150 Educators Gathered at Ignite the Classroom Event in Grand Rapids, All Thinking They Might Win One of Five Spots

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In a moment that became one of the most heartwarming scenes at an education event in West Michigan this year, 150 public school teachers were told they all would get to attend a prestigious training program in Atlanta, Georgia, after being told only five would be selected.

The surprise announcement came during the Ignite the Classroom event, hosted by Huntington Bank's Greater Michigan Region on April 13 at a venue in Grand Rapids. The event brought together educators from across Kent County and the surrounding area, including Grand Rapids, Holland, Kentwood, Grandville and Grand Valley State University Charter Schools.

"It's like a Make-A-Wish trip for teachers," said Crista Holland-Anderson, a fifth grade teacher who attended the event.

Holland-Anderson had been teaching for 30 years and admitted she was feeling burned out. She was initially told only five of the 150 teachers would win the chance to visit the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta this July.

"I was really happy for the teacher who was chosen, because he's great and he's been here a long time," Holland-Anderson said. "And then I was thrilled."

The Ron Clark Academy Experience Brings Unconventional Teaching Methods to Educators

The Ron Clark Academy is a highly acclaimed nonprofit middle school that has become a demonstration school for educators across the country. Founded in the mid-2000s, the academy in Atlanta is known for its unconventional techniques that emphasize education can be more than just a teacher at the blackboard.

"Educators can go there and see what other educators are doing and bring some of those concepts back to their classrooms," said Lauren Davis, President of the Greater Michigan Region at Huntington Bank.

Ron Clark himself was in attendance and delivered a speech to the assembled teachers. He was there to share his philosophy of education and to witness the joy of the surprise announcement firsthand.

The academy's approach focuses on engaging students in meaningful ways, building relationships, and creating a positive classroom culture. In the past 18 years, more than 160,000 superintendents, district-level administrators, and teachers have participated in the Ron Clark Academy Experience to learn new ways to engage students, promote academic excellence and build positive classroom cultures.

"We know that that energy, that enthusiasm for teaching and learning, will permeate to our teachers, so I know how excited they're going to be to get to learn right alongside shoulder to shoulder with Ron Clark and the amazing educators," said Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Poston.

SONIC Foundation Funded Nationwide Teacher Training Initiative

The training program is part of a larger initiative funded by the SONIC Foundation. In March 2026, SONIC donated $1 million to send nearly 400 educators from across the country to the Ron Clark Academy Experience in Atlanta. The experience was held March 19-20 as an immersive two-day professional development training.

"This is our third year supporting educators through the Ron Clark Academy, and each year we see firsthand the impact this experience has on teachers and their students," said Stuart Brown, executive director of the SONIC Foundation.

Since 2009, SONIC has donated more than $32 million to funding local classrooms, becoming one of the largest programs to support public education in the United States. Every time guests purchase a SONIC Drink, Slush, Blast or Shake, the brand donates a portion of proceeds to the SONIC Foundation through their Limeades for Learning program.

"Partnerships like this one with the SONIC Foundation are what make it possible for us to extend the RCA Experience beyond our walls and into classrooms across the country," said Kirk Brown, chief development and communications officer of the Ron Clark Academy. "When 400 educators walk through our doors, learn alongside our teachers, and leave with strategies they can use the very next day, that is the kind of impact that changes schools."

Teachers Rejoice at Unlikely Good News

The room erupted into cheers and clapping when the announcement came that all 150 teachers would be going to Atlanta. The energy was palpable as educators realized they would all have the opportunity to learn from Ron Clark and other amazing educators at the academy.

"This is my 30th year of teaching, and I'm a little burned out," Holland-Anderson said. "I'm teaching fifth grade, just like Ron said, and it's been very hard. So I'm just excited to be rejuvenated to do some of the things that maybe I used to do, bringing them back."

The teachers hope the trip will give them new ways to support their students, as well as themselves. The experience will allow them to observe best practices in action before participating in hands-on workshops designed to boost academic achievement and strengthen classroom culture.

Huntington Bank Continues Investment in Local Education

Huntington Bank's Greater Michigan Region has been a longtime supporter of education in the area. The Ignite the Classroom event represents their ongoing commitment to helping teachers in the communities they serve.

"Supporting teachers in the communities we serve is central to the SONIC Foundation's mission, and we're proud to help provide the tools these educators need to continue inspiring the students and schools they serve every day," said Stuart Brown, executive director of the SONIC Foundation.

The 150 teachers from Grand Rapids, Holland, Kentwood, Grandville and Grand Valley State University Charter Schools are now set to attend the Ron Clark Academy Experience this July. They will return with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm for their classrooms, bringing new strategies to engage students and create positive learning environments.