The Ron Clark Story (also known as The Triumph) is a 2006 television film starring Matthew Perry. The film is based on the real-life educator Ron Clark. It follows the tale of an idealistic teacher who leaves his small hometown to teach in a New York City public school, where he faces trouble with the students. The film was directed by Randa Haines, and was released directly on television. The film premiered on TNT on August 13, 2006. Plot In 1998, Ron Clark leaves his teaching at an elementary school in his North Carolina hometown, where he is known for his innovative teaching methods which results in raising test scores. He decides to look for a teaching job in a tough New York inner city school where he feels he could be more useful. He finds a job at Inner Harlem Elementary School, where the students are sorted according to their potential. The principal of the school believes Clark may be too "nice-looking," to take on the rough, disruptive students in a 6th grade class that has just been abandoned by their teacher. He offers Clark a third-grade class, but Clark insists on taking the older kids that nobody else wants. He quickly learns that it will be a battle of wills between himself and his students to see who can outlast the other. He struggles to understand them, both individually and collectively, before he can teach them the standardized materials. Cast Matthew Perry as Ron Clark Melissa De Sousa as Marissa Vega Patricia Idlette as Devina Ernie Hudson as Principal Turner Brandon Mychal Smith as Tayshawn Mitchell Hannah Hodson as Shameika Wallace Micah Stephen Williams as Julio Vasquez Jerry Callaghan as Ron Clark, Sr. Marty Antonini as Howard Patricia Benedict as Jean Clark Reception Accolades References External links The Ron Clark Story on Rotten Tomatoes Official website 2006 television films 2006 films TNT Network original films 2006 biographical drama films American biographical drama films Biographical films about educators Films set in the 1990s Films set in 1994 Films set in 1998 Films set in 1999 Films directed by Randa Haines Cultural depictions of American men Cultural depictions of educators 2006 drama films 2000s American films