‘Abbott Elementary’: Quinta Brunson Reunites With Teacher Inspired By Show
Quinta Brunson was reunited with her sixth-grade middle school teacher who inspired her primetime ABC series Abbott Elementary.
In a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday (Feb. 1), Brunson could not hold back tears when she was surprised and virtually reunited with Joyce Abbott, who learned that the series was named after her while watching a news broadcast in Philadelphia.
“I’m so proud of you!” Ms. Abbott said when she first appeared on-screen.
“Quinta was an awesome student,” Ms. Abbott added, describing the kind of student Brunson was in her class. “When she came into my class she was really shy, timid. But as I challenged all of my students, we had to speak in complete sentences. I built their confidence that whatever you want in life you can do it. You have to work hard.”
After 30 years of teaching, Ms. Abbott announced that she is preparing to enter retirement.
Abbott Elementary is the first comedy series to quadruple its viewership since its premiere on ABC, Deadline reports. The show follows Brunson, an elementary school teacher who goes above and beyond to support her students alongside her co-stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, and Janelle James.
Brunson will be honored in her hometown of Philadelphia after the City Council passed a resolution to celebrate her achievements including her record-breaking primetime ABC hit series.
Catch up on Abbott Elementary on Hulu and watch Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET.
Watch her Quinta Brunson surprise reunion with her former sixth-grade teacher below.
