One of my favorite things about Ava is her complete disregard for professionalism — even she would agree that her leadership methods are far from traditional (and sometimes veer away from being completely legal). But that doesn’t mean she isn’t good at her job; she’s doing so well that during her tenure as principal of Abbott Elementary, the students’ test scores increased, absences decreased, and after-school programs are more abundant than ever. In Ava’s words, she truly is that girl. And while her tendency to deviate from what’s considered professional is a major archetype of her personality, there’s much more to Ava that other people in leadership roles can learn from. Ava embodies a different form of success that doesn’t look like what we’re used to; I mean, how many famous fictional principals rock laid bundles and can tell stories about partying with Quest Love?
Ava’s unprofessional ways may provide an unlimited well of comedic situations, but it also highlights something that isn’t talked about enough when discussing what makes a strong leader: care. Empathy goes much further than being a good person; some people view “care” as an entire ethical framework for political and social theory. Deva Woodly, a professor of political science at Brown, asserts that the politics of care “holds that the activity of governance in a society that hopes to be just must be oriented toward the responsibility to exercise and provide care for those most impacted by oppression and domination.” That’s enough academic speak for now; I’m here to write about a show that takes place in a school, not bring you guys back into the classroom. But the point is that Ava’s deep ability to care for and champion her students has brought so much prosperity to Abbott, and there’s actual theory backing why her methods succeed. Maybe being a good leader is as much about ensuring everyone is loved and cared for as it is about setting a good example. As Janine says, Ava does some questionable things, but it’s not all she does. Ava literally makes clothes for the students who need them. If that’s not going above and beyond, I don’t know what it is.
Ava might not do everything (or anything, really) by the book, but the results of her work are stellar, so stellar that our handsome friend Manny from the district asks Ava if she’ll deliver an “Ed-Talk” so other principals can learn a thing or two. At first, she turns it down after learning the speaking engagement isn’t paid, but her coworkers convince her to reconsider how great an opportunity it would be, particularly since it would get Abbott back in the district’s good graces after Janine rejected a full-time job offer last season (basically, they all hate her now). Janine reminds Ava that the district shows preferential treatment when divvying out resources, and currently, Abbott relies heavily on bribes from the golf-course lawyer for new materials for their students. Convinced that the Ed-Talk will result in a payout for the kids, and unable to miss an opportunity to gloat, Ava prepares a presentation to run by Manny.
Manny — Josh Segarra returns to us in all of his glory with a gold chain, thick cardigan, and thicker beard — vetos all of Ava’s decisions as topics like “the art of the scheme” and “intimidation as motivation” aren’t exactly what he was imagining for the speech. And he definitely doesn’t want Ava encouraging other principals to do things like rent out their gymnasiums to unsanctioned groups, which was another part of Ava’s proposed speech, though I desperately need to find out what happened when she gave drug dealers the space. Manny then rescinds the invitation to speak, hurting Ava’s feelings even if she won’t admit it; she tells Janine she’s been told she’s “too much” her whole life, and if people don’t like her it’s on them. Janine, like me, sees how valuable care is in leadership and helps Ava bridge the gap between her hustling skills and the “professional” world. She advises Ava to focus on why she does things instead of how she does them.
As Ava figures out how to find a happy medium, Jacob, Barbara, and Melissa get caught up in trying to save the deli across the street from gentrification. With the construction of the new golf course comes businesses hungry for a spot on the block, meaning the deli owner might get priced out of his lease by a harbinger of gentrification: a hip smoothie shop with a pun in the name. This one is sillily named Fruit There It Is. Gregory is ecstatic about the shop because this means he no longer has to drive sixteen minutes to University City for his smoothie fix, but Melissa and Barbara are distraught because the deli has the best hoagies in town. Jacob can’t help but get swept up in the cause as the threat of gentrification to a Black neighborhood is like a flame to a moth … that is if the moth in question is a millennial liberal overcompensating for their own white guilt. The survival of a community staple galvanizes Jacob’s inner savior complex, and he begins gathering the neighborhood to garner support and put intention behind the outrage, basking in the feeling of “being the change.”
Melissa and Barbara do their part and go to the Fruit There It Is in University City to bully the owners into picking a new location. But once they return to Abbott, they have to admit things went awry after they accepted free samples, which then turned into tasting multiple flavors, resulting in a change in stance. They force Jacob to try one of the smoothies but he dramatically throws it in the trash, refusing to betray his inner freedom fighter, before expressing his disappointment and storming out. But Jacob’s tune quickly changes when they reconvene at recess and his holier-than-thou attitude suspiciously disappears. He claims he’s simply excited to see everyone excited about something, but Gregory immediately spots the açai stain on Jacob’s collar, evidence of a trash can smoothie binge. With everyone at Abbott on the same page about Fruit There It Is, Jacob forgot that he got the B.L.A.C.K.S. involved (remember them from last season?), and is shocked to see them protesting outside the deli. He runs out in an attempt to reverse the damage from the one time his canvassing actually worked.
Gregory, Melissa, and Barbara pressure Jacob to fix the situation now that they’re excited about the smoothies, so Jacob pulls something else out of his bag of woke causes and tries to redirect the protestor’s energy to fracking with a “Frack is whack” chant. The protestors boo Jacob away so Barbara takes her shot at controlling the crowd. Putting on her best Baptist preacher voice Barbara says they should focus their energy on protesting the golf course, before quickly retracting her speech when Melissa informs her that without the new course, there won’t be a smoothie shop. The landlord of the deli catches wind of the community outrage and backs down from giving the space to Fruit There It Is. But, to appease both sides, the deli starts serving smoothies, featuring stomach-churning city-inspired flavor combinations like “Menthol Madness” and “Mango Mortadella Fusion.”
Meanwhile, Ava presents her revised Ed-Talk to a group of principals from the district, with a focus on empowering her students and staff. She stumbles a little bit — though it was hilarious that she referred to Janine as a member of her staff looking like “a nun going on vacation” — but she’s quickly picking up on how to navigate the professional world with more than just wit and street smarts. After the speech, she revels in the admiration of her peers but learns that she can get something better than validation through these speeches when a fellow principal points out that private speaking engagements and seminars do pay their speakers. On that note, Ava immediately wraps up her free conversation, telling them they can keep chatting for a fee of a thousand dollars. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Teacher’s Notes
• A sweet Easter egg in tonight’s episode was the picture of Bradley Cooper picture in the deli, which is a callback from Cooper’s epic guest spot last season. And in case you missed it, another great reference in the Halloween episode was a student dressed as Quinta in her viral “He’s got money!” video from ten years ago. What a cute full-circle moment.
• Speaking of Quinta, Janine’s storylines have been lacking! The paper-eating plot was about as interesting as last week when she was trying to get her money back from Barbara. It’s nice allowing the rest of the ensemble ample time for their talents, but Quinta is way too funny for these B-plots.
• Finally, my favorite one-liners:
Melissa on Gregory’s diet: “Your thoughts about food are a war crime, and you should be sent to the Hague.”
Melissa to Jacob: “Once again, a white man comes into a community of color and makes things worse.”
Ava: “The district has seen my methods and they want my madness. They want the ‘Ava-lanche.’”
Jacob to the horror of his mostly Black class: “Oh no! It’s the B.L.A.C.K.S … it’s not what it sounds like!”
