Teachers gain magical ideas from Clark academy

Posted 11/24/22

Eight Quitman Elementary educators recently stepped into a world of educational magic when they attended professional development training at the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Southeast Atlanta, Ga. on …

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Teachers gain magical ideas from Clark academy

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Eight Quitman Elementary educators recently stepped into a world of educational magic when they attended professional development training at the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Southeast Atlanta, Ga. on Oct. 14. 

RCA is a non-profit middle school founded by Ron Clark and Kim Bearden in 2007. Per their website, they have “received both national and international recognition for its success for creating a loving, dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and fosters leadership.”

The professional development event the teachers attended was an interactive, immersive learning experience. The eight educators had the opportunity to observe classes and participate in hands-on, dynamic workshops. They also had the opportunity to engage with the students and staff.

They learned how the educators at RCA worked to engage their students and foster relationships while creating a culture that promotes success for everyone. They were taught techniques and strategies that they have brought back to their classrooms at Quitman Elementary School (QES).

All of the QES attendees appreciated the opportunity to attend this unique professional development event.

Fourth grade ELAR teacher Mollie Jackson said, “I could spend hours telling you all I learned, but the biggest take away that stood out to me was when I was speaking with the students. I asked one student what was her favorite thing about RCA. Here I was thinking it would be the building which resembled Hogwarts or the atmosphere and friends. Her answer was very humbling, she stated her favorite thing was the relationships she had with her teachers. Something that takes zero dollars to implement!”

Principal Brittany Eldred added that the experience was “every educator’s dream….It was literally like walking through a Harry Potter book.” Eldred added that the attendees were “forever changed” and that she and the others plan to make small changes “in hopes to be as impactful as everyone we saw and met.”

Assistant Principal Kelli Fortner also described the training as “magical!” Fortner said that one key thing that she took away from each classroom observation she made was that child engagement was the key.

Fortner said, “Engaging the kiddos decreases behavior and increases learning comprehension.”

“I’m super excited to go back to my class and bring some of these really neat techniques,” said fifth grade teacher Hannah Farmer. “They used mostly promethean boards and a lot of technology, but they also used a lot of positive encouragement and physical body movements in each classroom. Even though they don’t have a specific social/emotional program, each teacher has their own kid engagement/relationship outreach and it’s evident that it works.”

“It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had during my 34 years of teaching,” said third grade teacher DeOnn Wallace. “The teachers, the students, and the school itself were out-of-this-world amazing.”

Wallace said she’s already implemented several of the techniques she learned from the RCA staff.

Mollie Jackson said, “I will forever be grateful to QISD administration and board members. I cannot wait to bring the knowledge back to Quitman and my students.”

Third grade teacher Raina Hanson, fifth grade teacher Leslie Pierce and fifth grade teacher Theresa Mallory also attended.