Ron Clark

Ronald Lyle "Ron" Clark, Jr. is a contestant from .
On top of the Kama tribe alongside Eric Hafemann, Ron formed a coalition against the returnees and successfully organized returning player Joe Anglim's elimination. After a brief stint on the rocks following the merge, Ron reconsolidated control over the Vata tribe, but his complacence allowed his allies to blindside him at the final seven.
==Profile==
Retrieved from CBS.com
Age: 46
Hometown: Chocowinity, North Carolina
Current residence: Atlanta
Occupation: Teacher, Ron Clark Academy
Hobbies: Life doesn't get any better than giving my Chow Chow pups belly rubs! I also get a kick out of watching the roulette ball spin and land in the single zero, but I think my main hobby is surprising people by making really unique moments for them. When I was a kid my family didn't have money, but my parents put a lot of effort into making simple moments magical. I now try to follow in their footsteps and try my best to do that for my students, friends, and family. I also like telling stories and participating in anything competitive such as poker, pool, trivia, basketball, tennis and "Bamboo Stick Speller," a game my friends and I created.
Pet peeves: I'm a sore loser. Like really sore. I'll stew over a Monopoly loss for weeks, wondering, "just where did I go wrong." Also, I hate when people slurp food (like soup) or smack chew gum. People, we can hear you!
Three words to describe you: Visionary, compassionate, "mean girl."
What is your personal claim to fame? I co-founded the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta where we teach using passion, innovative strategies, and creative methods to inspire all of our students to reach success. Each week, we also train educators from around the world so that they can incorporate our strategies in their schools. To date, over 50,000 educators have visited RCA to receive training, and we are starting a revolution! I hope that doesn't overshadow the fact that back in 2002 I won the Showcase Showdown on The Price is Right.
Who or what is your inspiration in life? My students inspire me to do more and be a better person! I love the way they forgive easily, laugh heartily and bounce back. They are great role models! Also: Antoni Gaudí gives me life! He is the most creative genius to ever walk the earth!!
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why?
A recording device that I could leave under the shelter so that I would always be in the know.
A returning player that others would focus on voting out so that the target wouldn't be on me.
My wedding ring so I'd be inspired by the love waiting for me at home.
Which Survivor contestant are you the most like? I'm a compassionate person, but everyone who knows me well says that during competitions I turn into a villain. I also over analyze everything. For those reasons, I don't think there's a past contestant that is a perfect fit for me, but I think my gameplay will be most like Spencer Bledsoe.
What's your reason for being on Survivor? Since I have been hooked. My friends and I have hung on every episode, pausing constantly to debate moves and re-watching our favorite episodes again and again. I tell my students all the time that life is for living and that they should seek to never have regrets. "Dream Big!" After watching Survivor for most of my adult life, I finally decided to take my own advice and apply. I want to live the experience and share my journey with the ones I love. It would be a monumental moment in my life!
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? My passion for life rubs off on people, and with focus, I can change people's moods and get them to follow my lead. I'll use my southern charm to disarm, my big personality to entertain and my loyal nature to disorient.http://web.archive.org/web/20230413092819/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/216079/
==Survivor==
Ron started Survivor: Edge of Extinction on the Kama tribe. During the opening scramble at the marooning on Day 1, Ron found a secret advantage hidden on the boat. After Kama arrived at their camp, Ron followed the clue to an Advantage Menu, giving him the choice of one of three advantages, to be used at any point until after the third Tribal Council: a Reward Steal, an Extra Vote, or individual immunity at Tribal Council. He later became a part of the Kama Six alliance against the tribe's returning players, Aubry Bracco and Joe Anglim, with the alliance targeting Aubry first so they can use Joe as a shield. However, Ron never got to use the Advantage Menu or go to Tribal Council as Kama won the first three Immunity Challenges.
When the Tribe Switch occurred on Day 9, Ron stayed on Kama along with fellow alliance members Julia Carter and Julie Rosenberg and Kama Six outsiders Aurora McCreary and Joe. At camp, Aurora and Joe tried to form a majority alliance with Ron, but Ron instead conspired with Julia to search through Joe's bag to confirm he didn't have a Hidden Immunity Idol, and since the alliance's main target, Aubry was switched to the rival Manu tribe, Joe became the main target on Kama. However, Ron began to reconsider the plan to eliminate him as he was able to provide for the tribe. But Kama's plans were once again put on hold when Kama finished first in all of the challenges after the Tribe Switch.
Due to Kama's extensive winning streak, Ron was one of eight out of nine of the original Kama's to make the merge on Day 17. Despite Kama wanted to use their numbers advantage to pick off the original Manu's, after the Immunity Challenge on Day 19, Ron asked Joe about their target going into Tribal Council, but Joe's vague answers frightened Ron. Ron then approached the Kama Six alliance about targeting Joe for being a physical threat. At Tribal Council, Ron's plan worked as the Kama Six surprised everyone when they blindsided Joe. However, after Tribal Council, Ron and Eric Hafemann became arrogant and were seen as the leaders of the Kama Six by the Manu Alliance. Eric and Ron later brought in David Wright and Rick Devens to use as potential allies for when the Kama Six had to turn on each other. After the Day 22 Immunity Challenge, the Kama Six decided to split their votes between Kelley Wentworth and Lauren O'Connell in case either of them had an idol. However, Wardog DaSilva had conversations with Gavin Whitson and Julia and told them Eric and Ron's plan about using David and Rick for when the Kama Six had to turn on each other. At Tribal Council, Ron, Julie, and Rick were stunned when Aurora, Gavin, Julia, and Victoria Baamonde flipped and sided with the Manu Alliance in blindsiding Eric.
After Tribal Council, Ron and Julie tried to reintegrate the Kama Six. However, Julie expressed that she felt like Julia was running the show and was going to win the game. While the Manu Alliance's target was initially David, they tried to change it to Ron. At a chaotic Tribal Council, Ron joined the rest of the tribe minus Aurora in blindsiding Julia. After Tribal Council, Ron became a part of a new majority alliance led by Wardog in targeting Aurora, who they felt had cost Julia her game with her sarcastic demeanor. But their plan was thwarted when Aurora won the Day 25 Immunity Challenge. After the Immunity Challenge, David and Rick tried to target the tight trio of Kelley, Lauren, and Wardog by trying to recruit Ron, Aurora, Julia, and Victoria, as Julie and Ron became the swing votes. At Tribal Council, Julie and Ron joined the rest of the tribe minus Rick in voting out David. After the Day 27 Immunity Challenge, Wardog's alliance was set on their earlier plan of targeting Aurora, but Wardog wanted to shake up the game by betraying Kelley for being the last returning player remaining and recruited Ron, Rick, Aurora, and Victoria on the plan. Before Tribal Council, Aurora gave Ron her Extra Vote to try and secure his loyalty, which made Ron become the swing vote as he considered voting out Aurora and keeping the advantage for himself. At Tribal Council, Ron joined Wardog's plan in blindsiding Kelley. After Tribal Council, Rick proposed an alliance with Ron and Wardog as the biggest remaining threats to take out lesser targets by targeting Aurora first, and Ron later gave Aurora her Extra Vote back. After Rick won the Day 29 Immunity Challenge, the trio tried to bring in Julie and discussed targeting Aurora. At Tribal Council however, Ron flipped on Rick and Wardog and joined the rest of the tribe in voting out Wardog.
After Tribal Council, Ron was confronted by Rick for lying to him about targeting Wardog. In an attempt to repair their relationship, Ron gave Rick the Advantage Menu he found during the marooning but, unbeknownst to Rick, it had long expired. Ron and his husband Lloyd won the Family Visit and chose to share their picnic reward with Gavin, Julie, and their loved ones. After the Day 31 Immunity Challenge, Julie and Ron told Rick to vote Aurora and assured that the Advantage Menu was real and effective. But unbeknownst to Julie and Ron, Victoria and Lauren planned to split their votes between Rick and Ron, as the perceived next-biggest threat. At Tribal Council, Rick tried to play the Advantage Menu, but was informed it was expired. He berated Ron and Julie for trying to embarrass him before playing an idol, negating four votes against him. While Rick voted Aurora, Ron was blindsided when Gavin used Aurora's Extra Vote and Lauren also voted against him. He then took the torch and went to the .
Ron stayed on the Edge of Extinction until Day 35, where he competed in the second re-entry duel. But he lost the challenge to Chris Underwood, eliminating him along with nine others.
At the Final Tribal Council, Ron joined most of the Edge of Extinction inhabitants on the jury in voting for Chris to be the Sole Survivor, helping him beat Gavin and Julie in a 9-4-0 vote to win the million-dollar prize.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=9 	Social Network 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	
2 	Serpent Turf 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Losing Face 	Reward 	Yes 	 	
3 	Beyond the Wheel 	Immunity 	No 	 	
4 	Yank Your Hank 	Immunity 	No 	 	
5 	True Grit 	Reward 	No 	 	
5 	A Bit Dinghy 	Immunity 	No 	 	
5 	Rod Screw-It 	Reward 	No 	 	
5 	In Through the Out Door 	Immunity 	Yes 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
6 	rowspan=11 	Audio Slave 	Immunity 	 	
7 	Planks a Lot 	Reward 	 	 	
7 	Keep on Your Toes 	Immunity 	 	 	
8 	Bo Diddley 	Immunity 	 	 	
9 	Squatty Probst 	Immunity 	Yes 	 	
9 	Faulty Towers 	Reward 	 	 	
9 	Paddle Out 	Immunity 	 	 	
10 	Dressed to Keel 	Reward 	 	 	
10 	Star Man 	Immunity 	 	 	
11 	Stuck in Love 	Reward 	 	 	
11 	Chimney Sweeps 	Immunity 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
13 	 	Don't Call It a Comeback 	Re-entry 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: Ron elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.
|-|Voting History=
Episode 	Ron'sVotes 	Voted AgainstRon
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	 	
5 	 	
6 	 	
7 	 	
8 	 	
9 	 	
9 	 	
10 	 	
11 	 	
 	 	
12 	colspan="2" rowspan="2"	
13 	 	
 	 	
Voted forSole Survivor	colspan="2" 	
 In , Rick used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Ron's vote against him.</tabber>
==Post-Survivor==
==Trivia==
* Ron is the oldest man to compete on .
* Ron is the first man to find an Advantage Menu.
* Ron lost 22 lbs. during his time on Edge of Extinction.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owD_7ZWnS0g
==References==
Category:Contestants
Category:Male Contestants
Category:LGBT Contestants
Category:Edge of Extinction Contestants
Category:Edge of Extinction Jury Members
Category:Kama Tribe
Category:Vata Tribe
Category:8th Place
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Contestants
Category:Survivor: Edge of Extinction
Category:1972 births
Category:Living people