The Ron Clark Story

The Ron Clark Story (also known as The Triumph) is a 2006 American television film starring Matthew Perry. The film is based on the educator Ron Clark. It follows the tale of an idealistic teacher who leaves his small hometown to teach in a New York City public school, where he faces trouble with the students.

The film was directed by Randa Haines, and was released directly on television, premiering on TNT on August 13, 2006 and was later released on DVD in the 10 Movie Kid's Pack Volume 3 by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment in 2011.

Plot

In 1998, Ron Clark leaves his teaching job at an elementary school in his North Carolina hometown, where he is known for his innovative teaching methods which results in raising test scores. He decides to look for a teaching job in a tough New York City inner city school where he feels he could be more useful. He finds a job at Inner Harlem Elementary School, where the students are sorted according to their potential.

The principal of the school believes Clark may be too "nice-looking," to take on the rough, disruptive students in a sixth-grade class that has just been abandoned by their teacher. He offers Clark a third-grade class, but Clark insists on taking the older kids that nobody else wants. He quickly learns that it will be a battle of wills between himself and his students to see who can outlast the other. He struggles to understand them, both individually and collectively, before he can teach them the standardized materials.

Cast

• Matthew Perry as Ron Clark
• Melissa De Sousa as Marissa Vega
• Patricia Idlette as Devina
• Ernie Hudson as Principal Turner
• Hannah Hodson as Shameika Wallace
• Brandon Mychal Smith as Tayshawn Mitchell
• Micah Stephen Williams as Julio Vasquez
• Jerry Callaghan as Ron Clark, Sr.
• Marty Antonini as Howard
• Patricia Benedict as Jean Clark
• Vashon Baker as Student

Reception

Accolades

Association	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref
AMPIA Awards	Best Costume Designer	Christine Thomson	Template:Won
American Cinema Editors	Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Commercial Television	Heather Persons	Template:Nominated
Casting Society of America	Best Movie of the Week Casting	Gary M. Zuckerbrod Bonnie Finnegan	Template:Nominated
Christopher Awards	Television	Howard Burkons Brenda Friend Randa Haines Max Enscoe Annie DeYoung	Template:Won
Critics' Choice Television Awards	Best Picture Made for Television	The Ron Clark Story	Template:Nominated
Directors Guild of America	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television	Randa Haines	Template:Nominated
Family Film Awards	Best TV Movie/Drama	Howard Burkons Brenda Friend	Template:Won
Gold Derby Awards	TV movie/Mini Lead Actor	Matthew Perry	Template:Won
	TV movie/Mini Lead Actor of the Decade	Matthew Perry	Template:Nominated
Golden Globe Awards	Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Matthew Perry	Template:Nominated
Motion Picture Sound Editors	Best Sound Editing in Music for Television – Long Form	Joanie Diener	Template:Nominated
NAMIC Vision Awards	Best Actor – Drama	Ernie Hudson	Template:Nominated
OFTA Television Awards	Best Motion Picture	The Ron Clark Story	Template:Nominated
	Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries	Matthew Perry	Template:Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Made for Television Movie	The Ron Clark Story	Template:Nominated
	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie	Matthew Perry	Template:Nominated
	Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special	Gary M. Zuckerbrod Lonnie Maherman Bonnie Finnegan Rhonda Fisekci Candice Elzinga	Template:Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries	Matthew Perry	Template:Nominated
Writers Guild of America	Long Form — Original	Max Enscoe Annie DeYoung	Template:Nominated
Young Artist Awards	Best Family Television Movie or Special	The Ron Clark Story	Template:Won
	Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress	Hannah Hodson	Template:Won
	Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor	Brandon Mychal Smith	Template:Nominated
	Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor	Micah Williams	Template:Nominated

External links

• Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck
• The Ron Clark Story on Rotten Tomatoes
• Official website

Template:US-tv-drama-film-stub