CHRISTA: A Documentary Celebrating New Hampshire’s Iconic Teacher

Durham, NH – (December 3, 2024) – You may be familiar with the quote “I touch the future, I teach,” but how much do you know about the woman who said it? The new documentary CHRISTA, set to premiere on New Hampshire PBS on December 19^th at 8:30 PM, offers a look into the life and legacy of Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher selected for space travel. The film delves into McAuliffe’s journey, from her beginnings as a social studies teacher at Concord High School to her historic selection for the Space Shuttle Challenger mission, and also covers the recent dedication of the first statue on the New Hampshire State House lawn to honor a woman.

“Christa McAuliffe was selected out of over 11,000 people to become NASA's first teacher in space,” said Jeanne Gerluskis, the former director of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. “That's because she had these incredible qualities of enthusiasm and a love for learning.”

Gerluskis reached out to New Hampshire PBS to recommend the station produce the documentary to coincide with the statue dedication. “We all want to be remembered for who we were, what we cared about, what we loved and what we did,” said Gerluskis.

CHRISTA features interviews with Gerluskis along with local dignitaries, educators and former students, who provide a personal and intimate portrait of McAuliffe’s life. The program explores her passion for education, her unwavering determination and her inspiring message of hope and possibility.

Governor Chris Sununu was instrumental in establishing a commission to construct the statue honoring McAuliffe. In the documentary, Sununu stated, “You say Christa in New Hampshire, and everyone knows exactly who you're talking about.”

The commission sought the artistic vision of Benjamin Victor, a nationally celebrated sculptor, who is also interviewed in the film. In 2024, Victor became the only living artist to have four sculptures in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol.

“Who we memorialize says a lot about our society,” said Victor. “They say that the greatest joy in life is when you can be a part of something bigger than you.”

“Christa McAuliffe’s story is one of courage, resilience and the power of education,” said producer Kathleen Young. “We are honored to share her legacy.  As a producer, I’ve worked on numerous projects, but none have been as meaningful and impactful as this one.”

The documentary CHRISTA will premiere on December 19^th at 8:30 PM on New Hampshire PBS. After the broadcast, viewers can stream the documentary on the PBS App. Classroom resources and a catalog of interviews will be available online at nhpbs.org/christa.

Funding for the production of CHRISTA was provided by New Hampshire Humanities.

Copyright © 2024 by New Hampshire PBS and Idaho Public Television.

Pressroom Contact

Carla Gordon Russell
Director of Communications
crussell@nhpbs.org
(603) 868-4339