Class, Please Take Your Seats … ``School's In'' on Disney Channel; New Original Special Highlights Grade ``A'' Teachers from Disney's American Teacher Awards

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2001

Entertainment Editors & Television/Cable Writers

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2001

Disney Channel, the leader in television for kids and families, will premiere its all-new original documentary special, "School's In," Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Hosted by Andy Lawrence ("Brotherly Love," "Horse Sense"), the special highlights six of the distinguished teachers honored during Disney's American Teacher Awards, which aired on Lifetime in December 2000.

"School's In" honors the best and the brightest of America's educational community. Host Lawrence and filmmakers Mark Benjamin and Jamie Lustberg assemble an all-star lineup of six teachers from around the country, each from a different teaching discipline.

Handpicked from the prestigious list of professionals nominated for Disney's American Teacher Awards 2000, each of the six chosen educators is highlighted in a documentary-style vignette during this one-hour event. One featured teacher, Ron Clark, is an extraordinary sixth-grade teacher from New York City who was the recipient of this year's "Teacher of the Year" honors at Disney's American Teacher Awards.

Since 1990, The Walt Disney Co. and Disney Channel have paid tribute to our country's educators with Disney's American Teacher Awards.

"Since 1999, Disney Learning Partnership has sponsored this annual event celebrating the men and women responsible for bringing learning to life for children across America," explained Gary Marsh, executive vice president, original programming.

"In our continued dedication to teachers, Disney Channel wanted to expand upon the tradition of the American Teacher Awards with a documentary-style special that would take kids and parents into the classroom not only for a real look at six amazing teachers, but for a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the children they teach."

"School's In" will repeat Feb. 22 (10:25 p.m. ET/PT) and Feb. 25 (9 p.m. ET/PT).

"School's In" is directed and produced by husband and wife team Mark Benjamin and Jamie Lustberg of Benjamin Productions Inc., in association with Disney Channel. An Emmy and Ace award-winning documentary filmmaker, Benjamin was the director of photography for the acclaimed dramatic feature film Slam, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Camera D'or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Disney Learning Partnership provides philanthropic support for innovative approaches to learning in classrooms across America.

Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the first general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Disney Channel is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.