10 Memorable Teachers in Movies

Regardless of how long you’ve been out of school, it’s impossible to reflect on your educational experience without remembering the teachers who had the most influence on it.

Some teachers leave an imprint on us that lasts a lifetime, whether it’s because they were truly inspiring or horribly totally unfit for the job. The same is true for the teachers found in movies.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Day, here’s a list of memorable teachers from movies.

10 Memorable Teachers in Movies

Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World 

Over the course of the show, the well-spoken, well-read, highbrow neighbor evolved from disciplinarian to teacher to friend to mentor to father.

As the series drew to a close, it will show that despite everything Feeny had done for Cory, Topanga, Shawn, Eric, and the rest of his students, the sometimes-grumpy teacher needed them (and the job) almost as much as they needed him.

Ms. Norbury from Mean Girls

Tina Fey has at least one “cool teacher” entry, which seems about right. In Mean Girls, her math lessons take a back seat to the words of wisdom she gives to a rag-tag group of high-school girls.

With what we know now, it’s probably a safe bet that she was hiding some cheese-based snacks in one of those desk drawers.

Mr. Keating from Dead Poets Society

Robin Williams is one of the best comedians/actors we’ve ever seen, and one of the main reasons is his role as John Keating in Dead Poets Society.

The movie is both inspiring and tragic, and Williams’ performance as a boarding-school English teacher with an innovative approach is one of his most moving.

Annalise Keating from How to Get Away With Murder

Certainly, her approaches are different, and she’s been a little consumed this semester with her unfaithful husband being accused of a crime and then “disappearing,” when in defense attorney and criminal defense attorney Annalise Keating has also successfully taught five students, won a number of cases and kept her group of murdering, evidence-destroying interns out of judicial custody with strong GPAs to buckle.

Mr. Holland from Mr. Holland's Opus

Prepare your Kleenex. Richard Dreyfuss received the Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Glenn Holland, a beloved music teacher at an Oregon high school, in a role that appears scientifically designed to tug at audiences’ heartstrings and possibly even get them to stand up and applaud.

The film chronicles Mr. Holland’s entire 30-year career, culminating in one final emotional performance before he retires (the opus in question).

Edna Krabappel from The Simpsons

Mrs. Krabappel was a fan favorite from her first appearance in The Simpsons’ second-ever episode. Other teachers at Springfield Elementary had their cool character moments, but Mrs. Krabappel was a fan favorite from her first appearance in The Simpsons’ second-ever episode.

Yes, she dated on the job, drank on the job, and slapped Bart once (ok, twice), but Edna was a teacher who wasn’t afraid to express herself, even if it meant burying her feelings beneath quips and sarcasm.

That school would have been dull if Edna hadn’t been teaching the same fourth-grade class for the past 20 years.

Will Schuester from Glee

Like Water White in Breaking Bad, Glee’s Will Schuester, a.k.a. Mr. Schue, exactly what he’s talking about. He’s a teacher who takes responsibility for enriching his students’ lives very seriously.

We also get to see what his life is like outside of the classroom (which isn’t the case with every TV teacher), whether it means witnessing the dissolution of a bad marriage or desperately attempting to win the affection of the school’s guidance counselor. Finally, every problem, at least according to Glee, can be solved with the perfect song.

Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Mr. Hand, Ridgemont High’s ultimate disciplinarian, runs his history class on “his” time. Not only does Hand throw Spicoli out after he’s late and give the rest of the class his pizza, but he also shows up at his house and force-teaches him until he’s made up for all the time Spicoli wasted.

Mr. Katimski from My So-Called Life

Mr. Katimski had a lot to deal with in the single season of My So-Called Life: in only four episodes, the perpetual sweatshirt teacher made a memorable mark as he explored the anxious halls of Liberty High School in a nervous and spacey, yet sweet, way that only created his loyalty to his students even more captivating, also when they didn’t fully appreciate him.

He was one of those teachers who remained faithful in a largely unrewarding role—all for those few, heartfelt scenes of progress.

Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

In the “Harry Potter” series, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, was always a bit of a mystery. Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris), Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has a commanding, stately presence, but he also has a gentle and kind personality that will benefit his students.

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