Kenneth Williams has taught at Callaway Elementary School in Jonesboro, Georgia, for more than 12 years. From overseeing specific classrooms to working as the K-5 Gifted Resource teacher, Kenneth has grown a career focused on building a positive learning experience for both teachers and students. 

“I began teaching in 2013 after witnessing the lack of Black male educators at the elementary school level. But what began as a commitment to the classroom quickly became a commitment to the community,” shares Kenneth. “Now, as Assistant Principal, I have the opportunity and responsibility to create school-wide change.”   

Throughout his career, Kenneth has made many relationships with staff, students, and parents – including one mother who told him he had to visit Ron Clark Academy (RCA), a highly acclaimed nonprofit middle school that doubles as a demonstration school for visiting educators to learn and engage in best practices. “She always said my personality would be a perfect fit, and she said it so often, it stuck with me.” 

Last year, Kenneth saw his chance to learn what the Academy was all about when the SONIC Foundation opened applications for U.S. educators to attend the Ron Clark Academy Experience (RCA EXP). This two-day, hands-on learning experience is filled with immersive training sessions and workshops designed to teach educators how to foster authentic relationships and encourage academic excellence. “I didn’t hesitate to apply,” says Kenneth, “I knew it was an experience I could not pass up.” 

In the spring of 2025, Kenneth attended the RCA EXP. His biggest takeaway? The Academy’s House System, which creates a positive school environment by building character, empowering academic excellence, fostering school spirit, and promoting a culture of belonging. 

 “Ron Clark Academy taught me that, when educators intentionally create experiences, learning naturally follows. Suddenly students feel valued, and they’re willing to step outside of their comfort zones. In that kind of space, excellence isn’t forced – it becomes a way of life.”  

To bring the House System to Callaway Elementary, Kenneth quickly secured leadership approval and enlisted the help of invested teachers and community members. Together, they brought the vision to life, rolling out four houses that students could be sorted into.  

“We incorporated the House System into our existing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. When we rolled it out school-wide, the excitement was infectious. Students wanted to represent their houses all day, every day.” Almost overnight, the culture at Callaway began to grow. Students openly cheered for one another, and educators realized that house pride extended to all houses, anchoring the school in one shared identity.  

For Kenneth, the RCA is only his latest experience with SONIC. “The SONIC Foundation – particularly through Limeades for Learning and DonorsChoose – has been truly amazing. I’ve been able to attend Ron Clark Academy, receive a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card to fund Callaway Elementary’s LEGO Club, and even attend an SEC Championship Game. SONIC’s impact goes beyond funding to create joy.” 

About SONIC’s Partnership with Ron Clark Academy 

What is SONIC’s Limeades for Learning program? 

Through its Limeades for Learning initiative, SONIC donates a portion of all Drink, Slush, Blast, and Shake sales to the SONIC Foundation, which is used to support local schools across communities that SONIC serves through partners like DonorsChoose, which directly funds public school classroom projects created by educators. Sponsoring teachers to attend Ron Clark Academy allows them to learn new skills and best practices that they can take back to their own schools and classrooms to impact their community.  

SONIC has donated more than $30 million since 2009 to fund local classrooms, making it one of the largest programs supporting public education in the U.S.   

Why does SONIC support teachers? 

The SONIC Foundation’s mission is to spark brighter futures for America’s youth. We believe education is the key to unlocking a child’s potential and recognize effective educational development is not bound by the four walls of a school. By supporting our teachers, we support local schools and classrooms. 

How does SONIC support teachers? 

The SONIC Foundation supports teachers through a number of initiatives:  

• DonorsChoose – Educators can sign up as a SONIC teacher, ensuring their projects are included in Limeades for Learning campaigns, as well as other SONIC initiatives throughout the year  
• The SONIC App – The SONIC Teachers’ Circle is a free rewards program offered exclusively for educators, available through the SONIC App. Any teacher, faculty, or staff at a K-12 or degree-granting university can sign up to start receiving exclusive rewards. 
• Ron Clark Academy – Through its partnership with RCA, the SONIC Foundation is able to directly help teachers and school administrators across all subject areas and experience levels by sponsoring attendance at the RCA EXP, a two-day training session.  
• First Book – By combining First Book’s expertise in building a world where every child has access to a quality education with SONIC’s investment in public schools, the partnership fosters a love of reading and lays the foundation for lifelong success.   

How do I attend Ron Clark Academy as a teacher through the SONIC Foundation?  

Applications open periodically throughout the year for teachers to share interest in attending the Ron Clark Academy Experience. If you are a teacher interested in the Ron Clark Academy Experience, follow the Inspire Foundation on LinkedIn for the latest updates and program news.    

If you are a teacher interested in the Ron Clark Academy Experience, learn more at  foundation.sonicdrivein.com/teacherdevelopment. 

To learn more about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning, visit foundation.sonicedrivein.com.