Abbott Elementary: An Ode to Passion

As the daughter of a kindergarten teacher, I hold the show Abbott Elementary in such a special place in my heart. I can attest that the problems the cast faces are both comical and grounded in the realities many low-income schools overcome. However, my absolute favorite part of the show is the passion each teacher has for their work, and many characters even remind me of teachers at my own school.

It’s this passion each character has for what they do that makes them so lovable and, in turn, helps them overcome the many challenges they face. According to a study by Charles-Leija et al., “It has been documented that there is a positive relationship between a worker’s subjective well-being and productivity, and individuals who are happy in their work have a better attitude when performing activities” (Charles-Leija et al., 2023). This is something we see from the teachers in Abbott time and time again, as they approach problems with a positive mindset and are eager to overcome them.

The most prominent examples are Janine and Jacob, who approach the daily challenges posed by disruptive students with an eagerness to learn how to handle them, often seeking advice from more experienced teachers such as Barbara or Melissa. They all take pride in their work, and while they may sometimes disagree on methods, they always agree on taking the course of action that’s best for the students, as that's what makes them happy. Janine’s approach is much freer-spirited; she’s constantly looking for ways to improve things at the school for her students. A more experienced teacher like Barbara, on the other hand, is a little stricter and would rather stick with tradition and what she knows works, maintaining the good things they already have. We see these two mindsets clash from time to time, such as over the new literacy program and the change to juice boxes.

However, it’s their desire to do what's best for the students that always helps them see eye to eye in the end. While the rest of the cast repeatedly state their love and passion for teaching, one character shows it through action before saying it outright. We don’t always find our passion right away, and it can take us time to discover it. Take Gregory, for example: he initially just wanted to be a principal and didn’t like teaching much, but we see him gradually warming to the profession and developing a deep love for it. This newfound passion leads him to remain at Abbott as a permanent teacher, much to his father's dismay.

This passion isn’t just beneficial for the teachers; it rubs off on the students as well, helping them succeed. A 2019 study found that “a teacher can serve as a role model by showing his/her genuine interest and enjoyment in teaching and research.” (Gilal et. al., 2019). This concept is called emotional contagion, which is the process of unconsciously mirroring emotions, behaviors, and moods. When we look at this in Abbott, we see this happening time and time again.

The older students might cringe on the outside at first, but their teachers' passion makes them feel deep admiration. At a school like Abbot, this passion is extremely important. As the show expresses, Abbott Elementary does not have a lot of money. Something is constantly broken, and the materials they have aren’t fancy. The demographics of the students served at Abbott are already disadvantaged, and while they might not have it all, they have what matters most: passionate teachers.

I myself went to a school like Abbott, and I can attest to the real difference that passion can make. It’s this exact insight that helped showrunner and actress Quinta Brunson to create Abbott Elementary, which is inspired by her mother and other prominent teachers in her life. The show itself comes from a place of passion for advocating for underfunded schools and highlighting the hard work of educators. To me, this is what makes Abbot Elementary so special; every aspect of it has positivity, love, and passion at its core.