25 Memorable TV Teachers

• 1. Lily Aldrin

  

  20th Century Fox Television

  One of the most beloved characters of “How I Met Your Mother” is Lily Aldrin, the energetic and quirky wife of protagonist Ted’s best friend, Marshall. Throughout the show, Ted recounts the story of how he met the mother of his children with his group of friends. Played by Alyson Hannigan, Lily’s profession as a kindergarten teacher is a source of much comedy throughout the series.

• 2. Eva Beadle

  

  NBC Television // Getty Images

  Based on the iconic book series “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the TV show “Little House on the Prairie” captures the bucolic family life of the Ingalls in 1800s Minnesota. All three Ingalls daughters attend school in Walnut Grove, where they meet teacher Miss Beadle. The sweetheart teacher known for her caring manner eventually elopes with Adam Simms, the father of one of her students.

• 3. Carrie Bliss

  

  Peter Engel Production

  With a title like “Saved by the Bell,” it is no surprise that this early ’90s sitcom makes this list. Set in the fictional Bayside High School in Los Angeles, the show depicts a group of high schoolers as they navigate their teenage years. The show was originally named “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” and centered around teacher Carrie Bliss, portrayed by Haley Mills and inspired by former NBC president Brandon Tartikoff’s sixth-grade teacher.

• 4. Ben Chang

  

  Krasnoff Foster Productions

  Writer-producer Dan Harmon created the comedy sitcom “Community” to reflect his experience going to community college. The NBC show takes place at a community college in Colorado, where a former lawyer creates a study group for his Spanish class. The teacher of that class is none other than Señor Ben Chang, a sadistic psychopath who may not even know Spanish.

• 5. Mr. Collins

  

  New World Television

  Starring Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, a young boy growing up in the late ’60s, “The Wonder Years” is a classic American series. Throughout the show, Arnold’s math teacher, Mr. Collins, holds him to a high standard and pushes him to develop a strong work ethic. The actor who played Mr. Collins, Steven Gilborn, was actually a professor before he turned to acting.

• 6. Jessica Day

  

  Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures

  “New Girl” stars Zooey Deschanel as the new girl Jessica Day, the newest roommate to move into an all-male Los Angeles apartment. Deschanel’s quintessential quirkiness defines the character, who begins the series as a middle school teacher at Coolidge Middle School before shifting through various roles including server, substitute teacher, and principal.

• 7. George Feeny

  

  Michael Jacobs Productions

  Any ’90s kid would be hit with a wave of nostalgia when hearing the name Mr. Feeny. The sagelike neighbor of Cory Matthews, the protagonist of “Boy Meets World,” serves as a middle school teacher, high school teacher, principal, and even a college professor for the main cast of characters, for whom he always has a nugget of wisdom.

• 8. Coach Fredricks

  

  Apatow Productions

  Cult classic “Freaks and Geeks” may have been canceled after one season, but the show’s legacy lives on. The series centered around a brother and sister attending William McKinley High School who each join one of the show’s titular cliques. Despite appearing in just six episodes, physical education teacher Coach Fredricks made his mark on his students. Like the tender treatment it gives to the rest of its characters that sets the series apart, Coach Fredricks goes from a one-note bad guy to a multi-faceted, sympathetic character with his own pathos.

• 9. Valerie Frizzle

  

  South Carolina ETV

  Known for her vibrant frizzy red hairdo and her bold patterned purple dresses, Miss Frizzle is the star of the 1990s animated children’s series “The Magic School Bus.” Throughout the show, the oddball elementary school teacher takes her students on imaginative, educational adventures aboard a magic school bus.

• 10. Herbert Garrison

  

  Comedy Central

  The adult animated sitcom “South Park” follows a motley crew of fourth-grade boys in their nonsensical exploits around a small Colorado town. Mr. Garrison enters the show as a teacher, but throughout the series eventually becomes president of the United States.

• 11. Mr. Garvey

  

  Cindylou

  In one of the most memorable episodes of the popular sketch comedy show “Key & Peele,” Keegan-Michael Key plays Mr. Garvey, a Black substitute teacher who mispronounces every one of the white suburban students’ names. As they so often do, Key and Peele manage to make their audience laugh while also considering the broader implications of that humor.

• 12. Dr. Ross Geller

  

  Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions

  One of television’s most noteworthy nerds, Dr. Ross Geller is a member of the close-knit New York City clique around which the show “Friends” revolves. Along with hippie Phoebe, type A Monica, trendy Rachel, and jokesters Joey and Chandler, Ross is the group’s token brainiac and works as a paleontologist and professor. Some devoted fans even took the time to make him a Rate My Professors page on social media.

• 13. Lydia Grant

  

  Eilenna Productions Inc.

  The 1980s TV show “Fame” tells the story of the New York City High School for Performing Arts. In addition to following the artistic students in their arduous hunt for fame, the show also showcases the dedication of faculty members like Lydia Grant, a dance teacher portrayed by Debbie Allen who pushed them along the way.

• 14. Marla Hendricks

  

  Ron Galella Collection // Getty Images

  Like its name suggests, “Boston Public” is a show about a public school in Boston, specifically focusing on the complex story lines of the schools’ teachers and students, both in and out of the classroom. One of those teachers is Marla Hendricks, a social studies teacher who struggles to manage her mental health.

• 15. Peggy Hill

  

  Deedle-Dee Productions

  “King of the Hill” is a popular adult animated sitcom that ran for more than 250 episodes between the years 1997–2010. The show focuses on the adventures of protagonist Hank Hill, a propane salesman living in Texas with his eclectic family. Hank’s egotistical yet caring wife Peggy holds many jobs throughout the series—from writer to sculptor—though her primary gig is as a substitute teacher at a middle school.

• 16. Annalise Keating

  

  Shondaland

  Played by the brilliant Viola Davis, Annalise Keating is the protagonist of the Shondaland production “How to Get Away with Murder.” Keating is an esteemed professor of law and defense attorney who, along with a group of star students, gets involved in a murder plot.

• 17. Gabe Kotter

  

  The Komack Company, Inc.

  “Welcome Back, Kotter” is a ’70s sitcom that tells the story of Gabe Kotter, who returns to his own high school to teach a class of disobedient kids known as the “Sweathogs.” Having been a part of the remedial class himself, Kotter is dedicated to helping his students and determined to make changes at the school.

• 18. Edna Krabappel

  

  20th Century Fox Television

  “The Simpsons” holds many records, including the longest-running cartoon show in history. The adored series tells the story of the Simpson family and is set in the ambiguous U.S. town of Springfield. A prominent resident is the middle-aged, chain-smoking fourth-grade teacher Edna Krabappel, who is characterized by her cynicism.

• 19. Mr. Medina

  

  Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions

  Rory, the main character of the American sweetheart dramedy “Gilmore Girls,” attends Chilton Preparatory School, where much of the series takes place. The show centers around the mother-daughter relationship between Rory and her mom Lorelai. Mr. Medina is the beloved English teacher at Chilton who eventually becomes romantically involved with Lorelai.

• 20. Chuck Noblet

  

  Comedy Central

  What happens when a drug addict and high school dropout decides to return to high school at 46 years old? That’s what Comedy Central’s “Strangers with Candy” explores in this three-season comedy series. Played by one of the series’ creators, Stephen Colbert, Chuck Noblet is the disgruntled, closeted high school history teacher who is having an affair with another teacher.

• 21. Nigel Ratburn

  

  9 Story Media Group

  PBS show “Arthur” is an animated children’s series that follows eight-year-old aardvark Arthur and his menagerie of friends. The show aims to inspire a love of learning and reading, so it’s no surprise that one of its main characters is the third-grade teacher Nigel Ratburn. In the show’s 22nd season in 2019, Mr. Ratburn came out as gay and married an aardvark named Patrick.

• 22. Mr. Schuester

  

  Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision

  Taking place at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, the musical comedy “Glee” tells the story of Will Schuester, a high school Spanish teacher who decides to take over the glee club. The show revolves around the glee club’s diverse members and their complex high school lives, while also diving into Mr. Schuester’s personal and romantic life.

• 23. Mr. Katimski

  

  ABC Television

  The beloved, short-lived series “My So-Called Life” mirrored the experience of many ’90s teenagers. The daring show pushed the envelope for young adult dramas of the time, tackling everything from homophobia to censorship. The show’s sweet Mr. Katimski teaches English and runs the drama club at Liberty High School. He also delivers much-needed empathy for the drama erupting regularly throughout the show, which addressed topics like homophobia, child abuse, censorship, and homelessness.

• 24. Cameron Tucker

  

  20th Century Fox Television

  Spirited and enthused, Cameron Tucker is one of the main characters on “Modern Family” and is the near antithesis of his husband Mitch. Aside from his past positions as a clown and a college athlete, Cameron also holds various teaching stints throughout the show.

• 25. Walter White

  

  High Bridge Productions

  Everyone’s favorite terminally ill, meth-selling chemistry teacher: Walter White. As the main character of AMC’s violent, riveting, and shocking drama “Breaking Bad,” White’s many transformations—from a downtrodden chemistry teacher to a feared drug lord—are what make the show so addicting.