‘Abbott Elementary:’ The Perfect Love Letter to Teachers

I can’t talk about the gospel of Abbott Elementary without telling this story first. Before heading to college, I went back to visit two teachers at Nellie K. Parker elementary. I saw Mrs. Park my 5th grade teacher first, then my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Martin. Mrs. Martin was the first Black teacher I ever had (coincidentally teaching in a school named after the first Black teacher in Bergen County, NJ). I walked in seeing my old classmates who had the exact same idea. After her surprise of seeing me, another of her students came to visit. She said, “Omar, I remember you hated math so much. Whenever it was math time you always asked to go to the bathroom. Every single day without fail. What was that about?” Laughing, I answered, “Oh, I used to look in the mirror to talk and psych myself up to get through math period. I wouldn’t even go to the bathroom, it was to mentally prepare.” Mrs. Martin, now with grays in her hair, laughed her same dignified distinct laugh that I recalled from childhood. She remembered that little tidbit about me for eight years among many of me and others across all her students.  I say that slightly embarrassing story (fuck numbers all day) to say this, watching Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary feels like I’m paying homage to the teachers I had growing up. Abbott Elementary is the perfect balance of comedy and touching moments. The school shows that were popular when I was growing up were Boston Public, The Steve Harvey Show, and (see if …