It Begins with a Conviction
S.N.A.P. Coaching Framework
About the S.N.A.P. Method™ : The S.N.A.P. Method™ is a reflective framework created for teachers navigating the real world.
Strong schools start with a strong vision. Sometimes the most transformational work doesn’t begin with a building… it begins with a conviction.
A Moment That Made Me Think
I was recently watching The Ron Clark Story on Amazon Prime. Yes, the Ron Clark, the energetic and passionate educator who has inspired thousands across the country. It wasn’t just his energy that moved me this time. It was what he saw and what he chose to do about it.
He was a classroom teacher who noticed something missing. He saw the spark fading in students labeled as “difficult” or “disadvantaged.” He observed educators burning out while trying to ignite change in systems that moved slowly. He didn’t wait for someone else or for perfect conditions.
Instead, he packed up, moved to Harlem, and eventually founded The Ron Clark Academy out of passion, not privilege, and that made me pause.
Sometimes change doesn’t come from a system; it comes from someone willing to see, believe, and build.
What If We All Started with What We See?
Ron Clark didn’t set out to be famous. He set out to be faithful to what he noticed.
That made me think… how many of us have seen something and felt a tug in our spirit but pushed it aside?
“I don’t have the time.”
“I don’t have the money.”
“I’m not ready.”
“Who am I to do that?”
But what if Ron had said those same things?
What if he never chased that dream? What if he never created a space where students feel like rockstars and teachers feel like royalty?
Sometimes the greatest change doesn’t come from a strategic initiative. It comes from a person who dares to believe there’s more.
Maybe It’s Not About the Building… Maybe It’s the Belief
The Ron Clark Academy is renowned for its engaging presentations, upbeat music, and electric atmosphere. It’s not the theatrics that change lives; it’s the culture.
It’s the belief that kids from every background can succeed.
It’s the expectation that teachers should be celebrated and supported.
It’s the understanding that learning should be felt, not just measured.
That kind of culture doesn’t require a million-dollar facility; it requires leaders with vision and the courage to act.
Let’s Create the Future We Want to See
You might not build a school tomorrow, but you can create a space today, right where you are.
Don’t wait for permission to begin.
Mentor a student who’s struggling.
Volunteer at an after-school program.
Start a weekend reading group.
Organize a breakfast break to encourage teachers.
Big dreams start small; they start somewhere.
Why Vision Begins in the Classroom, Not the Vision Board
Before we plan school-wide programs or build bold blueprints, what if we considered the four walls of our classroom as the starting point?
What if vision didn’t start in a boardroom, but at a desk, with a child who needs someone to believe in them?
What if the ideas we buried under stress, burnout, or bureaucracy are exactly the seeds our students need us to plant?
Ron Clark’s vision didn’t begin with a grand academy. It started with a chalkboard, a few students, and the conviction that he could make learning come alive even for those others who had given up on it.
Remember that part in The Ron Clark Story when he assigned a journal about Dr. King? He was trying to spark reflection and connection, but when he asked the students about it, none of them had done it. Worse, one student had rallied her classmates to cause chaos. They erupted in celebration when he walked out of the classroom in frustration. They had “won,” or so they thought.
How many times have we found ourselves in the same place, doing our best to connect, teach, and inspire, yet still hitting a wall? How many moments have pushed us to the edge, tempted us to close the door, shut off the light, or question if we’re even making a difference?
Maybe the real question is: “What do I see, and what am I willing to do about it?”
What if Ron Clark had given up in that moment? What if he had taken that reaction personally instead of seeing the pain, the distrust, and the defense mechanisms behind it?
He could’ve walked away, and no one would’ve blamed him. Instead, he returned with higher expectations and unwavering belief. Over time, the very students who tried to push him away became the ones who clung to him the most.
That’s vision. Not because it starts big, but because it keeps going when it would be easier to quit. That’s what the S.N.A.P. Method reminds me to do. To Stop and remember why I started. To Notice what’s really going on beneath the surface. To Act with purpose, not emotion. To Plan for long-term impact, not just short-term comfort.
Vision doesn’t have to be big to be bold. Sometimes, it just has to begin again.
S.N.A.P. Method: Leading with Bold, Purposeful Vision — From the Classroom Out
Stop
Stop saying it’s impossible just because it hasn’t been done at your school before. Stop waiting for someone to “acknowledge” the heart work you envision for your students. Stop letting fear, fatigue, or past failures drown out your calling. As a classroom teacher, you don’t need a title to be a visionary. You just need to pause long enough to remember your “why.”
Notice
Notice what breaks your heart as you walk into your classroom. Is it the student who never brings supplies? The one who lashes out before letting anyone in? The silence of a child who used to smile? Notice what makes you come alive, too, because that’s where your impact begins.
Ron Clark didn’t wait for a committee or campaign. He recognized the divide between what was and what could be, and he chose to cross it; so can you.
Act
Act even if it’s small. Create a calm-down corner. Explore new approaches to support students who are struggling. Celebrate every tiny win of a student. You don’t need a building or a big budget to make a difference; all you need is boldness and consistency.
Ron Clark took action on his concern before everything fell into place. He didn’t wait for the perfect plan; he moved forward with passion. As teachers, our greatest moments often come from the quiet decision to show up again tomorrow.
Plan
Plan with purpose.
What’s one thing you can commit to this month in your classroom?
Who’s one student you’ll check in with daily?
What’s one idea you’ll finally write down and share?
You don’t need to plan the next five years. Just take the next faithful step.
Write it down. Speak it aloud. Trust that vision grows where it’s nurtured and that your classroom might just be the starting place for something extraordinary.
Why It Matters for Our Students (and Ourselves)
When students see adults who dream boldly and serve passionately, they start to imagine more for themselves as well. When educators move from just surviving to actively creating, school becomes more than a job; it becomes a mission.
By investing in vision, we’re not only shaping schools, but we're shaping the future.
Final Thought
You might not be Ron Clark, and you don’t have to be.
BUT you do have eyes to see and a heart to serve.
Before we build the system, let’s believe in the possibility.
Before we create the space, let’s fuel the spark.
Before we teach the lesson, let’s carry the passion.
What dream have you been sitting on?
Maybe it’s time to S.N.A.P. into it.
