“What Kind of Teacher are you?”: Critical Communication Pedagogy in Abbott Elementary

In December 2021, Abbott Elementary debuted their first episode, following a cast of diverse teachers at an underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia. While there is previous research on the importance of tv representation and pedagogical practices in the media, this show presents a unique opportunity for analysis. Using Fassett and Warren’s (2007) commitments of Critical Communication Pedagogy as my main theoretical guide, I argue that Abbott Elementary showcases the ongoing process to improve pedagogy, specifically in the commitments of culture as central, language as constitutive, and reflexivity as essential.