American mockumentary sitcom TV series created by Quinta Brunson for ABC.
It stars Brunson as second grade teacher at Abbott Elementary, a fictional Black school in Philadelphia.
Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Sheryl Lee Ralph also star.
The series premiered as midseason entry on December 7, 2021 and received critical acclaim.
In March 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere on September 21, 2022.
A documentary crew is recording the lives of teachers working in underfunded schools.
One of the places they document is Philadelphia’s Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, a predominantly Black public school.
Conditions at the school are harsh and most teachers do not last more than two years.
Second grade teacher Janine Teagues and history teacher Jacob Hill are two of three teachers in a group of twenty to make it past one year.
They work with experienced kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard, second grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, tone-deaf school principal Ava Coleman, and recent substitute hire Gregory Eddie.
Characters:
Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, an optimistic second-grade teacher who has a mission to help the lives of her students
Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, a substitute first-grade teacher who was originally hired as the principal and harbors a crush on Janine
Janelle James as Ava Coleman, the school’s inept principal who enjoys picking on and bullying her co-workers.
Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, a second-grade teacher with questionable connections
Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, an awkward history teacher who supports Janine and her mission
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard, a religious kindergarten teacher whom Janine looks up to
Randall Einhorn directed the first five episodes of Abbott Elementary
Critical response
Abbott Elementary was praised for its empathetic yet sidesplitting critique of the U.S. education system, finding humor in unexpected situations and characters.
