The series follows Janine Teagues (Brunson), a relentlessly optimistic second-grade teacher at Willard R. Abbott Elementary, an underfunded school in West Philadelphia. In the pilot episode:
A substitute teacher named Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) arrives, initially planning to stay only temporarily until he can find a principal job elsewhere, but he finds himself drawn into the school’s unique charm. Real-Life Inspiration
Janine leans on veteran teachers Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), who have grown cynical but remain deeply dedicated to their students.
Many plotlines, like the lack of resources and the "reverse-y toilet," are based on real-life challenges found in the Philadelphia School District .
Janine is one of the few teachers who hasn't quit after her first year. She struggles with basic needs, like getting a new rug for her classroom where students have to nap on the floor.
The character of Barbara Howard is directly inspired by Brunson’s mother , who was a kindergarten teacher in Philadelphia for 40 years.
The school is named after Joyce Abbott , Brunson's real-life sixth-grade teacher at Andrew Hamilton School.
