History Series / AbbottElementary

''Abbott Elementary'' is a [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]] {{Mockumentary}}-style WorkCom set in a UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} public elementary school. The show focuses on the school's teachers and faculty as they try to do their teaching jobs while dealing with funding challenges, apathetic parents, and a glory-hound principal.

Creator/QuintaBrunson (who is also creator and executive producer) stars as Janine Teagues, a passionate second-year second grade teacher that tries to leap over the red tape to be the best role model for her students. The show also stars Creator/TylerJamesWilliams as Gregory Eddie, a substitute first grade teacher trying to become principal at Abbott Elementary. The cast of characters also includes Barbara Howard (Creator/SherylLeeRalph), a stern Kindergarten teacher Janine looks up to; Melissa Schemmenti (Creator/LisaAnnWalter), a resourceful second grade teacher from South Philly who "knows a guy" for nearly everything the school needs; Jacob Hill (Creator/ChrisPerfetti), as a progressive white second-year sixth-grade social studies teacher who tries to relate to his students and co-workers; and Ava Coleman (Creator/JanelleJames), Abbott Elementary's self-centered principal who puts her image and reputation above the students and teachers' needs.

Creator/QuintaBrunson (who is also creator and executive producer) stars as Janine Teagues, a passionate second-year teacher that tries to leap over the red tape to be the best role model for her students. The show also stars Creator/TylerJamesWilliams as Gregory Eddie, a substitute teacher trying to become principal at Abbott Elementary. The cast of characters also includes Barbara Howard (Creator/SherylLeeRalph), a stern teacher Janine looks up to; Melissa Schemmenti (Creator/LisaAnnWalter), a resourceful second grade teacher from South Philly who "knows a guy" for nearly everything the school needs; Jacob Hill (Creator/ChrisPerfetti), as a progressive white second-year teacher who tries to relate to his students and co-workers; and Ava Coleman (Creator/JanelleJames), Abbott Elementary's self-centered principal who puts her image and reputation above the students and teachers' needs.

''Abbott Elementary'' is a Creator/{{ABC}} {{Mockumentary}}-style WorkCom set in a UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} public elementary school. The show focuses on the school's teachers and faculty as they try to do their teaching jobs while dealing with funding challenges, apathetic parents, and a glory-hound principal.

* CompanyCrossReferences: Some episodes contain references to Disney, the parent company of ABC, as well as Marvel and Star Wars, which Disney also owns.

* WeWantOurJerkBack: In "Career Day", Eva took a Harvard education program online to become a more responsible principal. At first the teachers are happy, but then Eva institutes changes like changing the seating on Barb's classroom and prohibiting outside lunches. They decide to "deprogram" Eve back to her former self by playing "Back that Azz Up" on the gym, to which she can't help but dance to.

-->'''Barbara:''' "Gregory, why would you sow secretly? Why would you prune privately? Why would you cull clandestinely? Hidden hoe-ing and whatnot?"

** Barbara has a tendency to mix up white actors with similarly named black men (Michael J. Fox and Michael B. Jordan, Colin Farrell and Colin Powell)

* SitcomArchnemesis: Played with in "Egg Drop." Jacob spends the whole episode talking about how much Mr. Morton apparently hates him, but as Gregory points out, we never see any actual evidence of this...until the very end, when Morton confirms that he does, indeed, hate Jacob.

* HardTruthAesop: Albeit the show has a theme of making do even in sub-optimal situations, it is also very unsubvtle about telling the viewer that, in America, public schools are in dire situations and require more funding to take care of the children, especially in underprivileged neighborhoods.

[[labelnote:From left to right]]Back row: [[CoolTeacher Barbara Howard]], [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Principal Ava Coleman]], and [[StreetSmart Melissa Schemmentti]]. Front row: [[SoapboxSadie Jacob Hill]], [[ThePollyanna Janine Teagues]], and [[DefrostingIceKing Gregory Eddie]]. Not pictured: [[AllMightyJanitor Mr. Johnson]].[[/labelnote]]]]

[[labelnote:From left to right]]Back row: [[CoolTeacher Barbara Howard]], [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Principal Ava Coleman]], and [[StreetSmart Melissa Schemmentti]]. Front row: [[SoapboxSadie Jacob Hill]], [[ThePollyanna Janine Teagues]], and [[DefrostingIceKing Gregory Eddie]].[[/labelnote]]]]

** Gregory finds Jacob annoying, but he fixes Ava with a DeathGlare when she mocks Jacob to his boyfriend in front of his colleagues.

* EveryoneHasStandards: Barbara and Melissa both find Janine to be annoying, but they both vehemently disapproved of Ava trying to get the entire faculty to bully her.

* InnerCitySchool: Abbott Elementary is a rare K-8 example. It's located in inner-city Philadelphia, has a HighTurnoverRate of teachers, serves a mostly Black student body, and its funding is always at the mercy of the district. However, the teachers who do stay are earnest and hardworking, and have students who are willing to learn.

* InnerCitySchool: Abbott Elementary is a rare K-8 example. It's located in inner-city Philadelphia, has a HighTurnoverRate of teachers, serves a mostly Black student body, and its funding is always at the mercy of the district. However, the teachers who do stay are earnest and hardworking, and has students who are willing to learn.

* InnerCitySchool: Abbott Elementary is a rare K-8 example. It's located in inner-city Philadelphia, has a HighTurnoverRate of teachers, serves a mostly Black student body, and its funding is always at the mercy of the district. However, the teachers who do stay are earnest and hardworking, and students who are willing to learn.

* FatalFlaw: Janine’s is her attempts to please everyone at her expense of herself and her feelings.

* FreudianSlip: Janine calls Barbara "Mom" by accident, which may be an insight into why she's [[WellDoneDaughterGirl so eager for Barbara's approval.]]

* HiddenDepths: Ava is surprisingly multifaceted. In one episode, Ava leaves unexpectedly before an important event, annoying Janine. When Janine goes to confront her about it, expecting her to be selfishly catching an Uber, [[spoiler:it turns out that she's meeting her frightened and senile grandmother to help calm her down]]. Additionally, despite appearances, Ava does have some care for the school, students and teachers. She’s also highly skilled in step dance, and knows a surprising amount of information about palaeontology, explaining to the kids in one episode that birds are theropod dinosaurs.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Ava, Abbott Elementary's principal, who cares more about her ego and image than the students and faculty. When she finally secures more funding for the school, she uses it to make a huge sign touting herself as opposed to needed supplies. She starts getting better after that, but never entirely loses her selfish streak.
* LazyBum: Tariq, Janine's boyfriend who is a aspiring rapper that doesn't do his share in paying rent and takes advantage of Janine's kindness. [[spoiler:She finally breaks up with him in the season 1 finale, which he takes surprisingly well.]]

* PluckyGirl: Janine, whose relentless optimism sometimes irks her co-workers as she's prone to doing things outside of her capabilities to provide for her students.

[[labelnote:From left to right]]Back row: [[CoolTeacher Barbara Howard]], [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Principal Ava Coleman]], and [[StreetSmart Melissa Schemmentti]]. Front row: [[SoapboxSadie Jacob Hill]], [[ThePollyanna Janine Teagues]], and [[DefrostngIceKing Gregory Eddie]].[[/labelnote]]]]