middle school principal trying to save her school from closing

In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.

In this OWN Spotlight, Oprah speaks with writer, producer and actress Quinta Brunson to discuss her megahit comedy series, Abbott Elementary.

In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.

When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line.

Lean on Me tells the story of a broken relationship between a father and son who have recently encountered a terrible family tragedy. The two loggerheads are at constant odds but learn that the only way through this is together.

Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus students.

Nik Rabinowitz, a top South African, Xhosa speaking, Jewish comedian brings us his unique brand of stand-up comedy in a live performance exploring race, religion, politics, and polygamy.

A principal was called on to rescue a critically broken school. Ten years later, she is now working on her second socially and academically failing high school with a high dropout rate and riddled with crime, drugs, sex and teenage pregnancy.

Mrs. Perdue-Valentine is a principal at the once low performing MLK Community High School, and she is questioned for masterminding a National cheating scandal. In her absence the three teachers that arguably run the school need to find out how to get the Principal out of trouble, keep the students of the school excelling, and maintain sanity in their personal lives.

A diverse community, an ambitious newly-appointed principal and a handful of committed teachers come together to save a once popular suburban school in danger of closing.