House Mania at THE Ron Clark Academy
Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Ron Clark Academy’s House Mania in Atlanta — and I am still buzzing with ideas, inspiration, and takeaways to bring back to our school.
If you have ever wondered whether a house system can truly transform school culture, the answer from RCA is a confident yes. RCA demonstrates just how powerful this framework can be when it is built with intentionality, joy, and leadership at every level.
Here is a recap of my experience and why I believe every school leader should experience House Mania firsthand.
An Atmosphere of Belonging
The moment I walked through the doors of RCA, it was clear: the house system is not an "extra." It is the foundation of the school’s culture and climate. The energy was electric — music played, cheers rang out, and everywhere I looked, students were fully engaged and proud not only of their house identity but of their entire school.
It is clear that while students belong to four houses, these houses serve as small communities that support the overall mission of the school.
At RCA, every faculty member and student belongs to one of four houses — Amistad, Altruismo, Isibindi, or Reveur — and that sense of belonging fosters connection, motivation, and pride. The house system builds relationships across grade levels and backgrounds, making the school feel like one united family.
Leadership on Display
One of the most powerful aspects of the day was seeing how deeply student leadership is embedded into every experience. Students led chants, ran portions of the event, conducted tours, and modeled what it means to be a leader in both big and small moments.
As an assistant principal, I am always thinking about how we can provide more authentic leadership opportunities for students at our school. RCA’s model reminded me that when we give students the tools and trust to lead, they will rise to the occasion.
Celebrating Character and Community
At House Mania, it was not just academic achievement that was celebrated. Acts of kindness, resilience, courage, and teamwork were equally valued and recognized. The result was a culture where students supported one another and where character was seen as a critical component of success.
I left with a renewed commitment to finding even more ways to highlight and celebrate the growth, leadership, and positive contributions of our students.
A Shoutout to Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford
One of the highlights of my visit to RCA was the opportunity to learn from Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford — National Teacher Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most dynamic educators I have ever met.
I had the privilege of attending a session with her focused on house system implementation and was fortunate to observe her in action in her classroom. Dr. Jones-Ford brings not only deep instructional knowledge but also an unmatched warmth and energy to every interaction.
One moment during House Mania captured this perfectly: while we were walking and talking — as educators often do — she noticed a student sitting with his head down in the lunch area. Without hesitation, she stopped mid-conversation, walked over, and within seconds had her arm around the young man, gently reassuring him that everything was going to be okay. Together, they walked back toward her classroom, a simple yet powerful example of the culture of care RCA fosters daily.
In addition to her incredible teaching, Dr. Jones-Ford was recently inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame, an honor that is truly well-deserved.
On a personal note, I also had the privilege of attending college with her husband, Chris — an equally stellar person — and we served together on the Georgia Southern Student Government Association. It is wonderful to see such an inspiring educational leader making an impact on a national stage.
Lunch with Kingston
On the first day, I sat with Kingston, a rising fifth grader, at lunch. Kingston is just plain cool — he reminded me of so many students who have passed through my classroom over the years and now stop by for hugs or send me LinkedIn invites to follow their careers.
Kingston discovered RCA while playing at a neighbor’s house. His friend (now also an RCA student) had an older brother who attended RCA and clearly did a great job marketing the school. Kingston spoke with pride about what he learns in Mr. Clark’s class about everyday success. He also shared how excited and proud he is of his older brother, who is now writing his own AI website.
Kingston described the thrilling tradition of the house wheel: on their first day, students spin the wheel and slide down to meet their new house members, who greet them with cheers and celebration.
Throughout my visit, Kingston and I would run into each other — exchanging high-fives, fist bumps, and hallway conversations. On day two, when participants wore shirts showing which house they had joined, Kingston’s face lit up when he saw that we were connected.
Learning the Altruismo Chant
During day one of PD, our group was led in learning an Altruismo chant and dance by a new house leader. Staff shared that this was her first major leadership role — and she absolutely owned it. I could easily picture her one day as a general or on the Supreme Court.
She led with confidence and humor, encouraging a group of educators (who may prefer caffeine to cardio) to get moving. I adored her leadership style.
She was one of the last students I high-fived as I left RCA — and I cannot wait to see all she accomplishes in the future.
Finding My House: Altruismo
I attended #HouseMania with my principal, three instructional coaches, and four teachers. Going in, I had no particular thought about which house I might be in. I took an online quiz mid-session that suggested I might match with Sollevare — a newer house created to help other schools adopt the RCA house system.
When it came time to choose t-shirts (and house selection), my principal immediately chose Sollevare, which perfectly fits her leadership style. The Sollevare symbol is the Phoenix, representing rising from the ashes to help others do the same.
With Sollevare taken, I gravitated to Altruismo — from my lunch buddy Kingston to my chant leader, all had been members of Altruismo. It spoke to me.
Altruismo, known as the House of Givers, is represented by two hand signals — the snake and the diamond. Members are known for being fiercely competitive, driven, and focused on empowering others. By the time I made it to my car after day two, I not only proudly wore an Altruismo shirt but had a backseat full of new Altruismo swag.
The RCA House System
RCA’s four original houses — Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, Reveur — have now been expanded to support other schools through The Ron Clark Academy House System, which adds four additional houses: Sollevare, Nukumori, Onraka, and Protos.
Each house has its own:
Color
Crest
Symbols
Hand signals
Chants and cheers
Throughout the year, house leaders (supported by faculty) plan events, celebrate student success, and foster community spirit. The entire system, now supported by a user-friendly app, is designed to build student engagement, support school climate and culture, and offer opportunities for students and parents to participate.
As a collegiate sorority member (Zeta Tau Alpha), this system makes perfect sense to me. It provides belonging, leadership, and family — much like the ladder of leadership in Greek life.
RCA also draws cultural inspiration from the Divine Nine, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a coalition of historically African-American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities.
What I’m Bringing Back
Here are a few key ideas and strategies I plan to explore and adapt for our school:
Building more intentional house-based rituals and events
Expanding opportunities for student leadership
Incorporating new ways to build anticipation, connection, and school spirit
Deepening the integration of SEL and character education into house activities
Prioritizing the message that every student belongs and has value
Questions and Perspectives
It is important to acknowledge that RCA operates under a unique model. It is a non-profit charter school with a selective admissions process:
Students enter only in fourth grade after an interview process.
Students may not transfer in after fourth grade, and there is no waiting list.
RCA notes that students with IEPs may or may not be admitted based on the school’s resources.
Class sizes are capped at 32 students per grade.
Parents provide transportation.
Students travel globally with staff, but parents do not attend trips.
In contrast, as a public school:
We cannot turn students away and serve all students, including those with special needs.
We have high mobility, with students transferring in and out regularly.
We operate under state and district regulations for instructional time and scheduling.
We work hard to secure resources and funding through public channels and grants.
RCA is often called the "Disney" of education — an aspirational model that shows what is possible when resources and creativity align. It is a beacon for what schools can be: pillars of the community that show students the world of opportunity that awaits.
Final Reflections
If you ever have the opportunity to attend professional development at the Ron Clark Academy, especially House Mania, I highly recommend it. The goal is not to replicate RCA’s model exactly but to draw inspiration and reflect on how we can build a culture of joy, belonging, and leadership in our own schools.
I’m the AP. It’s me. And I am ready to bring this House Mania spirit back to our school.
