Known for walking around the high school he was principal at with a bullhorn and a baseball bat.
Father of Olympic track athletes Joetta Clark Diggs and Hazel Clark, and the father-in-law of Olympic track athlete Jearl Miles Clark. His son JJ Clark was their coach.
After his tenure as principal of Eastside High, Clark later served as director of the Essex County Detention House in Newark, New Jersey, a juvenile detention facility.
Wrote the book "Laying Down the Law: Joe Clark's Strategy for Saving Our Schools.".
Subject of the 1989 film Lean On Me, starring Morgan Freeman.
Grew up in Newark, New Jersey.
Served as a U.S. Army Reserve sergeant and drill instructor after college.
Was the principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey.
Started his education career as a grade school teacher in Paterson, New Jersey and as director of camps and playgrounds in Essex County, New Jersey. He then became principal of School 6.
Attended Central High School in Newark, New Jersey.