Sunday, April 24th CBS will show their new Hallmark Hall of Fame Move – “Beyond the Blackboard”. It is the touching story of a woman, Stacey Bess, who taught a school for homeless children for 11 years. My dad met her about 20 years ago, in a metal Quonset hut under a SLC freeway viaduct. He had been given an assignment by a national magazine to photograph her and her homeless students.
Stacey Bess’s first teaching job is not at all what she expected. She’s assigned to the School with no Name in Salt Lake City, a space in a homeless shelter that is supposed to function as a classroom. The ‘classroom,’ though, lacks basic supplies such as desks and books, and her young students range in age from six to 12.
Based on a true story, Beyond the Blackboard chronicles young Stacey confronting her own fears and insecurities as she struggles to gain attention and respect from her students. She must also win over school board administrators and apprehensive parents.
“‘Beyond the Blackboard’ reminds us that sometimes it doesn’t take an awful lot to make a huge difference in other people’s lives,” said Treat Williams (known for his role in “Everwood”), who plays a superintendent Bess had to persuade for school resources. “In this economy, with so many people having a rough time, I think the message in this film is going to resonate. We’re all in this together, and each person is capable of making a positive difference in the lives of others.”
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