TRCC staff hear America’s Educator

At the invitation of the North Central Ohio Education Service Center the Tri-Rivers Staff kicked off the school year’s professional development activities with a trip to Tiffin to hear Ron Clark, known to many as “America’s Educator.”

TRCC staff members were energized after hearing Clark talk about his innovative teaching techniques. Clark has pioneered projects in rural North Carolina and in Harlem. Oprah Winfrey has dubbed him as her first “Phenomenal Man.”

His bestselling book, “The Essential 55” was one of Oprah’s book picks. It includes 55 expectations of students—as well as all individuals—young and old.

Most recently he founded the Ron Clark Academy, an inner-city school serving students from across metro Atlanta. The privately-funded institution is unique for its creative teaching methods and curriculum based on worldwide travel. You can learn more at his website.

Tri-Rivers Engineering Technologies Instructor Ritch Ramey was one of four lucky winners of a scholarship to attend the academy to observe the “out-of-the-box” methods of achieving success.

“I won because Tri-Rivers was proactive in professional development and was innovative enough to bus our staff to see Ron at the Ritz Theatre through sponsorship of the North Central Ohio Educational Center. I am definitely going to slide down the slide that Oprah went down, ” said Ramey. “We met Clark at a convention last year, he is amazing. Wow! I still cannot believe I won!”

Ramey and the other scholarship recipients will travel to the Academy this Fall during COTA weekend. Ramey plans to share his experiences with colleagues when  he returns.