“My mom was a teacher,” she told E! News. “I was so close to it all my life. I was in my mom’s class. Schools like Abbott, with Black children and Black teachers who care about them, they’re very special places. Places of community and safety and morals and intense humor.” She continued, “That was what was important to me, the funny of that kind of environment—every day these people show up and do this job, and there’s something endearing in that. I’m so happy we’ve done such a good job that teachers feel represented by what we do. It wasn’t necessarily our goal but I think we’ve done a good job of sticking to the accuracy that teachers represent.”

“I have to thank my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, my cousins,” she said. “We would be here forever if I tried to name my cousins and uncles and aunts. My husband and my incredible cast and show for helping me to make this show and make the pilot, thank you.”