Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementaryteacher Barbara Howard playact as a motherly figure toward Janine on legion juncture . The mockumentary finally introduces Janine ’s biological female parent , Vanetta ( Taraji P. Henson ) , in time of year 2 , instalment 21 . Her lack of enate instinct has exposed why Janine ( Quinta Brunson ) is so infatuated withAbbott’sdevoted kindergarten teacher , Mrs. Howard . Barbara Howard ( Sheryl Lee Ralph ) is one of the elemental school ’s beloved and veteran teacher . The respect she is afforded does n’t issue forth lightly — the series illustrates past and present scholarly person and colleagues perpetually praise her charisma and teaching power .
Abbott’sJanine Teaguesis easily charm by Mrs. Howard and even visit her " momma " in the situation comedy ’s first episode . This does n’t come as much of a surprisal , as Janine vowelize her lack of a stable role model growing up and often looks for guidance whenever she ’s uncertain about herself or her circumstances . Barbara being an long-suffering office model for all but holding a position in her substance for Janine , cheer her to be the best teacher she can be , apprize her on personal and professional thing , and functions as her reinforcement , which are efforts that turn up among the several occasion Mrs. Howard act as a support - in figure for Janine ’s veridical mother .
relate : Abbott Elementary : The Main Characters Ranked By Likability
7Barbara Defends Janine Against Ava In Abbott Elementary’s First Episode
The pilot installment ofAbbott Elementaryhints at the bud relationship between Ms. Teagues and Mrs. Howard — and not just because Janine slips and calls Barbara " mom . " Whenthe hilarious Principal Ava Coleman(Janelle James ) pine away Abbott ’s funding on a new schooling signboard , Janine is exit without supply for her classroom and no other choice but to email the superintendent . Ava retaliate by disrespect her before the staff , but Barbara quickly step in , defends Janine ’s instruction ambition , and rallies the other teacher to cerebrate of a path to put back Janine ’s classroom rug .
6Barbara Bets On Janine’s Teaching Success
Courtney , an industrious 2nd - grader from Ms. Schemmenti ’s class , is transferred into Ms. Teagues ' inAbbott Elementaryseason 1 , have Ava and Barbara to bet on Janine ’s succeeder in handling a unmanageable student and disruption in the classroom . Although Janine sputter to get her scholar ’s berth under control , she perseveres to determine that Courtney simply necessitate to be challenged more by actuate up a grade . By the end of " Student Transfer , " Janine triumphantly brings news of her revelation to Ava ’s office only to find that Barbara bet on her educational power the integral time .
5Barbara Steps In As Janine’s “Work Mom” After Abbott Elementary’s Open House
Janine becomes distressed when a student ’s parent does n’t seem to prioritise attending Abbott ’s undetermined sign , as it remind her of her mother ’s neglectful parenting . Barbara leaves Janine to fend for herself for most of season 1 , episode 10 because she is catch up navigating the tumultuous family relationship with her girl , Taylor . However , when Barbara notices something off about Janine , who was left on read after texting Vanetta several fourth dimension , she show her selfless nature and intercedes as Ms. Teagues " work mom " to take the saddened teacher out on a solo dinner date .
4Barbara Consoles Janine After Her Breakup
time of year 2 begins with the sequence " Development Day , " and while it marks Modern beginnings in the school year for the staff , Janine grapples with taking part in a bracing start because of her dissolution with her long - term boyfriend , Tariq ( Zack Fox ) . In one ofAbbott Elementary’smost relatable storylines , Janine is feign by the separation in several areas of her life story and has trouble snitch . With avail from Ms. Schemmenti ( Lisa Ann Walter ) , Barbara exerts her position as a female role model to explain to Janine that detachment are a part of life story and that it ’s okay to be overwhelmed .
3Barbara Helps Janine Fix Her Abbott Elementary Mistake
With the promise that her military action will make for the students a low - level win , Janine convinces cafeteria proletarian to contain a healthy succus option at lunchtime . Barbara ’s seasoned experience within an underfunded school system — a thing for whichQuinta Brunson revived the mockumentary genreto bring cognisance — inform Ms. Teagues that modify successful school functions could become a grave fault . And it does . The new juice creates a bathroom disaster for Abbott Elementary that renders all the lavatories , but one , out of overhaul ; Barbara saves the day by taking a bat to the last remaining stool , which force Philadelphia ’s apathetic plumbing avail to prioritise Abbott ’s catastrophe .
2Barbara Coaches Janine Through A Tough Teaching Moment
In time of year 2 , installment 12 , Barbara train Janine through battle resolve when two of her scholarly person decline to get along with each other . Ms. Teagues ' trouble in dealing with the contempt between the girl prompts Barbara to interview her personal history with conflict , where it is expose that Janine ’s rocky puerility makes it punishing for her to be comfortable being uncomfortable . With the wise wrangle of a mother , Barbara encourages Janine to study and resolve her national dispute to well manage disputes between her student and the contravention that become up in her personal life .
1Barbara Supports Janine Through Her Mother’s Abbott Elementary Visit
After quite some prison term , Abbott Elementaryultimately enclose Janine ’s mom , Vanetta , tothe situation comedy ’s catalog of characters . time of year 2 , episode 21 ’s " Mom , " lastly discloses the person behind Janine ’s insecurities , and Vanetta displays the far - from maternal characteristics of a ego - centre and detached swindler . When Barbara witnesses Janine on the brink of sacrificing her personal anteriority for her female parent ’s sake , she square off with Vanetta to voice what ’s important for and to Janine .
The face - off between Janine ’s biologic and stand - in mother emphasizes how much of a funding scheme Barbara has been for Ms. Teagues at Abbot Elementary . Of of course , Mrs. Howard has always been the parental shape for everyone throughout the sitcom’srun , but the human relationship between her and Janine is particularly special in that it institute and accentuate the depth within both eccentric . Barbara and Janine are substantive characters inAbbott Elementary , but their human relationship with each other is just as significant in the series ' evolution .
