Movies about teachers usually go one of two ways. They're either overly sugary, or they try way too hard to be "gritty." But honestly, when you look back at the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon, you realize they managed to hit that weirdly specific sweet spot in the middle. It’s a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, sure, but it’s based on the real-life memoir by Mike Kersjes. If you haven't seen it in a while, it's the story of a special education teacher who decides his students—kids often overlooked by the system—deserve a shot at Space Camp.
It sounds like a trope. It isn't.
What makes this movie work over a decade later isn't just the "inspired by true events" tag. It's the people. The cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon wasn't just a collection of big names looking for an Emmy nod; it was a mix of seasoned pros and young actors who actually portrayed the realities of Down syndrome, autism, and ADHD without making them feel like "plot points."
John Corbett and the Heart of the Classroom
John Corbett plays Mike Kersjes. You probably know him as Aidan from Sex and the City or the dad from To All the Boys I've Loved Before. He has this specific, laid-back energy that fits a football coach turned special ed teacher perfectly. He doesn't play Kersjes as a saint. Instead, he’s kinda stubborn. He’s the guy who looks at a NASA bureaucracy and just decides to out-annoy them until they let his kids in.
Kersjes was a real person at Forest Hills Northern High School in Michigan. Corbett captures that "bull in a china shop" mentality where he cares more about his students' potential than he does about school board rules. It’s a physical performance. He’s always moving, always pushing.
Then there’s Jessy Schram. She plays Robynn, the fellow teacher who helps Mike navigate the insanity of the Space Camp application process. Schram is great because she acts as the grounding force. While Corbett’s character is busy dreaming about the moon, she’s the one worrying about the logistics, the funding, and the emotional toll on the kids. Their chemistry feels like a real workplace partnership—stressed, caffeinated, and deeply committed.
The Real Stars: The Students
Here is where the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon gets interesting. The producers made a conscious choice to cast actors who actually had the disabilities portrayed in the film. This wasn't always the norm in 2012, and honestly, it’s why the movie holds up.
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Peter Benson plays Ben, a student with Down syndrome. His performance is the emotional anchor of the film. There is a specific scene involving a flight simulator where you see the sheer terror and eventual triumph on his face. It’s not "acting" in the traditional sense; it’s an authentic reaction to the environment.
We also have:
- Logan Huffman as Scott, who deals with significant anger issues and a difficult home life.
- David Lambert as Steve, the kid who is arguably the most "tech-savvy" but struggles with social cues.
- Jimmy Bellinger as Matt, providing much-needed comedic timing when things get too heavy.
These kids weren't just background characters. The script gives them individual arcs. You see their families. You see the parents who are terrified that Mike is setting their children up for a massive, public failure. That’s a real fear. It’s easy for a teacher to be an optimist, but the parents are the ones who have to pick up the pieces when the world says "no."
Why the NASA Setting Matters
The film was shot at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This wasn't some Hollywood backlot. When you see the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon interacting with the simulators and the massive Saturn V rockets, they are in the actual locations where the real Mike Kersjes took his class in 1989.
The supporting cast includes Cynthia Watros as Mike's wife, Diane. She’s the unsung hero of the narrative. Being married to a visionary is exhausting. Watros plays that exhaustion well. She supports him, but she also calls him out when his obsession with Space Camp starts to bleed into their personal life.
The Hurdles: It Wasn't Just About the Kids
Most people forget that the story is as much about adult prejudice as it is about student achievement. The cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon includes a variety of school administrators and NASA officials who represent the status quo.
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The conflict isn't just "can the kids learn the science?" It's "will the adults let them try?"
Mike Kersjes had to fight for years to get his class into the program. NASA originally told him no. The school district told him it was a waste of money. The movie captures that friction. It’s frustrating to watch, which is exactly why the payoff at the end feels earned rather than manipulative.
The Legacy of the Real Mike Kersjes
Looking at the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon, you have to acknowledge the man behind the story. Mike Kersjes eventually left teaching to run "Space for Special Kids," a non-profit aimed at getting more diverse learners into STEM programs.
The movie isn't 100% accurate—movies never are. Some timelines were condensed. A few characters were composites. But the core truth remains: a group of kids who were told they’d never hold a steady job managed to successfully complete a simulated space mission that challenges "gifted" students.
Common Misconceptions About the Movie
People often mix this up with other "inspirational teacher" movies like Stand and Deliver or Lean on Me. But those are mostly about academic testing or inner-city discipline. This film is different because it focuses on a demographic that is almost entirely invisible in cinema.
Some critics at the time thought the movie was a bit too "Hallmark," but if you talk to anyone in the special education community, they’ll tell you that the representation in the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon was a massive step forward. Seeing actors with actual disabilities on a major network (ABC) during primetime was a big deal in 2012.
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What to Do Next if You Liked the Film
If you’ve recently rewatched the movie and found yourself curious about the actual history or the people involved, there are a few things worth checking out.
First, read the book. It’s titled A Smile as Big as the Moon: A Special Education Teacher, His Class, and Their Inspiring Journey Through Space Camp. Mike Kersjes wrote it with Joe Layden. It goes into much more detail about the specific personalities of the kids and the technical hurdles they faced at Space Camp.
Second, look into the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s current programs. They have significantly expanded their accessibility since the 80s, largely thanks to the awareness raised by Kersjes and later this film. They offer specialized programs for students with various needs, proving that the "mission" didn't end when the credits rolled.
Finally, check out the other work of the cast of A Smile as Big as the Moon. John Corbett continues to be a staple in soulful, character-driven roles. Jessy Schram has become a mainstay in the Hallmark and Lifetime worlds, bringing a level of sincerity that’s hard to find.
The movie works because it reminds us that "potential" is a moving target. It’s not something you’re born with; it’s something you discover when someone finally stops telling you what you can’t do. That’s a lesson that doesn’t age, whether it’s 1989, 2012, or 2026.