Popular educator and author Ron Clark will return to the 2008 Education Minnesota Professional Conference this October as keynote speaker.

Clark, a former Disney Teacher of the Year who is known for his work with disadvantaged students, drew an overflow crowd when he spoke at a conference session last year.  His appearance is sponsored by Great American Insurance Group, which is affiliated with Education Minnesota Economic Services Inc. (ESI).

Clark will speak at the general session, which begins at noon on Thursday, Oct. 16. The annual professional conference, held at Saint Paul RiverCentre, is free and open to the public, with no registration required.

Clark has worked successfully with children in rural North Carolina and inner-city Harlem and has written two books about his teaching practices, including the best-selling “The Essential 55.” He was also the subject of a made-for-TV movie, “The Ron Clark Story.”

His latest project is a private school in Atlanta for students from low-wealth areas. The curriculum of the Ron Clark Academy is based on travel around the world. Each year the students will journey on international adventures, and by eighth grade each child will have visited every continent. The academy also sponsors professional development conferences for teachers; last year several Minnesota educators attended.