Best TV School Teachers

As we begin yet another school year, teachers all across the country have prepared themselves, transformed their classrooms into halls of knowledge and have experienced high hopes that this year, they will really make a difference in their students' lives. Then reality sets in. Let's face it. School teachers don't always get the respect that they deserve. That extends to the fictional teachers on TV as well. But today, we salute all teachers who have stopped spitball fights, ingested enough chalk dust to make them sick, and suffered from red inked stained hands from grading papers. You have given your student your all and we can't ask for more. As a tribute, we share with you 14 others teachers who have braved the trails before you. Even though their working conditions were set in a world of make believe, may they be your inspiration as well. Here's to the best teachers on television.

Mr. Kotter

Comedian Gabe Kaplan played the famed role of the teacher in Welcome Back, Kotter. The sitcom focused on Mr. Kotter coming back to teach at his former high school in Brooklyn, New York. The show was somewhat based on real life as the school was modeled after Kaplan's real high school. Kotter's challenge was to teach the "Sweathogs," a group of dim students who were destined to drop out. Mr. Kotter was actually a founding member of the group, so he could relate to them. Though a huge hit when it began in 1975, the ratings started falling rapidly in its third season as the Sweathogs were no longer believable as high school students. By the fourth and final season, Kotter became vice principal.