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Notes: No Greater Calling
Extensive research went into the selection of the teachers
appearing in the program. The producer selected the
candidates after reviewing lists of teachers from the NBPTS,
the U.S. Department of Education’s “National Teacher of the
Year” program and referrals from NBPTS staff members, other
NBPTS board-certified teachers, staff members from the
Governor’s Education Office and other contacts.
The final selection was made after conducting phone interviews
with potential candidates. Selection was based on the
teachers’ willingness to participate in the program, their ability
to demonstrate NBPTS’ five core principles of teaching and
their location in one of the partner states in the “Models of
Teaching Project.” Special attention was also paid to finding a
diverse group of teachers in terms of grade level, subject
matter, gender, race, community/demographics and
geographic location. All of the teachers except for Susan
Armenta in San Diego are NBTS certified.
The crew spent two to three days at each location shooting
each teacher’s methods and techniques. Interviews were held
with the teachers, their principals, some of their students, and
some of the students’ parents. Relevant footage was also shot
at the school and around the community.
The Producer
An award-winning television producer and journalist with more
than 15 years experience in broadcasting, Clay Johnson is the
producer of No Greater Calling. Johnson earned a degree in
broadcast journalism from the University of South Carolina and
began his career in radio news. Two years later he moved to
television and worked for the next nine years as a television
news reporter and producer at network affiliate stations in the
Carolinas.
In 1994, Johnson was appointed Deputy Press Secretary to
North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, where he specialized in
developing broadcast communication strategy for Hunt and his
policy initiatives. After two years, Johnson left the Hunt
administration to return to television, starting his own company,
Clay Johnson Productions, Inc. Since then Johnson has
produced and written two nationally syndicated travel shows,
several documentaries and educational programs, feature
segments for UNC-TV’s North Carolina Now program and
dozens of educational videos.
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