Hallmark Hall Of Fame

A Smile as Big as the Moon (2012x1)

Air date: Jan 29, 2012

Mike Kersjes is a special-education teacher and football coach in Michigan. Mike doesn’t talk down to his “special” students. He respects them, and he believes they’re capable of achieving great things. When Mike hears about Space Camp, a competitive education program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, he gets an idea. Even though the program is designed for gifted science students, Mike decides participating in the summer program would do wonders for the self-esteem of his young students, one in particular who wants to be an astronaut. In the process, he's blocked by school administrators, financial issues, and the emotional problems his students suffer. But despite these incredible obstacles, he pushes forward to make his dreams, and those of his inspiring students, come true. Based on a true story, "A Smile as Big as the Moon" stars John Corbett, Jessy Schram, Moira Kelly and Cynthia Watros.