August 4, 2005

For Immediate Release                                                         

Matthew Perry Plays Ron Clark, former ECU College of Education Teaching Fellow in TNT Original Movie

Greenville, NC – Ron Clark graduated from the College of Education at ECU where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow.  Clark has been a teacher since 1995.  Vivian Covington, Director of Teacher Education in the College of Education at ECU, says, “Ron is an excellent motivator.  He has a true passion for teaching that really comes across, it is just incredible.”  Mary Beth Corbin, Director for the Teaching Fellows Program at ECU added, “Our program is obviously thrilled to watch his continued success.  The stories he continues to share about teaching can only serve as a positive catalyst for the education profession.” 

Clark’s work with disadvantaged students in both rural North Carolina and in inner-city Harlem gained worldwide attention.  He has been a guest to the White House three times and was honored by President and Mrs. Clinton. Clark was also named Disney's American Teacher of the Year in 2001. Since receiving that distinction, he has been interviewed by Katie Couric on the Today Show, and has appeared twice on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He was also featured in O Magazine where Oprah named him her first "Phenomenal Man!"  Clark has two published books and also makes appearances speaking to teachers, PTA’s and school boards across the country.

A made-for-TV movie starring former Friends actor, Matthew Perry, titled "The Ron Clark Story" details Clark's experiences in the classroom in both North Carolina and New York City. "We are proud to have an actor the caliber of Matthew Perry bringing his talents to such a memorable, inspirational story." said Michael Wright, senior vice president of original programming for TNT.  "THE RON CLARK STORY is the perfect kind of moving, human story we seek to bring through the JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION^® series," said Andrea Alstrup, corporate vice president, advertising, Johnson & Johnson. "This movie will engage both the viewers’ hearts and minds by letting them see the difference one person can make in the lives of so many." THE RON CLARK STORY is the eighth TNT Original to be produced under the JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION^® banner.

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For more information, contact Jessica W. Davenport, Director of Communications, College of Education at 252-328-2179.