I鈥檒l be the first to admit I approached watching the mockumentary sitcom 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥� with a degree of skepticism. I saw nothing comical about broadcasting the all-too-common challenges faced by an underserved, underresourced, and underperforming elementary school as humorous鈥攅specially one with Black teachers and leaders. However, I鈥檝e come to recognize the significant role this comedy has in reminding us of Black teachers鈥� profound impact on all students, specifically Black children. As the season nears its end, I think it鈥檚 worth reflecting on its impact.
Aside from its comedic angle, show creator and main star Quinta Brunson鈥檚 framework for the show is grounded in a heartfelt experience with her own Black elementary teacher, . It was Joyce Abbott鈥檚 unwavering belief and high expectations in Quinta and her peers that led to Brunson鈥檚 success as a student, and she extends this show as a 鈥渢hank you.鈥�
For years, researchers like , , , and have codified the narratives and pedagogy of Black teachers like Joyce Abbott, who have tremendously impacted the lives of so many students. Studies have since added to the research base, pointing to the keen impact Black teachers have on academic outcomes for all students. For example, a using Tennessee STAR class-size experiment data found that Black students are more likely to graduate and attend college when they are randomly assigned a Black teacher. A 2016 North Carolina found that Black elementary students, particularly boys, are significantly less likely to be suspended from school when they have a Black teacher.
In the early 1990s, Ladson-Billings provided a framework for understanding the practices and pedagogical moves of culturally relevant teachers鈥攎ost often Black teachers. Culturally relevant teachers lead with a set of innate, deliberate actions to uphold the dignity of students and their peers. Culturally responsive teachers often get results, have high expectations, help students see their ethnic identity in a positive light, are strong advocates, and organically build relationships.
However, the public has seen few examples of the practices and pedagogy that make way for the strong academic results generated by Black teachers. 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥� provides clear examples of how Black teachers leverage culturally relevant practices and pedagogy daily to impact the lives of their students鈥攂oth socially and academically.
Set in Philadelphia, the show focuses on teachers who love working at their underresourced and underperforming school. Characters Barbara Howard, Janine Teagues, and Gregory Eddie highlight the unique role Black teachers play every day to improve student learning.
Veteran teacher Barbara Howard recognizes the need to have high expectations for all her students and protect them. Her expectations are grounded in preparing students for whatever challenges life yields while also saving them from being exploited as a mission project, which happens far too often. Barbara pushes back on Janine鈥檚 efforts to publicly sensationalize the challenges Barbara鈥檚 students face to encourage the community to donate resources to her classroom wish list. She is committed to ensuring her students do not feel 鈥渓ess than,鈥� because of what they do not have, but instead work with what they do have. In addition to鈥攐r perhaps because of鈥攈er focus on high expectations and creating pride in her children, Barbara鈥檚 students get academic results.
Janine Teagues is a second-year teacher who is aggressively committed to ensuring her students have all the resources they need to succeed, even if that means taking on the school administration. She takes every opportunity to advocate for her students and the school community. In one episode, she uses her personal social media accounts to push her friends and followers to invest in her school. In another scene, she disagrees with the way the principal is spending school funds and emails district leadership to seek change.
Gregory Eddie, a Black male substitute teacher, organically fosters strong relationships. While he does not initially recognize his impact, he later uses it to help students see their work as meaningful by decorating the classroom with their drawings. As Gregory allows his relationships with his students to grow, his role as a leader and advocate emerges and, despite the struggles, he decides to remain a teacher.
While 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥� is a fictional comedy, it provides a very real reminder that Black teachers do more than teach鈥攖hey change lives. While there are many Joyce Abbotts in schools today, there are still too few.
As education leaders and policymakers look for ways to improve student outcomes and close opportunity and achievement gaps, one solution may already be in classrooms. Black teachers can serve as role models for the profession and should be empowered and rewarded for the way they show up for students and their communities. We need more teachers like Barbara, Janine, and Gregory.
