The ‘Abbott Elementary’ Teacher of the Year Is a Shocking, Politically Charged Choice

Abbott Elementary has a bounty of great teachers—who, yes, have plenty of flaws. There’s veteran Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and her pal Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter). Youngsters Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) try incredibly hard to do their jobs, so they’re also in the upper echelons of the teachers at the school. When the Chief Education Officer for the Philadelphia Board of Education (and the local news!) stops by to award the Educator of the Year award to a teacher at Abbott, it seems like the winner could be any of these folks—right?

Wrong. Abbott Elementary throws us a curveball this week. Reader, I gasped when the real winner of the Educator of the Year was announced. How in the world could it not be Barbara, thanks to her tenure and dedication to Abbott? No, the real winner is none other than Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), a second-year teacher who wants nothing more than to become a principal.

It’s a fitting choice for the Philadelphia Board of Education to make in the universe of Abbott Elementary, because it feels like a similarly nonsensical decision that a real Board of Education might make. Gregory is uncertain about this title. Sure, it’s exciting; but again, wouldn’t Melissa or Barbara be a better fit?

Read more at The Daily Beast.