The only reason for her being on board that thing was a big PR stunt. One that went horribly wrong. They had a "contest", because they thought it would be "cool" to put a teacher in space. They were all lured in by NASA's perfect Shuttle launch record... Up until then. She "won" the big prize. Her backup "winner" watched her die from the bleachers..... As did her parents, friends, and tens of thousands of kids everywhere, who's teachers tuned in live, in schools across the country.
Instead of getting a "lesson taught from space", many of these kids ended up having to receive grief counseling because of what they saw. They, along with many, were beginning to think low orbital space flight was "routine". NASA had made it seem that way with it's hectic launch schedule, and quick turn around time..... Until it all caught up with them, and their luck ran out.
The Shuttle was a good, necessary program. It helped give us the ISS. But it, like ALL space flight, is extremely dangerous. Having her on it was unnecessary, and only helped prove how dangerous it is, and always will be. And it's not, "walking up stairs".