Avery Warrick is a second grade elementary school teacher based in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Growing up, Avery always knew she wanted to be a teacher and credits her mother for inspiring her.
“My mom is a teacher who truly makes a difference in her students’ lives,” shares Avery. “I remember how excited she’d get for every milestone a student achieved. Witnessing her long-lasting impact as their advocate made me want to become a teacher, too.”
Avery achieved her dream as an educator in 2022 after graduating with her Elementary Education bachelor’s degree and accepting a job at St. Martin East Elementary. “I was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and moved back home after graduating. I knew I wanted to make learning fun, so the moment I got into the classroom, I immediately started researching ways to ensure school was a place of joy for my students.”
For Avery, Ron Clark Academy (RCA) was an endless source of inspiration. “I’d spend hours looking for ideas online, and Ron Clark and Kim Bearden kept popping up. It wasn’t too much later that my mom visited the Academy for a professional development opportunity, and she returned on fire for teaching. I knew I had to get there myself.”
Avery’s opportunity to attend RCA appeared when SONIC called for teachers to apply for the Ron Clark Academy Experience, a two-day interactive learning experience. In February 2024, 125 educators from more than 80 public school districts were selected to attend, supported by SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative. Avery was one of them.
“SONIC covered the cost of all my expenses and turned my dream to finally visit RCA into a reality. I learned I had been selected when I was with my students, and they shared in my excitement – we were all jumping up and down and cheering together!” laughs Avery. “I don’t know if I can accurately put into words how extraordinary the Academy is. I thought I knew what to expect, but nothing can truly prepare you. It’s like Walt Disney World for teachers.”
The Ron Clark Academy Experience is filled with immersive training sessions and workshops that teaches educators how they can ignite a passion for learning, provide meaningful support, encourage academic excellence, and foster authentic relationships with their students. “The energy is electric,” says Avery. “It was amazing to see how their methods and practices are being implemented in a real school with real students. It’s clear the teachers there push students to reach their full potential in all areas of life, not just academics.”
Back in her own classroom, Avery immediately began implementing what she’d learned. “RCA helped me realize the impact I make by being an educator. It helped me see how blessed I am to be in a position where I touch so many students’ lives.”
SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative makes a difference in public schools across the country through its partnership with DonorsChoose, a non-profit organization the Foundation supports with funding throughout the year. The program directly benefits public school teachers and the great projects they’re creating in their classrooms to enrich their schools and communities.
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.
