Jo sinks into despair when she finds out that her favorite teacher is departing Eastland due to a fatal illness.
This episode contains examples of:
- Alliterative Name: The teacher's name is Gail Gallagher
- Bittersweet Ending: Gail departs Eastland to enter hospice care, and while Jo is still very upset about it, they are able to make peace with each other.
- Cool Teacher: Jo absolutely adores Gail, which is why she takes it so hard when she finds out she's leaving school, and her illness later.
- Crying at Your Birthday Party: Blair cries at her party because of the fact that she's getting older.
- Jerkass Ball: Jo grabs it in her treatment of Gail after discovering that she's leaving school. Mrs. Garrett calls her out on it.
- Secretly Dying: This is the real reason Gail is leaving Eastland, although her illness isn't named.
