Ava: Our test scores have been good. But not too good. And definitely not bad. Uh, the same goes for our attendance rates. They have been exactly where they should be to inspire confidence while also leaving room for improvement. Any questions? [Superintendent Collins raises his hand] Never mind. There's no time for questions. I still have, uh, 13 more slides.

Barbara: Yeah, well, maybe this will be the year where the school board finally awards me that Advancement Grant that I have been applying to for years.
Melissa: They will if we make them. Just like a little... gentle arm-twisting.
Barbara: A little arm twist never hurt.
Melissa: [gasps] This is so exciting. Oh, my God. I'm gonna go to the mall right after school and get a new shakedown sweater.

Janine: The kids just love Ms. Davis' class, so it takes a while to get them back, and then everything runs a little late. You know, normally, I'd be bothered by my kids being obsessed with another teacher, but I get it.
Jacob: My class? Also Davis devotees.
Janine: Mm.
Jacob: Only way she could be cooler is if she were related to Angela. [Barbara looks up in confusion] Not that I think all black people are related.
Gregory: Well, maybe you do. Maybe that was your subconscious speaking. What would Angela Davis think?

Gregory: You remember what you were talking about?
Mr. Johnson: Nope.
Gregory: [chuckles] About having a lot of jobs. You ever have an experience where you wanted a different job than the one you were at? You liked the one that you were at, but since it's not the one that you thought you wanted, you're a little conflicted?
Mr. Johnson: If you think I'm some sort of Black Yoda... Hmm, then correct you would be, Padawan. You got to be open for what life brings you. If I'd kept aiming for that one job I wanted so much when I was your age, you'd be looking at a very unfulfilled operations manager at Uncle Bradley's Baked Beans. Damn, I wanted that job.
Gregory: Must have had some good benefits.
Mr. Johnson: And a ladder straight to the top.
Gregory: Yeah.
Mr. Johnson: But, hey, without that rejection, I never would have found out the stuff that I love.
Gregory: Yeah, man. I really wanted to be principal. [chuckles] Then it didn't happen and... and now I think I'm mad.
Mr. Johnson: You got plenty of time, youngin'.

Jacob: Zach has been so great during all of this.
Janine: I know.
Jacob: He can get a little obsessive, but...
Janine: Well, so can you.
Jacob: Me? No. No, Zach calls me "lovingly over-passionate."
Janine: ... You know what? That's wonderful.

Mr. Johnson: I can catch one of 'em. Haven't done this kind of fishing in a minute. Let's go.
Gregory: I didn't volunteer.
Mr. Johnson: A stakeout needs two people. Think, boy. Who's gonna watch all the crime stuff while the other one eats a hoagie?
Gregory: I...

Melissa: Okay, since none of the kids are talking, we gotta catch one of them in the act. Then we flip that kid, follow it up to the top. Who wants to go fishing?
Barbara: Okay. Well, nobody is jumping up on my desks, so this is feeling like y'all's problem.
Ava: I could do a 21 Jump Street kind of thing. If I put on the right hat, I could pull off 13.
Janine: I don't think so. [chuckles]
Ava: How about we get you some platform shoes and you can pull off 12.
Janine: Okay.

Janine: [sighs] We need to get to the bottom of this.
Melissa: You know what? I bet you I can get a shoe print. Did you clean your desks off yet?
Janine: No.
Mr. Johnson: Nasty.
Melissa: Okay, does anybody know shoes?
[aside to camera:]
Jacob: My boyfriend, Zach, is a total sneaker-head. He- He loves shoes more than anything. Well, except ya boy. [chuckles] That's me. I'm "ya boy."

Gregory: So, wait, if this is happening to everybody except Barbara, then what's going on?
Melissa: It's weird.
Miss Williams: I mean, no idea.
Mr. Johnson: I know what's going on, and it's bad. In fact, I've been praying that it wouldn't breach our walls.
Jacob: Ghosts.
Mr. Johnson: It's called desking. It's a new online challenge where kids jump from desktop to desktop. Heard about it last week through the custodial network.
Barbara: Mm.

Electronic Voice: DJ A-V-A. A-A-A-A-A-A!
[Mary J. Blige's "I'm Goin' Down" plays]
♪ Time on my hands ♪
Mr. Johnson: [music stops] Gotta turn the lights off, Mary J. [music resumes]
Ava: [sings along] ♪ I'm goin' down ♪ ♪ I'm goin' down ♪ ♪ 'Cause you ain't around ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ My whole world's upside down ♪ ♪ Sleep don't come easy ♪ ♪ Boy, please believe me ♪ ♪ Since you been gone ♪ ♪ Everything's goin' wrong ♪