Director of Intellectual Property, Sangamo Therapeutics
MICHAEL MARKS
CPA, Marks & Associates
TOM MAXEY
President, Consolidated Financial Corporation
V. KAYE MORGAN
Director, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, Yum! Brands
SCARLET PRELEY-BROWN
Senior Manager, DEI, HD Supply
DAVID RHODES
Headmaster Emeritus, King’s Ridge Christian School
JOHN ROBBINS
Senior Managing Director, Granite Properties
HILARY SCHMIDT
VP of Legal, Rialtic
SHERYL SELLAWAY
Chief PR Strategist, Righteous PR
LAURA TURNER SEYDEL
National Environmental Advocate & Eco-Living Expert
PAT ARRINGTON
VP, JE Dunn
VINCENT YOUNG
Vice President, Americas Marketing, Cricut
WILLSON OVEREND
Director, Head of Engagement & Employee Communications, Verily
MAURICE COOPER
SVP, Target
TIFFANI THOMAS
Corporate Communications, Amazon
ASHLEY MORDECAI
VP NVOCC/Supply Chain Mngmnt, USA Cargo Services Co.
BY THE NUMBERS
2023 Financial Highlights | JULY 1, 2022 - JUNE 30, 2023
Employee Retention Credit
Paycheck Protection Program
In-Kind Donations (Travel, equipment, services)
Educator Training Program (Fees from Training days and conferences; Less cost of training)
Subscription Less cost of app maint.
Other (Less special events)
Program
Management and General
Fundraising
Other
Total Expenses
The Ron Clark Academy is a non-profit school and is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.
Operational expenses are primarily funded by annual giving and our unique educator training program.
2022 $1,594,397 $105,067 $83,492 $263,636 $676,713 $133,121 $453,055 $4,828,513.00 $534,998 $182,166 $8,855,158
Support scholarships for students attending the Ron Clark Academy by redirecting a portion of your Georgia state income taxes with GOAL.
REVOLUTION
Each year, thousands of educators - teachers, administrators, and superintendentsparticipate in our educator training programs to learn how to replicate RCA’s style, philosophy and success in their own schools.
IGNITING CLASSROOMS
RON CLARK ACADEMY CELEBRATES TRAINING 100,000 EDUCATORS
The Ron Clark Academy (RCA) continues to make waves in the education world. Over the past 16 years, RCA has hosted educators from around the globe to witness firsthand the school’s innovative approach to teaching before bringing it back to their own classrooms. Its training program, RCA EXP, is renowned for its ability to inspire creativity in the classroom and beyond.
This year, RCA EXP celebrated training 100,000 educators.
This one-of-a-kind experience helps educators reimagine teaching. As RCA celebrates this milestone, we are reminded of the school’s dedication to excellence inside and out of the classroom. This accomplishment also highlights the impact educators have on millions of students worldwide. RCA continues to use its platform to further its mission of revolutionizing education and empowering future generations of educators and learners everywhere.
EDUCATOR TRAINING GROWTH
31
TRAINING DAYS FOR 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
29
TRAINING DAYS FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
7,204
VISITING EDUCATORS FOR 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
10,052
VISITING EDUCATORS FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
$100,000 and above
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS:
J. Bulow Campbell Foundation META NIKE, Inc.
$50,000 and $99,999
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS:
Choate Bridges Foundation
Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program
Huntington National Bank
Maynard Foundation*
Promethean, Inc.**
The Home Depot
The Peter & Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
Truist Financial Corp
Tyrannosaurus Tech**
INDIVIDUALS:
Heath Wilson*
$25,000 to $49,999
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS:
ADP
Jack & Anne Glenn Foundation*
INDIVIDUALS:
William Little
William Selby*
$18,000 to $24,999
Invest Atlanta COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS:
Comcast NBC Universal Foundation
Stephen Scott Family Foundation*
Selby & Richard McRae Foundation*
Aprio*
WalMart*
INDIVIDUALS:
Harris M. Gignilliat*
Thomas Maxey**
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS: $10,000 to $17,999
Lands’ End
The Elster Foundation
Toni C. Casey Irrevocable Trust
Peach State Truck Centers
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS: $5,000 to $9,999
Alston & Bird LLP
Microsoft Mixson Properties, LLC**
Syntax
National PTA
Randall-Paulson Architects
Thompson Family Fund of the Community Fnd of Central GA UBS Financial Services*
INDIVIDUALS:
Bill Rogers
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS: $1,000 to $4,999 HEAD
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Eta Lambda Chapter
B.L. Harbert International
Capital Group
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Granite Properties, Inc.
Leadership Georgia Class of 2023 Best Class Ever
LED - ATL**
LifeStore Community Fund
My Good Side LLC**
NEA-BBQ, LLC (Sonny’s BBQ)
Next Mesa, LLC**
Quest Events LLC**
Shirt Shanty
The Abrams Family Foundation
The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ American Endowment Foundation
The H. English & Ermine Cater
Robinson Foundation
The National Christian Foundation
INDIVIDUALS:
Angela Talton
Arthur Abrams
Basil Lee
Bruce Neurohr
Chad Koenig
David Salvers
Denise T. Mills*
Greg Althardt
Jakenna Echols
Jeff Mixson**
John Klaas
Julie Lough**
Louis Alterman
Matthew Rendle
Shawn Hanks
Tracie Glazer
Wright Goodwin
* - Annual Scholarship Sponsor
** - Gift In-kind Donors
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS: $999 and below
AmazonSmile Foundation
Charities Aid Foundation of America
GoodShop
Granny Nannies
Kroger/Kroger Community Rewards
Leadership Georgia Class of 2023
Nasdaq
The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ American Endowment Found
The Progressive Insurance Foundation
INDIVIDUALS:
Aaron Stutzman
Adesh Singh
Aisha Hitson-Pitts
Alfred Bridges
Allison Mercer
Andrea Jimenez
Aneisah Brown
Angelina Bell
Anthony Bryant
Ava Wilensky
Barry Simmons
Ben Jorgensen
Bill Leech
Brooke Schreiber
Carmelle Robert
Charles Miller
Cheryl Ballard
Chris Campbell
Corinne Watson
Crystal Slaughter
Curtis Beal, Jr.
Dale Glenn
David Broom
David Gaminde
Debbie Paulding
Debbie Rodkin
Demetric Ellington
Dianne Chereton
Dominque Brownnelson
Douglas Warner
Elizabeth Frayer
Eric Paulding
Etta Harrison
Eunice A. Adu
Fredrick H. Harbin
Haley Folsom
Isabella Grayson
Jakenna Echols
Jay Bernath
Jerald Dotson
Jessica Reese
Jim Stark
Joseph Moravec
Juanita Yarrell
Judith L. Maxian
Julian Hernandez
Julie Dexter-Johnson
Kathy Thomas
Kelsey Stiles
Kevin Hess
Kirk A. Brown
Korey Collins
LaQuanda Prince
Lara Jordan
Lauren Roth
Lee Zell
Lonard Shutzberg
Lisa Walker
Liz Martin-Quinn
Madhav Dave
Marianne Lodin
Mark Young
Marshall Campbell, III
Matthew O. Crisp, III
Matthew Pritchard
Matthew Walker
Meg Ferrero
Melissa Gelineau
Michael Keating
Michael Walbrecher
Paulette Reed
Phil Ganbarg
Ponhsa D. Bumpas
Rebecca Aman
Ronald Gover
Samuel Taciak
Scarlet Pressley-Brown
Scott Koesters
Selethia Pruitt
Shanen Scott
Shannon Walpole
Sharon Fricks
Sonja Adams
Steven Mick
Susan Blowey
Thomas Huger
Tisbest
GOAL SCHOLARSHIP DONORS
Tracey Harris
Trichelle Simmons
Troy Kemp
Vivian Hilton
William G. Loventhal, III
Yohanan Brown
Zena Brown
* - Annual Scholarship Sponsor
** - Gift In-kind Donors
The Georgia GOAL Tax Credit Program enables Georgia residents to redirect their state income taxes to fund scholarships for students at the Ron Clark Academy. This is an incredible opportunity for RCA students, and we are thankful to the following donors who participated during the 2023 tax year.
COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS:
Michael A Marks, CPA PC Morris, Manning & Martin LLP
WestRock Company
INDIVIDUALS:
Arthur Abrams
Adam Adler
Edward Gillman
Louis & Amy Alterman
Joey & Lousamie Barr
Eileen Block
Michael Borchers
Lisa Borders
Roger & Camille Brown
Richard & Kelly Carswell
Ronnie Clark
Lawrence Coopers
Ottis Matthew & Kimberly Crisp
Cicley Drummer
James & Carol Eubanks
Diane Fennig
Lisa Fey
Michael & Gail Graham
Stephen & Jennifer Heal
Benjamin & Allison Hill
Nicholas & Karen Hill
Andrea Ivory
Melinda Jones
Joseph & Carol Julien
Chad & Katheryn Koenig
Terri Lonowski
Jason & Rebecca Madsen
Richard & Amy Marriott
Albert Joseph & Barbara Mazzeo
Robert & Sara McCain
Thomas & Christa Carson
Hugh & Jessie McKellar
Roskeisha & Tarrance Miller
Joyce & Laura Mixson
Deanna Neal
William Nellen
Dan & Laura Newberg
Michael & Helen Nielsen
Shayne & Cherie O’Reilly
G. David & Wilson Overend
Daniel & Christilyn Pepitone
Kiimberly Quick
J. Christopher & Mary Reasoner
Albert Redd
George & Clair Reid
John & Jennifer Robbins
Rodolfo & Pilar Salas
Gretchen Stewart
Brian & Julie Stifel
Joan Vitner
David & Donna Walens
Doug & Sidney Welch
Damon & Katherine Wood
In Georgia, taxpayers supported 181 schools by contributing to GOAL for a 2023 tax credit. Your involvement in this program provides improved educational opportunities for # students at the Ron Clark Academy.
To select the Ron Clark Academy as the recipient for these state funds, visit www.ronclarkacademy.com/GOAL
