Teacher Training

The Spark Conference: LCA Reignites Creativity and Innovation in Elementary Education

Lakewood Catholic Academy is a leader in elementary education and provides professional development opportunities for other elementary school educators and administrators.  Created in 2018, The Spark Conference has become one of Cleveland’s largest conferences for elementary educators.  The annual August event is a first class professional development experience that inspires and energizes teachers for the school year ahead.  The event features both nationally recognized leaders in education as well as breakout sessions led by Lakewood Catholic Academy teachers and administrators. Additionally, each year outstanding teachers are nominated by their principals to win one of the prestigious Spark Teacher Awards.

The 2025 Spark Conference will be held on August 5th and will feature Kim Bearden!  

Kim Bearden is the cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher at the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy, an innovative middle school and educator-training facility in Atlanta. Throughout her career, Kim has received numerous accolades, such as being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She was chosen from over 70,000 nominations to be honored as the Disney American Teacher Awards Outstanding Humanities Teacher, and the Milken Family Foundation selected her to receive the Award for Excellence in Education. She is the winner of the InfluencHer Award, the University of Georgia Outstanding Educator Award, and the Turknett Character Award for Servant Leadership. Mercedes-Benz recognized her in their Greatness Lives Here campaign, and Women Works Media Group has named her one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women. Over the past thirty-six years, she has been a teacher, instructional lead teacher, curriculum director, school board member, staff development trainer, and middle-school principal. Kim is also a wife, mom, and bestselling author of three books: Crash Course, Talk to Me, and Fight Song: Six Steps to Passion, Power, Peace, and Purpose.

What Teachers are Saying . . .

“Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for the Spark experience.  It was the perfect way to “fire up” for the school year.  I stand in awe of the LCA staff and the excellence that is poured into the event – it was masterful and magical!  Kudos to every single individual – they treated us royally!”

“Thank you very much for planning such an awesome professional development day for teachers in the diocese.  The speakers were excellent!  The energy was palpable.  The excitement was just what we needed to start the year!  Every detail was noticed.  Thank you for sharing your vision and expertise with so many teachers who otherwise would not have had the experience of first rate presentations!”