Families & staff –

I hope you made it safely through the storm this weekend. Just a reminder that there is no school for students on Friday, January 30.

Remembering Christa McAuliffe

Christa McAuliffe—a social studies teacher at Concord High School—made history as the first teacher selected to fly in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 marks the 40^th anniversary of when the Challenger broke apart after launch. Christa and the six NASA astronauts perished on board.

We take this moment to celebrate her remarkable life and the enduring impact of her vision.

Christa's name is woven into the fabric of our schools and our community. Christa McAuliffe School and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center carry her legacy forward, and the auditorium at Concord High School bears her name.

Christa saw teaching as an adventure and believed deeply in the power of learning to transform lives. Her enthusiasm was infectious, her commitment to students unwavering and her approach to education revolutionary. She brought the same passion to her application for the Teacher in Space program that she brought to her classroom every day—a desire to inspire young people to reach beyond what they thought possible.

In the four decades since, Christa's influence has only grown. Her belief that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things continues to resonate with educators, students and dreamers everywhere. Her spirit lives on in every teacher who strives to make learning exciting, in every student who dares to pursue an ambitious dream and in our community’s continued commitment to excellence in education.

As we remember this anniversary, we are grateful for the example she set and the inspiration she continues to provide to new generations of students and educators.

Her legacy reminds us that teaching is one of the most important journeys we can undertake—and that the impact of a great teacher truly reaches for the stars.

Learn more about Christa and her legacy:

• PBS Documentary – Christa (YouTube) 28:00
• “Reach for the Stars: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe” - McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center – January 24 – February 1
• Challenger: Soaring with Christa McAuliffe - McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center-Special Event – January 31 at 5:30pm

Tim Herbert

Interim Superintendent of Schools