The Ron Clark Story (also known as The Triumph in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, the UK and the Philippines) is a 2006 television film that premiered on TNT on Sunday, August 13, 2006. Based on the real educator Ron Clark, it centers on the title character, a teacher from a small town, who moves to New York City and tries to make a difference in the lives of his students, despite nobody, including the students themselves, believing in them. The film was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.

Plot

The Ron Clark Story follows the inspiring tale of an energetic, creative and idealistic young teacher who leaves his small North Carolina hometown to teach in a New York City public school. Through his passionate use of special rules for his classroom, highly innovative teaching techniques and an undying devotion to his students and helping them cope with their problems, Clark is able to make a remarkable difference in the lives of his students. For one young girl trying to attend school while helping to raise her siblings, he offers a chance for her to overcome her situation and become the top student of the class. For a young man with a penchant for graffiti, he offers an ideal outlet for artistic expression. Even when he is almost overcome by pneumonia, Clark continues to work with his students, hoping that he can raise their test scores to an acceptable level, or possibly even higher.
However, when Mr Clark returns, he finds out his class did not deliver the goods but he remains optimistic about their chances. The kids sit in the state exams and a few days later, Mr Clark takes the kids to see the Phantom of Opera. In the end, Principal Turner reveals that Mr Clark's class got the highest average in the state and Mr Clark was regarded by his students as their best teacher in the world.