Abbott Elementary Officially Sets The Stage For Not One, But Two Character Exits

Published Nov 8, 2026, 7:45 PM EST

Casey Duby is an avid TV writer, watcher, and reviewer. She graduated from Emerson College in 2021 with a focus in Writing for Film and Television, where she wrote several pilots and watched countless more. She's been working in television ever since.

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Warning! This article contains spoilers for Abbott Elementary season 6, episode 5, "Courtney."

Abbott Elementary season 6 has started off strong. In just five episodes, the show has already introduced a major step in Janine and Gregory's relationship, utilized its students in a new way, and featured three notable guest stars. Even as Abbott steps firmly out of the role of a splashy new series and into the position of a television staple, the show is proving that it still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

So far, Abbott Elementary season 6 has built stories around iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove, stand-up comedian Ali Wong, and The Righteous Gemstones' Edi Patterson, and these are just the show's newest guest stars. With Ava's growing sincerity, Janine's bond with an older student, and Mr. Johnson's interest in the step team, Abbott is also continuing to reveal new sides of its entire original main cast.

However, as Abbott Elementary's success continues to grow, so, too, does the fame of its actors. While an early episode introduced Ayo Edebiri as Janine's sister, the The Bear alum has been notably absent from Janine's most recent family-centric stories. Meanwhile, Jacob's Chris Perfetti appeared in the Emmy-winning limited series DTF St. Louis.

Yet Abbott Elementary has managed to go the better part of a decade without losing any major cast members. That is, until season 6, episode 5, "Courtney," which not only showed Luke Tennie's Dominic the door but also introduced the idea of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Barbara retiring.

Luke Tennie's Abbott Elementary Exit Was One Of Season 6's Most Graceful Storylines So Far

ABC via MovieStillsDB

Tennie's Dominic was a late arrival to Abbott Elementary's cast, but the character played a meaningful role in the show's more recent seasons, particularly as he struggled with season 5's temporary relocation to an empty mall.

Recently, though, Tennie's responsibilities beyond Abbott have grown as the actor has joined HBO's The Pitt in addition to starring in Apple TV's Shrinking. Given these other projects, it's not surprising that Tennie had to step away from Abbott and hasn't been seen in season 6 until "Courtney."

Abbott Elementary explained Dominic's absence within its world by chalking it up to, literally, absence. "Courtney" saw the newly promoted Gregory and union representative Melissa forced to fire Dominic due to the teacher having already missed 23 days of school.

The story felt like a simple and honest nod to Tennie's priorities being elsewhere, something the episode confirmed with the reveal that Dominic was, in fact, trying to get fired on purpose so as to collect a severance package while pursuing a career in real estate.

Yet "Courtney" also communicated how highly Abbott thinks of Tennie, as Gregory and Melissa struggled with firing someone who was so beloved on a personal level. By the episode's end, Dominic's departure felt narratively sound while still ensuring the character was able to leave on a high note.

What Barbara's Retirement Could Mean For Abbott Elementary

Image via MovieStillsDB

While Gregory and Melissa dealt with Dominic, "Courtney" also saw Jacob and Barbara pushing back against the district's insistence that teachers pass failing students. After the two met at Barbara's house to craft an official message to the district, Gerald gently reminded Barbara that they had discussed her "winding down towards retirement this year."

Barbara was visibly hesitant at the suggestion that she tone down her involvement, an attitude consistent with her characterization so far this season. Beyond working with Jacob in "Courtney," Barbara has also been seen taking on voluntary special education training with Melissa and continuing to lead the music program.

While Barbara will almost certainly struggle with the idea of retirement, the mere mention of the word is enough to raise questions about Barbara's future on Abbott Elementary. It was a passing remark in "Courtney," but even this subtlety suggests that Abbott is coyly aware of the implications of Gerald's suggestion. Wherever this storyline goes, it's unlikely to be a complete false alarm.

That being said, the scene didn't feel like the beginning of a complete character exit in the way Dominic's storyline did. Indeed, Abbott Elementary's proclivity for meaningful character growth has proven the show's openness to change, a trait that has kept the show fresh and surprising six seasons in.

Much more likely than a totally clean break is a reimagined idea of what Barbara's role at Abbott could look like. From leading extracurriculars to taking on additional administrative roles, all of the show's main characters have shown their eagerness to go above and beyond in their jobs. In the process, Abbott has already revealed countless opportunities for involvement that go beyond the classroom.

With who she already is as a person, it's easy to imagine Barbara as an over-involved volunteer at Abbott. In fact, this trajectory would likely give her character even more story, as she will undoubtedly struggle to adapt and clash with others as she resists relinquishing the responsibilities of her old job.

Wherever her story goes, introducing such a significant change was a bold move for Abbott Elementary, and one that will likely benefit the longevity of both the show and the character.

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  Quinta Brunson

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  Tyler James Williams

  Gregory Eddie