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Sep 12, 2022 · Quinta Brunson is a true mama’s girl. Her mother, Norma Jean Brunson, not only has a special place in her daughter’s heart but is also the prime inspiration for Brunson’s hit, Emmy-winning...
The showrunner’s mother, Norma Jean Brunson, was a teacher for 40 years in the Philadelphia school district where Abbottis set. And the woman who gave the fictional school its name, Joyce Abbott...
- Garin Pirnia
- Quinta Brunson based the series on her mom, a teacher. Brunson’s mom, Norma Jean Brunson, taught kindergarten for 40 years, and Brunson would observe her mom in the classroom.
- Brunson named Abbot Elementary after her favorite teacher. If not for a legal issue, Abbott Elementary might’ve been called Harrity Elementary. Brunson wanted to name it after the elementary school she attended in Philadelphia, Mastery Charter Harrity Elementary.
- Brunson almost didn’t star in the show. When Brunson pitched the show, Janine was a supporting character, not a main character. Barbara Howard was a bigger character, and Brunson didn’t pitch herself acting in the show.
- Janelle James thinks Ava is “controlled chaos.” James plays Ava, an incompetent and distracted school principal. (Fun fact: Ava blackmailed the school district’s superintendant to get the job.)
Mar 19, 2024 · Brunson's mother, Norma Jean, also taught kindergarten and served as inspiration for the "Abbott Elementary" character Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), on whom Brunson originally planned to...
Mar 18, 2024 · Brunson describes her parents, Rick and Norma Jean, as “searchers”—in their younger days, they’d been involved with the Black Power movement.
- Molly Fischer
Quinta Brunson (⫽ ˈ k w ɪ n t ə ⫽; born December 21, 1989) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing and starring as second-grade teacher Janine Teagues in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present).
Jun 16, 2021 · Brunson started this week in the writer’s room for her Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary-style comedy series inspired by both The Office and Brunson’s mom, Norma Jean Brunson, a Philly kindergarten teacher.
