Shows: 3/03 9:30 PM (Cam 12), 3/4 7:45 PM (Rep)

“Chalk” was written by two teachers from Austin, Texas, filmed at a high school, and the extras and supporting cast are all real high school students, teachers, and administrators. It lends a definite authenticity to the film, which often feels more like a reality TV show about a year in the lives of high school faculty than like a comedy. Loosely scripted and heavily improvised, the scenes have a spontenaity that is so often missing from the big Hollywood blockbusters, and anyone whos’ ever been a teacher will groan, laugh, and wince in sympathy with these characters. For non-teachers, this is a revealing look at the front lines of high school education. Half of all new teachers quit in their first three years, and this film shows us why.
The film focuses on four people. Mr. Stroope (Chris Mass), a charismatic but sarcastic history teacher who is determined to win Teacher of the Year, no matter what it takes. Mr. Lowry (Troy Schremmer) is a first year teacher who has abyssmal classroom management skills but means well. Mrs. Reddell (Shannon Haragan) used to be a teacher but is now an Assistant Principal, and is finding it’s an even more difficult job than standing in front of a classroom of unruly teens. Her friend, PE teacher Coach Webb (Janelle Schremmer), is trying to deal with the change in her friend and with her own apparently unrequited interest in Mr. Lowry. The teachers do their best to muddle through, dealing with fights, sullen kids, long hours, and each other without losing their minds and while trying to impart some education to their students. This is a must-see for anybody with a connection to education.