Kim Bearden

In addition to being the cofounder and executive director of the Ron Clark Academy, Kim has also been a middle school principle, a curriculum director, a learner support strategist, and even a school board member. Kim will motivate, inspire, and remind school leaders of the powerful impact that they can have, despite the pressures and challenges of their profession. An emphasis will be placed on ways to support staff and teachers while ensuring that they are creating classrooms that promote student engagement, increase academic excellence, and develop meaningful relationships. Kim will also share the importance of building relationships among staff, families, and students that will motivate, engage, empower, and create success for all. Participants will learn proven tools and techniques for creating a school climate that will create the optimal learning environment.

Learn powerful strategies and contagious ideas that will motivate all learners and inspire all kinds of creativity in the classroom. Educators often feel compelled to sacrifice creativity in order to prepare their students for standardized tests. Learn ways to instill a love for learning in your students while still teaching the necessary skills. In this session, Kim will share classroom techniques and lesson ideas that will engage all students while promoting creativity and innovation. Learn ways to teach concepts through songs, movement, kinesthetic games, and unique teaching strategies that will motivate even the most restless of learners. Kim will show participants how the required curriculum can be taught in a way that reinforces academic excellence while making learning an adventure.

In this session, Kim will share her powerful strategies for engaging students in writing, reading, speaking, and listening. An award-winning ELA teacher for over 30 years, Kim will share a wealth of lessons that engage students and instill a love for English while simultaneously teaching them the required content standards. Kim will share ways to teach concepts through songs, movement, kinesthetic games, and unique teaching strategies that can be implemented the very next day!

Kim will share numerous ways to weave music and movement into lessons in a way that will engage learners while simultaneously teaching them the content standards. Kim will show how to correctly implement these strategies while also sharing mistakes that many teachers make when using movement and movement incorrectly. When done well, teachers can create a classroom full of enthusiasm and joy while using music and movement as a powerful learning tool, not just as a reward.

Kim will share numerous strategies for engaging parents/guardians and building school community. Participants will leave with a wealth of ideas for fostering parent enthusiasm, commitment, and support. Additionally, strategies for both in-person and virtual implementation will be shared.

From philosophy to implementation, learn how to focus on what is truly important for all educators to remember. In this session, participants will be motivated, inspired, and reminded of their significant, powerful role in the lives of their students. Kim will share methods for promoting student engagement, increasing rigor, developing relationships, and creating a climate and culture that inspires learning.

Kim will share strategies for both teachers and students to use to create a seamless, organized learning environment where students are safe and engaged. Participants will learn how to present more powerfully, move with purpose, and use visuals more effectively. Learn strategies for teaching students how to listen, discuss, present, analyze, and engage while also uplifting and supporting fellow classmates.

The Ron Clark Academy has gained international acclaim for the warm, loving learning environment that they have created. Kim will share just how this is done. She will share strategies that build relationships and rapport with students and staff in such a way that makes them feel validated, inspired, secure, and motivated. Learn Kim's mindsets and activities that promote team building, bonding, respect, and trust.