Ava Coleman is so much more than just the Abbott Elementary principal. She has said some of the show’s most iconic one-liners and has captivated fans’ hearts with her humor, capriciousness, and self-confidence, which does tend to become self-absorption.
Although her self-interest has led to some questionable decisions as an elementary school principal, we still love her. Why? because she is much more than her comedy and ego, as her unparalleled character development since the pilot episode has shown.
From her hostile first moments to her unforgettable quotes to the character she is now and everything in between, this is why we love Ava Coleman.
Ava Coleman’s Humor Makes Abbott Elementary
Undoubtedly, the Abbott Elementary principal is one of, if not the funniest character on the hit mockumentary. From her notable one-liners to her physical comedy, Ava always brings the laughs.
How could you not die when Janine asks how long she has been dating her boyfriend?
She responds, “Well, he’s been dating me for five years, but I’ve only been dating him for two.” Or when she asks the bartender to pour her something cheap so she can spit it out, spits it out, then says, “Hit me again!”
She uses her humor as a way to still have audiences love her and as a tactic to be “the bad guy” without being unlikable.
Usually, we hate narcissists, especially when their behavior takes away from an underprivileged public elementary school, yet we never hold that against her.
Ava is the reason for the camera crew. When she asks the teachers why they aren’t excited to be on TV, Barb acknowledges that it is only because they are following underfunded and poorly managed public schools.
But in Ava’s eyes, there’s no such thing as bad press, “look at Mel Gibson, still thriving.”
We learned early on that she is a doomsday prepper — a trait that surprised me — when she came into the teacher’s lounge to borrow some oats because her earthquake kit was out of them.
Despite Philly not being known for earthquakes, that doesn’t stop Ava because everyone thinks they’re immune until they wake up and their kitchen is across the street.
Wake up, there is always a constant threat of global catastrophe!
Her feud with the teachers, especially Janine, and her constant flirtation with Gregory Eddie — who does not know how to handle the attention! — are highlights of the ABC series in themselves.
The Mystique Around Ava Coleman
Part of Ava’s appeal also lies in her air of mystery. We know she caught the superintendent cheating on his wife and blackmailed him for the principal position, but we get no details on how that happened.
She is also dating NBA star Andre Iguodala and has dated another NBA superstar, Allen Iverson. Where and how she met them is not revealed, nor are the details of her and Iverson’s breakup.
You have to wonder what circle of friends, events, or people brought her two notable athletes.
She is not shy about mentioning that she had an exciting life before Abbott Elementary, but the details are told in nondescript bits and pieces that must be picked up on.
For example, over the summer, she gets a hookah flavor named after her, Ava-lade, which embodies hints of malt liquor and marmalade.
Only someone important or worthwhile could accomplish such a thing. Did she pick those flavors or did someone else?
In “Holiday Hookah,” when Ava runs into Janine and Eddie at a nightclub, she walks right past the whole line.
When Janine gets her attention, Ava responds, “Sorry. I don’t speak line. Ladies, don’t talk to them.” I would love to know how she attained VIP status.
In addition, she mentions that being the Abbott Elementary principal is one of her favorite jobs. What else has she done? Plus, she has been on the cover of a doomsday preppers magazine.
What are her true motivations? Why so eager to be a principal? She is clearly a huge Eagles fan, but was she born or raised in Philly?
There is obviously a lot more behind her than what fans first see. So many questions.
Ava Coleman Has a Caring Side
Despite her trademark characteristics of being underqualified and self-centered, fans do get glimpses of a more caring and humanized side of Ava Coleman.
When she picks up on the chemistry between her workplace nemesis and workplace crush in “Valentine’s Day,” instead of shutting Janine down, she says, “Just don’t do anything nast on school grounds because if I can’t, y’all can’t.”
Maybe it is not your everyday person’s version of being caring, but that is huge for Ava.
When Janine (Quinta Brunson) is upset outside the club, Ava tells her she is coming to the next bar with her and her boyfriend.
Sure, she uses the excuse that Janine is all dressed up, and who knows when that will happen again, but you can tell by her voice that she doesn’t want Janine to go home upset.
The most obvious example is when Season 2 begins, and Ava starts taking her job seriously, but more on that later. However, she is interested in the kids she usually wouldn’t in the Step Class episode.
In the episode, fans also learn that she is the guardian of her grandma, who has been living with her for two weeks. While we assumed her week-long vacation was an actual vacation, it turns out she was looking for a place to take care of her grandma.
She missed the step class’s presentation because her grandma had an episode.
In “Fundraiser,” it is revealed that she has extra uniforms for students who can’t afford them. She even notices a student’s repeated tardiness in “Light Bulb.”
Ava also stands up for her colleague Barb in “Breakup” when her choir group is bullying her.
She not only lets the group use the gym to practice, but she also encourages Barb to stand up for herself, and the two have an extraordinarily intimate and sincere talk.
The Abbott Elementary principal may never completely change, and for fan’s sake, I hope she doesn’t, but these more humanizing moments reveal that Ava has layers, and we are yet to even come close to peeling them all back.
Ava Coleman’s Entrepreneurial Spirit
Scams, influencing, schemes, side hustles — whichever you think fits best, Ava has a unique entrepreneurial drive, even if it occasionally comes at the expense of the school.
In Sick Day, we learn about Ava’s eye mask side hustle when she ignores Janine’s calls to read her product reviews.
She also sells vintage clothes online from the closet attached to her office during school hours.
Said closet is also the shipping center for her eye masks, for which she used all of the school’s copy paper to make fliers and the teacher’s fridge to store them.
She also has a green screen in her office for her influencer needs, and what better way to utilize the school’s parking lot than turning it into a Philadelphia Eagles tailgating location for some extra cash?
Her idea of helping the school when it receives an emergency funds check is not to buy anything the teachers are complaining about but to purchase a new sign for the school with her face on it. Classic, Ava.
You have to marvel at the audacity.
Maybe passing her scamming ways down to the kids while they are trying to sell candy bars to raise funds for a field trip is a questionable move.
But they did sell a lot of candy bars, and her tactics aren’t necessarily logically wrong; ethically yes, but it is a dog-eat-dog world.
Ava Coleman’s Character Growth
When the show first aired, I will admit I wrote Ava off as a Michael Scott from The Office but with style, actual humor, and more likable. However, her character growth has to be one of the best of all time.
She blackmails her way to her job, misuses school funds, makes brutal comments and jokes, boarder line sexually harasses Gregory, and dismisses the teachers’ and students’ concerns.
However, dismissive behavior can be said about most public school principals.
The mockumentary’s character offended people, but I think that’s the point. Through Ava, fans also grow. She realizes that she wants to take her job more seriously.
No, she will never be the shining example of being a principal or boss, but she is more interested in her colleague’s concerns and takes action.
Regardless of how harsh her jokes can be or her real motives when helping a teacher or student, she does come through and wants to learn.
She is in a book club and spends time in the library, and her curious nature is one of her most underrated qualities.
Ava Coleman wants things to get done, so she takes action. I can’t say that about my former principal. Her ways may be unconventional, but underfunded schools need a leader willing to creatively cross the line now and again to benefit the greater good.
Yes, she goes back to “her old ways,” but not wholly, and Ava wouldn’t be Ava if the character completely changed because she does make the show and resembles a real person, flaws and all.
We want to know what you think of the Abbott Elementary principal in the comments. Share your favorite Ava lines and scenes and opinions of her below!
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