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Two Leavenworth teachers are reimagining their classrooms and bringing new energy to their students after attending a nationwide educator experience in Atlanta.
The event was funded by a $1 million donation from SONIC.
David Day, a fourth-grade teacher in his 20th year of teaching, and Veronika Corbett, a first-grade teacher in her ninth year at Anthony Elementary School, were among 23 Kansas City-area educators selected to attend the Ron Clark Academy Experience.
Corbett is currently teaching at the same school she attended as a child.
Day said he saw the SONIC advertisement while scrolling online and asked other teachers if they wanted to apply with him.
"He said, ‘I want you to fill this out. If I can’t go, I want you to go.’" "So I filled it out, and back in December, we got the email that we were able to go," Corbett said.
In March, Day and Corbett joined 400 other teacher from around the country for the immersive, two-day professional development training during their spring break.
The nonprofit middle school was founded in 2007 by Ron Clark, a teacher known for his interactive teaching style.
"They have two slides there that you get to go down," Day said. "So I have a sticker that says, ‘I’ve been slide certified.'"
The trip was funded by the SONIC Foundation to equip teachers with engaging instructional strategies designed to boost academic achievement and strengthen classroom culture.
“[It’s] something I would have never thought I would have been able to do by myself financially," Corbett said.
While at the academy, the teachers observed classes, interacted with students, and learned new techniques.
"I just felt like it was just a big, huge family, and we were immediately accepted and just the teachers there were amazing," Day said.
Corbett said the experience reignited her passion for teaching.
"Being able to just see those kids and see how those teachers teach and what they do, it just made me want to come back and try some of it in my own classroom," Corbett said. “I knew that I lost that fire, and I knew that if I did not get that back, I could not be the teacher that my students needed me to be. Being able to go there, learn all of this and come back, my kids are thriving, and that’s all I can ask for.”
The teachers brought back new, interactive methods to their classrooms in Leavenworth.
For Day, that includes standing on chairs, sometimes walking across desks, and incorporating more movement and music.
"Giving them a little more freedom, but still having that control structure," Day said. "Ron Clark was very big about it’s not the big changes that you do that are important, it’s the small, one-percent things. Lots more movement in the classroom, music. Even though I’ve been here for 20 years and teaching for 20 years, I’m trying to get better.”
It’s an experience that allowed Day to remember the big picture.
"Sometimes we forget why we’re here, why we teach, and it is about the kids, it’s always about the kids and your staff members and just doing what’s best for them," Day said. "He always said, 'take the stairs, not the elevator. You want to go a different way than everyone else."'
In the past 16 years, more than 150,000 school administrators and teachers have participated in the RCA Experience.
“I just want other teachers to apply for this opportunity as well,” Corbett said.
The 23 educators representing the Kansas City area include:
- Amber Knoernschild, La Monte Elementary in La Monte, Missouri
- Alexandra Johnson, Butler High School in Butler, Missouri
- Alexis Hyde, Lincoln R-2 in Lincoln, Missouri
- Corie Breckenridge, Rich Hill High School in Rich Hill, Missouri
- David Day, Anthony Elementary School in Leavenworth, Kansas
- Elizabeth Eckhoff, Lincoln Elementary in Lincoln, Missouri
- Jennifer Hawkins, Harrisonville Middle School in Harrisonville, Missouri
- Jennifer Moore, Raymore Elementary in Raymore, Missouri
- Jennifer Carr, Timber Creek Elementary in Raymore, Missouri
- Karlee Metcalf, Knob Noster Elementary in Knob Noster, Missouri
- Kelly Gayman, Rich Hill Elementary in Rich Hill, Missouri
- Margaret Porter, Butler High School in Butler, Missouri
- Melissa Cook, Raymore-Peculiar High School in Peculiar, Missouri
- Mena Runkle, Knob Noster Elementary in Knob Noster, Missouri
- Natalie Johnson, Harrisonville Middle School in Harrisonville, Missouri
- Nikki Hancock, Rich Hill Elementary in Rich Hill, Missouri
- Rashall Wehmeyer, Butler Elementary and High School in Butler, Missouri
- Samantha McGinnis, Butler Elementary School in Butler, Missouri
- Stacey Evans, Adrian School in Adrian, Missouri
- Tina Gaylord, Adrian High School in Adrian, Missouri
- Veronika Corbett, Anthony Elementary in Leavenworth, Kansas
- Imie Villafuerte, Holden Middle School in Holden City, Missouri
- Tanda Castle, Pleasant Hill Intermediate School in Pleasant Hill, Missouri
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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