Why This Rapping, Dancing Teacher Is One of Oprah's All-Time Favorites

Throughout the 25 seasons of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah saluted some of the world's greatest teachers. In 2001, Oprah met one of her all-time favorites, Ron Clark. After moving from North Carolina to New York City's East Harlem neighborhood, Ron made it his mission to improve the lives of his students. Then, in 2007, Ron took his passion for teaching to greater heights when he opened the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.

Ron says that his life has been crazy since his Oprah Show appearances in 2001 and 2007. "Things have blown up," he says. "I wanted to build a school that would be creative, filled with innovation and the best teachers in America."

After converting a 100-year-old factory in downtown Atlanta into a state-of-the-art school, Ron and his staff started shaping young minds with their unique teaching style, which sometimes includes rapping and dancing on desks. "We're about how to truly get to the heart of being a great teacher," Ron says. "It's about the eye contact, the relationship."

Watch as Ron explains why students learn more from a happy teacher.

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