The inspiration behind Quinta Brunson’s breakout TV hit Abbott Elementary was the showrunner’s sixth grade teacher. Now, according to Black Enterprise, Brunson is giving back to teachers around the country.
In an interview with NPR’s Fresh Air, the former BuzzFeed content creator shared that the production team and leaders at ABC agreed on “allocating some of the show’s marketing money to help real teachers.”
“We chose to put the marketing money toward supplies for teachers,” Brunson said during the interview. “It’s about being able to make those kinds of decisions that really excite me, things that can really materially help people.”
Brunson also talked about her childhood in Philadelphia. She revealed that her mother was a teacher, and she saw firsthand the lack of resources and support at her school. But that didn’t corrupt her mother’s love for the job, People reports.
“Despite it getting harder, despite teachers not having all the support they need, despite kids growing even more unruly than they’ve been in recent time, she still loved the job,” Brunson said during the Fresh Air interview. “The beauty is someone being so resilient for a job that is so underpaid and so underappreciated because it makes them feel fulfilled.”
Brunson also shared the sweet story behind the name of the popular series. As Blavity previously reported, she named the show after her sixth grade teacher Ms. Abbott.
“I was scared to go into the real world or what I looked at as the real world at the time, and [Ms. Abbott] just took me under her wing,” she told NPR. “She was an incredible teacher who put her all into it, making sure that her students felt special and were ready for the world.”
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host surprised Brunson with an appearance from Ms. Abbott.
“Hi Ms. Abbott,” the former Black Lady Sketch Show actor said while holding back tears. “Oh no, now I’m crying.”
This isn’t the first time Brunson has shown love to teachers. According to Black Enterprise, Brunson recently surprised third grade teacher Xiomara Robinson on Good Morning America in Philly.
“The best morning,” Brunson tweeted of the surprise.
Brunson also presented Robinson’s elementary school with a $40,000 check.
According to Deadline, Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season.
