Behind the scenes with the real teachers of 'Abbott Elementary'
LOS ANGELES — A parade of first graders bursts through the doors and enters the room along with the early morning sunlight. A girl in a pink chef's hat, a boy in a Spider-Man hoodie, a girl in a ballerina tutu, a boy with light-up sneakers, a girl in a unicorn onesie and dozens of other energetic children meander through the line, clutching their parents' hands.
One girl, Maria, greets her "bestie" Harmony with an early valentine and receives a warm hug in return.
"Hello Xhyla, my little cheerleader," the kids' teacher, Kristin Minkler, says as they skip past the check-in table. "You're good, Zariah. I got you."
Minkler, sensibly clad in black leggings, tennis shoes and long puffer coat, informs the children that they are "going straight to school."
But this is not a normal school.
Minkler is the lead studio teacher for which means she is in charge of every child performer on the show from the moment they arrive on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank. Immediately after checking in with Minkler, the young background actors — who populate Abbott's classrooms, hallways, library and gymnasium onscreen — change out of their everyday attire and into
