Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we spotlight strong women and nonbinary folks who inspire us. These characters are prime examples of empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said examples to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for ABC’s Abbott Elementary, particularly Janine Teagues’ story.
Janine Teagues
Fast Facts:
Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We don’t know much about her formative years, but her father appeared to be out of the picture, and her mother was a negligent parent. Janine learned a lot about life on her own. She started dating her long-time boyfriend Tariq (Zack Fox) in school.
While in college, Janine was considered unpopular and didn’t have friends except for Sahar (Mitra Jouhari). When we meet her in Abbott Elementary, we learn Janine is a second-grade teacher in her second year of teaching. She’s only one of three new instructors to tough it out at the school, one of the others being her best friend Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti).
Janine seeks mentorship from Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), a veteran kindergarten teacher she views as a “work mother.” Sparks fly between Janine and substitute teacher Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), but no romance comes to fruition (yet).
Janine occasionally clashes with Ava Coleman (Janelle James), the school’s principal. Still, when Ava’s job is caught in the vengeful superintendent’s crosshairs, Janine ultimately advocates for her boss to keep her position.
Tariq scores a potentially career-defining gig in the Abbott Elementary Season 1 finale that’ll whisk him away to the Big Apple. After 11 years together, Janine suggests they take a break while he’s gone for the year. She realizes she belongs at Abbott and stays there to continue making a difference in the lives of her students.
That relationship break becomes permanent as Janine decides to part ways with Tariq. She struggles financially and emotionally in the aftermath of the breakup, but thankfully, she bounces back like the badass she is. In the Season 2 holiday-themed episode, Janine accompanies a friend to a hookah club. She runs into Gregory, and the pair share a charged moment on the dance floor. As is par for the course in will-they-won’t-they pairings, they vow never to speak of it again.
The Real Deal:
Janine is kindness personified. If you were to look up “ray of sunshine” in the dictionary, you’d find her picture next to it. Her unwavering optimism is infectious, as is her genuine desire to change lives for the better. While she remains undaunted in the face of Abbott’s troubles and lack of resources, Janine isn’t naive. She’s perhaps the most constructive critic of the educational system in which she works.
She’s intelligent, loyal and immensely empathetic, often wearing her heart on her sleeve. Janine rises above the trauma of her formative years to truly make an impact on her students, never backing down or taking “no” for an answer.
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As tough as it is for a people pleaser to break the mold, break it she does. She stands up to Sahar and ends things with Tariq in favor of her well-being, actions she wouldn’t have taken at the beginning of Season 1. That’s called growth!
Why She Matters:
Janine is a multifaceted, passionate and caring teacher with an indomitable drive. She tackles the challenging yet vital job of shaping the minds of future leaders and thinkers. Despite the hardships, Janine persists, her plucky spirit overcoming any curveballs life throws at her. We could all stand to take a page out of Janine’s book.
She’s relatable and a character with whom I connect. I also have an absent mother, so the glimpses we get of her background in that regard resonate with me. On a more frivolous note, I, too, am terrified of ladders (Petition to ban them, please?).
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So, be like Janine Teagues. Be kind. Maintain optimism, even in the eye of a sh*tstorm. Always remind yourself why you love doing what you do. Find a great support system, whether it’s your work family or beyond. Oh, and never forget the three pillars of life: responsibility, structure and weighted blankets.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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