The cast of Abbott Elementary did a panel at the D23 Expo this past weekend. D23 is Disney’s big fan event for its fan club members. While there are D23 events that pop up all over the country, the big expo takes place in Anaheim, California every other year. Since Abbott airs on ABC, it was a part of the event. During the panel, Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays longtime teacher Barbara Howard, was asked about her character, where she’d like to see Barbara’s storyline go, and her relationship with the child actors who play her students. Sheryl shared that she has such a great relationship with those kids that they see her as their actual teacher.
On Saturday, Aug. 10, the cast of the hit ABC series participated in a panel – called “Abbott Elementary: Class Is in Session!” – at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. While speaking at the event, Sheryl Lee Ralph discussed playing the role of Barbara Howard and what it’s been like to see “the writing evolve” around the character.
“First of all, I really love Barbara Howard,” Ralph, 67, said. “It’s that favorite teacher or the teacher that pushed you to do just a bit better because she saw in you what you might not have seen in yourself.”
The Emmy-winning actress also revealed the kids who play her students on Abbott Elementary see her as a teacher both on and offscreen.
She continued, “When I look at these kids that come into my classroom every year and their little faces believing that I’m their teacher. Oh my God, it’s just the best.”
“And they write me when the show is over, they’ll keep in touch, they’ll tell me what they did during the summer.”
Ralph added that although she not a teacher herself, “I’ve been raised by teachers, surrounded by teachers, but I’m getting the best of a fake teacher’s life.”
This story is so sweet! Sheryl has that kind of presence that commands kindness and authority, so I bet she has that Big Teacher Energy on set. I love that she gave love to the teachers in her life who helped raise and influence her. I wonder if any of the other actors have this kind of rapport with their “students.” I think we all had a teacher like Barbara Howard at some point or other while growing up. You know, that teacher that was strict but caring, and challenged us to do better, even when we wanted nothing more than to just take the easy way out. My Barbara Howard was a teacher I had for classes in both 11th and 12th grade. He treated us like teenagers about to become adults and asked for the same respect back. He was (and still is) actually just like Tim Walz, right down to proctoring both popular clubs and clubs that other teachers wouldn’t touch, and running for local office after retiring. Oh, I think I just unlocked why I was on Team Walz so early on. Yay, teachers!
Photos via Instagram and credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon and Robin Platzer / Twin Images / Avalon
Thats sweet!
And I love that she’s loving, appreciating this special situation.
The interactions between her and the smallest children actors on the show are incredibly sweet.
I love this! She is so great on the show – I can see why the kids think she is their teacher.
❤️