For Belen Amaton, a sixth-grade English teacher with more than 20 years of experience, stepping inside the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) wasn’t just a professional milestone – it was a dream realized. 

Belen first encountered Ron Clark nearly two decades before, when she first heard him speak on education in the United States and picked up his book, The Essential 55. His philosophy on high expectations, creativity, and building school culture struck a chord, planting a seed she’s carried close to her heart ever since. 

In 2025, the SONIC Foundation provided the opportunity for Belen to interact with Ron Clark’s teachings in a whole new way through The Ron Clark Academy Experience. In this two-day immersive program, educators learn and engage in Ron Clark’s best practices in a live school environment. “Visiting the Ron Clark Academy has been on my bucket list for so long. When I finally had the chance to go, it was everything I imagined, and more.” 

Belen’s visit to RCA was made possible through the SONIC Foundation’s Limeades for Learning program, which donates a portion of every SONIC drink, slush, blast, and shake to support public education. Since 2024, the Foundation has made it possible for more than 800 educators representing 220 school districts to experience RCA. For Belen, it gave her a front-row seat to see the success of dynamic lessons in action, a school-wide House system that builds belonging, and a culture where students thrive. 

“The Ron Clark Academy shows you what’s possible when you teach with intention and creativity,” says Belen. “It reignited my passion for education.” 

Back at Red Oak Middle School, that spark is already fueling new ways of teaching. Inspired by RCA Co-Founder and Language Arts Teacher Kim Bearden, Belen partnered with another teacher to utilize transformation and play to turn the school cafeteria into a football field for an immersive test prep session. Together, they donned referee uniforms as they challenged students to cite text evidence that scored academic touchdowns. 

In her own classroom, Belen has built a stage that encourages students to step up for lessons, presentations, and performances. Instead of raising their hands, her class uses academic sentence stems to help students formulate responses and fuel more confident, thoughtful discussions. 

“The strategies I learned at RCA aren’t just fun; they work,” she says. “It creates an environment where kids want to engage and even feel empowered to lead.” 

With new RCA tools and strategies in hand, Belen brings inspiration to others as she shares new ways to grow and elevate lesson plans with her coworkers.  To honor her commitment, she recently received the ‘Heart of a Teacher’ award from Red Oak Independent School District, recognizing the positive impact she strives to make every day.

For Belen, Ron Clark Academy isn’t simply a visit. It’s validation. “Being there reminded me why I chose this path in the first place. The heart of RCA is the same as the heart of teaching: making sure students feel seen, heard, and inspired to reach their potential.” 

Educator applications to attend the RCA Experience through the SONIC Foundation will open in Fall 2025. 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.  

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