A Smile as Big as the Moon: A Special Education Teacher, His Class, and Their Inspiring Journey Through U.S. Space Camp


Mike Kersjes taught special education classes, dealing with children whose disabilities included Tourette syndrome, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, eating disorders and a variety of emotional problems.

One autumn Kersjes got the outlandish idea that his students would benefit from going to Space Camp, where, in conjunction with NASA, high school students compete in a variety of activities similar to those experienced by astronauts in training for space shuttle missions.

There was only one problem: this program had been specifically designed for gifted and talented students, the best and the brightest from America's most privileged high schools...

U.S. Space and Rocket Center