The Ron Clark Story

2006 television film

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.

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.

AssociationCategoryRecipientResultRefAMPIA AwardsBest Costume DesignerChristine ThomsonAmerican Cinema EditorsBest Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Commercial TelevisionHeather PersonsCasting Society of AmericaBest Movie of the Week CastingGary M. ZuckerbrodBonnie FinneganChristopher AwardsTelevisionHoward BurkonsBrenda FriendRanda HainesMax EnscoeAnnie DeYoungCritics' Choice Television AwardsBest Picture Made for TelevisionThe Ron Clark StoryDirectors Guild of AmericaOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for TelevisionRanda HainesFamily Film AwardsBest TV Movie/DramaHoward BurkonsBrenda FriendGold Derby AwardsTV movie/Mini Lead ActorMatthew PerryTV movie/Mini Lead Actor of the DecadeMatthew PerryGolden Globe AwardsBest Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionMatthew PerryMotion Picture Sound EditorsBest Sound Editing in Music for Television – Long FormJoanie DienerNAMIC Vision AwardsBest Actor – DramaErnie HudsonOFTA Television AwardsBest Motion PictureThe Ron Clark StoryBest Actor in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesMatthew PerryPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Made for Television MovieThe Ron Clark StoryOutstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or MovieMatthew PerryOutstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialGary M. ZuckerbrodLonnie MahermanBonnie FinneganRhonda FisekciCandice ElzingaScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesMatthew PerryWriters Guild of AmericaLong Form — OriginalMax EnscoeAnnie DeYoungYoung Artist AwardsBest Family Television Movie or SpecialThe Ron Clark StoryBest Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young ActressHannah HodsonBest Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young ActorBrandon Mychal SmithBest Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young ActorMicah Williams