New PBS Documentary Highlighting Christa McAuliffe's Legacy

December Connections 2024

On December 19th at 8:30 PM, New Hampshire PBS is honored to present a new documentary on the life and legacy of Christa McAuliffe, the first educator selected for NASA’s Teacher in Space Program. We sat down with New Hampshire PBS producer Kathleen Young to get her perspective on the film CHRISTA.

“Growing up near Concord, I vividly remember the excitement and pride when Christa McAuliffe was chosen to be the first teacher in space,” said Young. “It was such an exciting time for New Hampshire.”

Earlier this year, the former director of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Jeanne Gerluskis, asked New Hampshire PBS to produce a documentary to coincide with a statue dedication on the front lawn of the New Hampshire State House. “As a producer, I’ve worked on numerous projects, but none have been as meaningful and impactful as this one,” said Young.

“Jeanne emphasized that this documentary should focus on sculpting Christa’s legacy,” said Young. “Literally, with a statue being created by nationally celebrated sculptor Benjamin Victor, and figuratively, by showcasing how Christa’s life has inspired millions of people around the world. Jeanne was adamant that this story should celebrate Christa’s life, not her tragic death.”

Young spent months immersing herself in McAuliffe’s journey, reading news accounts, watching documentaries and scouring NASA’s website. “What I quickly discovered was that most of what I found was focused on the shuttle’s disaster, rather than on Christa herself.”

Young worked with NASA, the McAuliffe Discovery Center at Framingham State and educator Kimberly Bleier, who currently teaches the class McAuliffe developed at Concord High School. The Concord Historical Society also gave access to their archival footage of McAuliffe’s appearances and speeches. “I watched interviews from the local Channel 12, where Christa spoke about the importance of understanding how ordinary citizens shape history,” said Young.

CHRISTA also features interviews with local dignitaries, museum directors, educators and former students, who all provide a personal and intimate portrait of McAuliffe’s life. “I talked with people who grew up in Concord and remembered Christa as a friend, colleague and teacher,” said Young. “Everyone I interviewed agreed that Christa’s infectious enthusiasm and warm smile were what set her apart from the 11,000 other applicants for the Teacher in Space Program.”

With so much material, the documentary could have gone in many different directions. “The most challenging aspect of the process was selecting who to include in the program,” said Young. “I could have easily created a mini-series.” Some interviews will be produced as standalone videos that will be available on nhpbs.org/christa.

As the documentary took shape, something became very clear to Young. “Jeanne was right,” said Young. “Christa McAuliffe was far more than the 73 seconds that followed the Challenger’s launch. She was a champion for educators, a trailblazer for women and a testament to the power of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things.”

CHRISTA will premiere on December 19th at 8:30 PM on New Hampshire PBS and online on the PBS App. To learn more, go to nhpbs.org/christa.