Troubled kid, indeed. Usually reverse psychology works great for this. What sounds like is happening is that the child may be neglected at home and when put in a room of other kids looking up to him, he's just putting on a show, like a soap opera. The kids' have skills now adays, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart.

If a child is being neglected, they may indeed be one of the most intelligent children you'd ever meet, but that isn't what they want to be. They want to be known, seen and looked at, which is what he's putting you through, which is just his show.

In order to defeat his show, you gotta find something without him knowing and then use it. Not against him, but for him. Say find a quality about this child and embrace that quality, but not letting him know that you are doing it and that you do it in front of everyone he has already put on a show for.

What this will end up doing is show him that there are other ways in putting on a show other than just being a neglected child and sharing their common interests. It will not only give this child more leadership qualities, but they are now learning faster, because they are in a good mood and hopefully following the rules.