While there will always be shows about young adults figuring out their lives, the spotlight is barely shone on teachers—essential people in real-life who help guide their students to be become who they were meant to be.
Over the decades there have been some great teachers on television who are also meant to impart wisdom not just on the series characters, but the audience as well; and here’s a list of some of our favorites that we wish were in the faculty when we were going to school.
Janine Teagues (Abbott Elementary)
No doubt the most idealistic character on the list. Abbott Elementary’s Janine Teagues is a driven teacher who believes in the mission of her work, and every episode audiences get to watch as Janine tries to provide quality education to kids while having to wrangle the several problems that Abott faces.
Sure, she gets a little bullied by the older teachers and is kind of a dork, but she has it where it counts; and her dedication helps inspire others in her field (like one Gregory Eddie).
Cameron Tucker (Modern Family)
Initially starting out as a replacement music teacher, Modern Family’s Cam Tucker will essentially move on to teach gym and be the coach of the football team.
Though a lot of people think that Cam can be a bit immature at times, the series definitely makes him a passionate character who has the best interests of his students at heart; plus he kind of crushes gay stereotypes by being a theater gay who is actually a tough-as-nails football coach.
Markie Hilldridge (English Teacher)
Another gym teacher worth mentioning. Mr. Hilldridge from English Teacher may not be the most ‘woke’ teacher, being pro-gun and having little to no sensitivity about gender; but he does provide an interesting foil for progressive lead Evan Marquez.
Though Evan wants to change the school system, Hilldridge sees it for what it is, and is an expert at navigating all these moral tightropes while being supportive to his more progressive friends.
Lily Aldrin (How I Met Your Mother)
An artist at heart, Lily Aldrin was working as a kindergarten teacher to make ends meet. Though she spends a good chunk of the show trying to find herself, she ultimately realizes that teaching is what she’s good at—and she even employs some of her techniques on people in her adult life.
The designated ‘mom’ of the friend group, Lily doesn’t let her educator status stop her from being vulgar and fun when he wants to be.
Admittedly, it is kind of ridiculous how Lily is able to buy so much stuff on the show with a kindergarten teacher’s salary.
Señor Ben Chang (Community)
Though the list has been full of good teachers, the goal is really to list down ‘fun’ educators—and Señor Ben Chang is the furthest thing from good.
Initially introduced as the Spanish teacher of Greendale Community College, Ben Chang evolved from being a ridiculous terror teacher to an outright agent of chaos for the students of Greendale; moving from job to job around the campus, from security guard to literal dictator.
Chang kind of just becomes a random character toward the final seasons, but he’s definitely responsible for some of the more memorable memes to come out of the show.
Will Schuester (Glee)
Any millennial who was obsessed with Glee when it came out knew what it was like to be in love with Mr. Schue. Not only was Mr. Schue a dreamboat of a teacher, he was also a real musical dork who could sing and dance his way through any performance.
Will Schuester’s more significant arcs definitely happened in the first season with his wife Terri, but he still managed to stick around and share his enthusiasm for showtunes with his growing group of misfit students.
Evan Marquez (English Teacher)
A progressive teacher who has his ‘finger on the pulse’ of all the modern social issues, Evan Marquez of English Teacher navigates every episode asking big questions about children’s education and how the ‘woke’ mindset has changed over the years since #MeToo.
Despite being gay, Evan is no doubt the ‘straight character’ when it comes to the school’s ridiculous faculty and parents; and it’s fun to watch him actually reach out and listen and talk to his students.
Barbara Howard (Abbott Elementary)
Everyone who has been to school has had a Barbara Howard teach their class at one point or another. Inspired by show creator Quinta Brunson’s actual mother who was a teacher, Barbara Howard is a devout Christian woman who loves teaching, and she has found a good balance between strict and motherly.
While Christian characters are often demonized or played for laughs in media, the show is very sincere with the treatment of Barbara’s faith, and she’s considered to be a good example of how Christians should act.
Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)
Ted Mosby of How I Met Your Mother doesn’t become a teacher until the fifth season of the series, but it feels like the show has been building up to him being one after all these years.
Sure Ted wanted to be an architect most of all, but the fact that he loves lecturing people and giving out fun facts about buildings was really telling about what job would have been perfect for him.
It’s still not advisable to date your students though.
Jean Milburn (Sex Education)
It’s admittedly very odd that Netflix’s Sex Education is rated TV-MA for adults when the series is very clearly made for young teens who are at the age where they start getting the most curious about sex.
Jean Milburn may not be the lead of the series, but she’s definitely one of the most influential figures in the show, being a celebrated sex therapist who has unwittingly passed down her knowledge to her son Otis.
Though Jean also has her own drama in the series, most of the show’s very extensive sexual insight come from her, and throughout its four-season run, Sex Ed has been able to cover almost everything about sex from the usual birds and bees to more modern concepts like asexuality.
With sex being such a taboo topic for a lot of adults, Jean makes for a very great teacher who is a steady guide during a very confusing time.