Aviva Press

By Maria Esteves – September 26, 2011

The 2011 Education Nation Summit World Premiere of AMERICAN TEACHER, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, commenced Sunday, September 25, 4:15PM, in the tent at Rockefeller Plaza, New York. Business leaders, elected officials, educators, and parents attended the world premiere presented by NBC News Education Nation. AMERICAN TEACHER Opens Theatrically at AMC Cinemas, September 30, 2011.

A special panel discussion preceded the world premiere of AMERICAN TEACHER with director Vanessa Roth, writer/producer Dave Eggers, moderated by meteorologist, Today Show host Al Roker, NBC. Questions posed by Al Roker to director Roth included “When you approached this topic, what did you find right off the bat that surprised you?”

A post screening panel discussion immediately followed the film with Bloomberg columnist Jonathan Alter, Helen Gym, founder of Parents United for Public Education, cast members educators Erik Benner, Trinity Spring Middle School, TX; Jonathan Dearman, Leadership High School, CA; Jamie Fidler, Philip Livingston Elementary School, NY; and Rhena Jasey, Boyden Elementary School, NJ, TEP Charter School, NY. Discussion by panelists Rhena Jasey and Helen Gym included teacher salaries and parent-teacher relationship, and community partnership.

2011 Education Nation Summit World Premiere of AMERICAN TEACHER
panel discussion: moderator, meteorologist, Today Show host Al Roker,
NBC, left, with director Vanessa Roth, center, and writer/producer
Dave Eggers, right end.

2011 Education Nation Summit World Premiere of AMERICAN TEACHER post screening panel discussion: (from left-right) Bloomberg columnist Jonathan
Alter, with cast member educators Rhena Jasey, TEP Charter School, NY,
and Erik Benner, Trinity Spring Middle School, TX.

2011 Education Nation Summit World Premiere of AMERICAN TEACHER post screening panel discussion: cast members, educators Jamie Fidler, Philip Livingston Elementary School, NY, Jonathan Dearman, Leadership High School, CA, and Helen Gym, founder of Parents United for Public Education.