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Poster for Beyond the Blackboard

Beyond the Blackboard

Seen it?

2011 | 100 min | Family, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for families. If you loved Stand and Deliver or Into the Wild, start here.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.

Inspired by a true story, “Beyond the Blackboard” is about a 24-year-old first-time teacher who makes a difference in the lives of the homeless children she teaches in a shelter’s makeshift classroom. Set in 1987 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this movie tells the story a brand-new teacher and Mom who is given a tougher than expected teaching job and winds up teaching homeless children in a school that is housed in a room and called, literally, The School with No Name. She has some personal prejudicial hurdles to cross before she is able to be a true teacher for these children and of course there are hurdles like the lack of books and supplies.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 61K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jeff Bleckner

  • Emily VanCampStacey Bess
  • Steve TalleyGreg Bess
  • Willow ShieldsGrace
  • Timothy BusfieldSchool district's HR representative
  • Julio Oscar MechosoJohnny Hernandez
  • Nicki AycoxCandy
  • Kiersten WarrenDanny's Mom
  • Treat WilliamsDr. Warren
  • Autumn ShieldsAnnie
  • River ShieldsAlex