The Greatest Fictional Teachers in Nerd Culture

Teaching is a renowned profession that is often placed on a well-deserved pedestal. Teachers help shape our society by influencing generations of children and helping ensure they grow up with not only knowledge, but also strong character and morals.

In the realm of fiction, teachers are often the most epic unsung heroes of the story. Without them, our main characters probably wouldn’t become who they are or accomplish the incredible things they do. So I think it’s about time these teachers get a little recognition and appreciation for everything they’ve done for our fictional heroes.

Here’s my list of fictional teachers who deserve some real recognition for once.

Ms. Frizzle

This science teacher is known for her bright red hair and eccentric outfits, but also for her ability to teach not only her fictional students, but real-life ones too. Many of us grew up watching her adventures with her class aboard the Magic School Bus as it traveled through space or shrank to the size of a cell to journey through the human body.

She is the epitome of a hands-on teacher, but it wasn’t just her teaching style that made her great. Every day and every lesson was approached with a level of enthusiasm that few other teachers could match. Her positivity was contagious, and it helped her students find the joy in science and exploration.  If only we could all live life the way Ms. Frizzle does.

George Feeny

Another teacher many millennials grew up learning from was the iconic Mr. Feeny (or, as Eric Matthews would say, “Feeeeeny!”). Mr. Feeny was the teacher of our core cast throughout the long-running TV series Boy Meets World. What makes him so special is that he represents the very best of what a real-life teacher can be. He isn’t teaching at a school of wizards, and he doesn’t have a magical school bus—he’s just a regular teacher guiding regular students—but he still manages to teach lessons that extend far beyond academics.

His guidance shaped the lives of Cory and his friends, and he was always there to support them through every stage of their lives. If the world were full of teachers like Mr. Feeny, it would most certainly be a better place.

Minerva McGonagall

One of the most epic teachers in all of nerd culture has to be Professor McGonagall. She is the moral compass every student—and honestly, every person—needs in their life. Despite her strict nature, she was always willing to fight for her students, figuratively and, in the end, very literally. When Hogwarts comes under attack by Voldemort’s forces, she leads the charge against them, and it’s her calm, steadfast leadership that gives the school and its students a fighting chance. Even though the easier decision would have been to hand Harry Potter over to Voldemort, she refused.

She is a teacher, but more than that, she is a protector and a powerful hero whose morals never waver. If there were ever a war between good and evil, this professor would be my first pick for Team Good.

Severus Snape

Another Hogwarts professor with a much more complicated moral compass is the Potions professor turned Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Sure, he wasn’t the nicest or most pleasant guy, and I’m fairly certain he was incapable of smiling, but I think that’s partly why we loved him. He’s a teacher, an antihero, and an astonishingly skilled double agent—so much so that fans still debate whose side he was really on.

But the thing about Snape is that, deep down, he was also a protector. He wasn’t the warm, sunshiney kind, and he never got the credit he deserved, but until his very last breath, he protected Harry. Any teacher willing to sacrifice themselves for a student deserves a place on this list.

Miss Honey

This first-grade teacher can be summed up in one word: kindness. Out of all the fictional teachers out there, Miss Honey is the gentlest and kindest of them all. In Matilda, she becomes Matilda’s safe place—the one person in her life who treats her the way a child deserves to be treated. But more than that, she sees Matilda’s potential and realizes how special she really is, and then goes out of her way to advocate for her.

In the end, Miss Honey goes so far as to adopt Matilda, rescuing her from her cruel parents and giving her the warm, loving home she deserved. Despite being a story about a young girl with telekinetic powers, Matilda somehow feels incredibly real, and it makes me hope there are teachers like Miss Honey out there giving children the gentle care they deserve.

Alaric Saltzman

Okay, so compared to some of the other iconic teachers on this list, Mr. Saltzman—or Rick—from The Vampire Diaries (and its spin-offs) might not seem like he measures up. But honestly, I think he deserves far more credit. I mean, come on—a vampire hunter turned history teacher turned headmaster of a school for magical students? That seems pretty epic to me.

In a town filled with supernatural dangers, Mr. Saltzman never backs down from a fight and is always there to protect his students. He even becomes a father figure to Elena and Jeremy after they lose both their parents and their Aunt Jenna. Years later, after realizing his twin daughters didn’t have a safe place to learn how to control their magic, he creates an entire school for them and other children like them. He is essentially Professor X—if Professor X were just a cool, laid-back guy who kept bourbon in his desk drawer.

There is something special about teachers, especially those in these fictional worlds, and I think I’ve realized what it is. They aren’t just supporting characters to our heroes—they are the heroes. They stand up for what is right, and they protect others even if it means putting themselves in harm’s way or sacrificing themselves for their students.

Even though these characters are fictional, they represent the importance of teachers and remind us of the real-life heroes who help shape children’s lives every single day.

Mr. Feeny couldn’t have summed it up better when he said:

Do you know what the best thing about being a teacher is? It matters.