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About Kim Bearden

Kim Bearden is the cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher at the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy, an innovative middle school and educator-training facility in Atlanta. More than 50,000 educators from around the world have visited Kim’s classroom and have attended her workshops to learn better ways to engage students, promote academic rigor, and create a climate and culture that promote success.
In 2016, Kim was honored at the White House for being inducted into to the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She is the recipient of the Disney American Teacher Award for Humanities and the Milken Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Education. She was chosen to receive the InfluencHer Award, the University of Georgia Outstanding Educator Award, and the Turknett Character Award for Servant Leadership. Women Works Media Group named her one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women.
Over the past thirty-one years, she has been a teacher, instructional lead teacher, curriculum director, school-board member, staff-development trainer, and middle-school principal. Kim’s first book, Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me, made several bestseller lists. Her second book, Talk to Me: Find the Right Words to Inspire, Encourage, and Get Things Done will be released in July of 2018.
Kim resides in a suburb of Atlanta with her husband Scotty and her three sons, Sisipho, Sabelo, and Phakamani. Her married daughter Madison lives close by.

Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Kenton, OH
Daytona Beach, FL
Bentonville, AK
Athens, GA
Tyler, TX
Fincastle, VA
Baton Rouge, LA
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Columbus, OH
Sugar Land, TX
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Salem, IN
Woodbridge, VA
Hemphill, TX
Newport, KY
Organization | Location |
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Tuscaloosa County Schools | Northport, AL |
Kennett #39 School District | Kennett, MO |
Johnston County Public Schools | Smithfield, NC |
White Settlement ISD | White Settlement, TX |
Richmond County School System | Augusta, GA |
Arkansas Public School Resource Center | Hot Springs, AR |
Mabank ISD | Mabank, TX |
Jostens Renaissance Education | Scottsdale, AZ |
Riverside County Office of Education | Riverside, CA |
Columbia County School District | Lake City, FL |
Mississippi Educational Computing Ass... | Jackson, MS |
Pinellas County Schools | Largo, FL |
Harmony Public Schools | Sugar Land, TX |
McHenry School District 15 | McHenry, IL |
Curriculum Associates | Chapel Hill, NC |
Curriculum Associates | Verona, NY |
Curriculum Associates | Nashville, TN |
Adams County Ohio Valley Schools | West Union, OH |
Curriculum Associates | Orlando, FL |
Georgia Association of Gifted ChildrenÊ | Athens, GA |
Association of Christian Schools Inte... | Roseville, CA |
Association of California School Admi... | San Diego, CA |
Rock Creek Community Academy | Sellersburg, IN |
Virginia Educational Facility Planners | Williamsburg, VA |
Association of Christian Schools Inte... | Costa Mesa, CA |
Franklin Covey Education | Las Vegas, NV |
Franklin Covey Education | Atlanta, GA |
Wyoming Department of Education | Cheyenne, WY |
ROANE County Schools | Harriman, TN |
Southwest Michigan FirstÊ | Kalamazoo, MI |
Northeast Education Services Cooperative | Devils Lake, ND |
Georgia City-County Management Associ... | Pine Mountain, GA |
Georgia PTA State Convention | Athens, GA |
Red Clay School District | Wilmington, DE |
Scottsbluff Public Schools | Scottsbluff, NE |
Kinder Ranch Elementary | San Antonio, TX |
Chesterfield County Public Schools | Richmond, VA |
Northwest ISD | Justin, TX |
Franklin Special School District | Nashville, TN |
SC NSPRA | Greenville, SC |
Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools | Columbus, OH |
Lakewood Catholic Academy | Lakewood, OH |
North Carolina Association of Element... | Concord, NC |
Kaufman ISD | Kaufman, TX |
The Ohio School Improvement Institute | Columbus, OH |
Kinder Ranch Elementary | San Antonio, TX |
Education Service Center, Region 2 | Corpus Christi, TX |
JCI Foundation, Inc. | Atlanta, GA |
Washington Local Schools | Toledo, OH |
Lamar CISD | Rosenberg, TX |
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls | South Africa |
CPS Education Summit | Camden, NJ |
Educator Excellence - Arizona Departm... | Phoenix, AZ |
Impact Alamance | Alamance County, NC |
College Park Elementary | Gautier, MS |
Mohawk Regional Information Center - ... | Vernon, NY |
Bright Ideas Education | Raleigh, NC |
9th Annual Academic Speaker Series | St. Louis, MO |
Zachary Community School District | Zachary, LA |
Porterville Unified School District | Porterville, CA |
Grayslake CCSD 46 | Grayslake, IL |
Alexander City Schools | Alexander, AL |
Orloff Central Education Agency | Davie, FL |
Board of Regents of the University Sy... | Kennesaw, GA |
OABCIG Schools | Ida Grove, IA |
Russell County Schools | Phenix City, AL |
Bascomb Elementary School | Woodstock, GA |
Wilmington University, College of Edu... | Wilmington, DE |
SkillsUSA | Louisville, KY |
Fayette County Schools | Lexington, KY |
Pickens County Middle School | Jasper, GA |
Mayde Creek High School, Junior High,... | Houston, TX |
Possible Woman Enterprises | Atlanta, GA |
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel... | Greater Sudbury, Ontario |
Campbell County Schools | Rustburg, VA |
Broken Bow Public Schools | Broken Bow, OK |
Huntingdon Special School District | Huntingdon, TN |
Georgia Business Education Association | Macon, GA |
Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, GA |
Association for Learning Environments... | Asheville, NC |
Valdosta North Rotary Club | Valdosta, GA |
Carrollton Housing Authority | Carrollton, GA |
University of Findlay | Findlay, OH |
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Uni... | Scranton, PA |
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Uni... | Erie, PA |
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Uni... | Pittsburgh, PA |
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Uni... | King of Prussia, PA |
All American Entertainment | Honolulu, Hawaii |
Lumpkin County High School | Dahlonega, GA |
Staff Development for Educators | Atlanta, GA |
SCATA - South Carolina Association of... | Myrtle Beach, SC |
ASSET (Association of Suffolk Supervi... | Long Island, New York |
WJCT Public Broadcasting | Jacksonville, FL |
ACCORD Corporation | Cuba, NY |
Galesburg CUSD205 | Galesburg, IL |
Garland ISD | Garland, TX |
Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Uni... | Hershey, PA |
Parlier Unified School District | Parlier, CA |
Paris Special School District | South Paris, TN |
Cleveland Public Schools | Cleveland, OH |
Boaz City Schools | Boaz, AL |
Omaha Public Schools | Omaha, NE |
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy | Acworth, GA |
Pass Christian School District | Pass Christian, MS |
Newton County Public Schools | Covington, GA |
Nebraska State Reading Association | Kearney, NE |
Keller ISD | Keller, TX |
Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA) | Raleigh, NC |
Tarleton State University | Stephenville, TX |
FLY Southwest Minnesota TeachersÊ | Marshall, MN |
Birdville ISD | North Richland Hills, TX |
Reach Them To Teach Them | Knoxville, TN |
Region 10 ESC | Richardson, TX |
Pennsylvania Department of Education | State College, PA |
The Event Salon | Atlanta, GA |
Epic One On One Charter Schools | Oklahoma City, OK |
Southern Regional Education Board | Miami, FL |
New Century International Education a... | Guangdong and possible other Provinces, ChinaÊ |
John F Kennedy Catholic High School | Warren, OH |
Madison County Schools | Huntsville, AL |
Nebraska Department of Education | Lincoln, NE |
Lauderdale County School District | Meridian, MSÊ |
Fulton County School System | Sandy Springs, GA |
Business Speakers Bureau | Detroit, MI |
Macon County Schools | Lafayette, TN |
Averett University | Danville, VA |
Kenton County Schools | Independence, KY |
Texas State Organization of Delta Kap... | Austin, TX |
McCracken County Schools | Paducah, KY |
Mississippi Association of Federal Ed... | Jackson, MS |
Georgia Educational Technology Confer... | Atlanta, GA |
Wylie ISD | Abilene, TX |
Foundations Incorporated | Atlanta, GA |
Calhoun County Board of Education | Anniston, AL |
Averett University | Danville, VA |
Dexter School District | Dexter, MO |
Kimberly Clark Corporation | Atlanta, GA |
Anderson University and Anderson Scho... | Anderson, SC |
North Georgia College & State University | Dahlonega, GA |
Advance Education, Inc. | Champaign, IL |
YTE Academy | Los Angeles, CA |
Mississippi Department of Education | Biloxi, MS |
Battelle for Kids | Columbus, OH |
Meredith College | Raleigh, NC |
Milton Hershey School | Hershey, PA |
Commonweal Foundation | Rockville, MD |
Tucson Metro Chamber | Tucson, AZ |
Kanawha County Schools | Charleston, WV |
KASC - Kentucky Association of School... | Louisville, Kentucky |
Mayfield Junior School | Pasadena, CA |
National Dropout Prevention Network | Clemson, SC |
Gaston County Schools | Cramerton, NC |
Indiana Non-Public Education Association | Indianapolis, IN |
Jackson-Madison County School Systems | Jackson, TN |
Macon State College - School of Educa... | Macon, GA |
Education Service Center Region XV | Del Rio, TX |
Education Service Center Region XV | Sonora, TX |
Education Service Center Region XV | San Angelo, TX |
Omaha Public Schools | Omaha, NE |
Fredericksburg City Schools | Fredricksburg, VA |
Lafayette Parish School System | Lafeyette, LA |
Killeen ISD | Killeen, TX |
Virginia Department of Education | Richmond, VA |
McCracken County Schools | Paducah, KY |
Barnum Schools | Barnum, MN |
Howard College | Big Spring, TX |
Jefferson Association of Public Schoo... | Biloxi, MS |
Mansfield ISD | Mansfield, TX |
National Dropout Prevention Network | Orlando, FL |
Charleston County School District | Charleston, SC |
Fredericksburg ISD | Fredericksburg, TX |
Smaller Learning Communities Consortium | Honolulu, HI |
Kaua'i High SchoolÊ | Kaua'i, HI |
Midland County ESA | Midland, MI |
Lafayette Parish School System | Lafayette, LA |
Grant County Schools | Petersburg, WV |
School-Community Health Alliance of M... | Redford, Michigan |
John F Kennedy Catholic High School | Warren, OH |
Eastland Middle School | Mt. Carroll, IL |
Hardy County School | Moorefield, WV |
Campbell County Schools | Jacksboro, TN |
Mt. Auburn International Academy | Cincinnati, OH |
Grundy County Department of Education | Altamont, TN |
Calloway County Early Childhood Regio... | Lake Barkley State Park, Cadiz, KY |
Missouri State Teachers Association | St. Louis, MO |
RESA 7 - GEAR UP | Clarksburg, WV |
Education Service Center Region XV | Brownwood, TX |
Cumberland County Schools | Cumberland, NC |
Region 14 Education Service Center | Abilene, TX |
Lafayette Parish School System | Lafayette, LA |
Colorado State University-Pueblo | Pueblo, CO |
Professional Learning Department | Columbus, GA |
Sapulpa Public Schools | Sapulpa, OK |
Chattahoochee Technical College | Acworth, GA |
Jefferson Parish Public Schools | New Orleans, LA |
National Title I Conference | Washington, D.C. |
Growing Leaders, Inc. | Atlanta, GA |
Beauregard Parish School Board | DeRidder, LA |
Burton School District | Porterville, CA |
Marshall County Board of Education | Guntersville, ALÊ |
Region 18 Education Service Center | Midland, TX |
Silver Consolidated School District | Silver City, NM |
NCA AdvancED | Indianapolis, IN |
Tuscaloosa County Schools | Cottondale, AL |
Louisiana Department of Education | Baton Rouge, LA |
Richmond County Public Schools | Warsaw, VA |
Missouri NCA CASI - AdvanceED | Jefferson City, MO |
Northumberland County School | Lottsburg, VA |
Broadmoor Middle Laboratory School | Shreveport, LA |
Skiatook Public Schools | Skiatook, OK |
Telfair County School District | McRae, GA |
Professional Learning Department | Columbus, GA |
Erie 1 BOCES | West Seneca, New York |
United I.S.D. | Laredo, TX |
Michigan - NCA CASI* AdvancED | Lansing, MI |
Virginia - SACS CASI*Ê | Williamsburg, VA |
Rockwall ISD | Rockwall, TX |
Putnam County Schools - BOE | Charleston, WV |
Allen Elementary | Wichita, KS |
Edgecombe County Schools | Tarboro, NC |
GEAR-UP North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC |
Rio Vista Independent School District | Rio Vista, TX |
Bella Vista High School | Sacramento, CA |
McLean County Unit 5 Schools | Normal, IL |
Illinois Association of Title I Direc... | Springfield, IL |
ROE #3 | Springfield, IL |
The Ohio School Improvement Institute | Columbus, OH |
OK Department of Education | Tulsa, OK |
East Peoria Community HS | East Peoria, IL |
Peoria County Schools | Peoria, IL |
Thinkgate, LLC | Lake Lanier Islands, GA |
Omaha Public Schools | Omaha, NE |
Mingo County BOE | Williamson, WV |
The School District of Newberry County | Newberry, SC |
Texarkana Arkansas School District | Texarkana, AR |
Northwest Ohio College Access Program | Toledo, OH |
La Porte ISD | Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, TX |
Professional Association of Georgia E... | Macon, GA |
KIDS - Northern Illinois Committee on... | St. Charles, IL |
Pearson School Systems | San Antonio, TX |
Osceola County Public School | Osceola County, FL |
Region Office of EducationÊ | Ullin, IL |
Samford Summer Institute for Teaching... | Birmingham, AL |
Kentucky Association of School Admini... | Louisville, KY |
Northeastern Education Association | Green Bay, WI |
Osceola School District | Kissimmee, FL |
Wayne County Public Schools | Goldsboro, NC |
Mt. Pleasant ISD | Mt. Pleasant, TX |
Red River Schools | Coushatta, LA |
Houston County School System | Perry, GA |
University of Missouri | Osage Beach, MO |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Texas Te... | Ft. Worth, TX |
Flushing Community Schools | Flushing, MI |
Omaha Public Schools | Omaha, NE |
Claiborne County Schools | Tazewell, TN |
Alliance 4 Education | Shreveport, LA |
Grantsburg School District | Grantsburg, WI |
College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
Cobb Education Consortium | Marietta, GA |
North East Independent School District | San Antonio, TX |
Spencer-Owen Community Schools | Spencer, IN |
Columbus City Schools | Columbus, OH |
Hart County Board of Education | Hartwell, GA |
McLean County Unit School Distirct No. 5 | Normal, IL |
Camden County Schools | Kingsland, GA |
Mifflin County Schools | Lewistown, PA |
Lassen County Office of Education | Susanville, CA |
College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
Freehold Regional High School District | Englishtown, NJ |
Arizona Charter School Association | Carefree, AZ |
Palmetto State Teachers Association | Columbia, SC |
College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
MATEDC | Boyne Falls, MI |