The 20 most memorable teachers in film & TV

For the last 21 years "South Park" teacher Mr. Garrison has been run in and out of the wringer by students who generally don't care about his well being, despite trying to connect to students using the slightly deranged visual tool/hand puppet Mr. Hat. Over the years, Garrison underwent two sex changes and ultimately managed to somehow become president of the United States.

A living nightmare of a teacher, Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) was an unbearable taskmaster in 2014's "Whiplash" who had no problem pushing his students to the edge (and beyond) in order to get the maximum result. Fletcher is a country mile away from ever being the most loved teacher, but he's absolutely one of the most memorable.

A hard-as-nails cop by trade, John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has to go undercover as a teacher when his partner falls sick in "Kindergarten Cop." Unused to being around kids, Kimble is an almost instant disaster, but soon his gruff exterior gives way to something softer as he connects with his class, in particular, the child of the man he's trying to arrest. In the end, Kimble leaves quite an impression on his impromptu class, beyond finding out who is their daddy and what does he do.

"Mr. Holland's Opus" tracks the 30 year career of Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss), a failed composer who emulates the old adage "those who can't do, teach." During this time, Holland guided his kids during a tumultuous time in American history, and after his music program’s been canceled, Mr. Holland is honored by his last class of students by playing his one completed symphony for him. One of the more memorable moments, not just for a teacher in films, but in general.

Despite thinking that all his students were on dope, Mr. Hand pushed on anyway in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Mr. Hand faced off against stoner Jeff Spicoli while also proving that teachers have a sense of humor, as he shows up at nemesis Spicoli's house with a last minute history lesson on Prom Night. Aloha.

"Boy Meets World" teacher Mr. Feeny may have had a hard exterior and an accompanying package of biting sarcasm, he often betrayed that with a genuine soft spot for troublesome trio Corey, Shawn, and Eric. The final scene of the series features Feeny in a moment that is impossible to forget.

Melvin B. Tolson was a real life pioneer in education. Teaching at an all-black school in the south during the Jim Crow era, Tolson would take his Wiley College students to debate at white schools in a time where such things would be unheard of. Tolson's work was immortalized in the 2007 film "The Great Debaters" directed by and starring Denzel Washington.

Possibly one of the more self-motivated teachers on our list, wannabe rocker Dewey Finn recognizes musical talent of students he never really wanted, but works to transform them into a band, using rock history along with interesting levels of motivation in 2003's "School of Rock."

The best and most memorable teachers are those who are able to break through to the hardest of students, helping them to achieve their true potential. This was the task for Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), a teacher and therapist asked to tap the potential of math genius/janitor Will Hunting in "Good Will Hunting." Maguire succeeded in helping Hunting work towards a larger goal, something every good teacher strives to do in their career.

'O' Captain, my Captain," the second teacher role for Robin Williams is a classic one, as an unconventional professor who bucks the system and tears chapters out of textbooks to get his students to actually learn more in "Dead Poets Society." His efforts meet unfortunate circumstances, but by the film's end, he moves on with the admiration of his students and an immovable place in their hearts.

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore was viewed as a hero in the eyes of many of his students, but the reality was that Dumbledore, despite his better intentions, caused as much trouble as he did solutions. As he sacrificed himself to save his prized pupil, Harry Potter, his lasting legacy as the most memorable Headmaster of Hogwarts was secure.

Some say you can’t go back and fix your own childhood, but comedian Gabe Kaplan's Mr. Kotter comes closer than most he returns to teach at his old alma mater in "Welcome Back Kotter." As a former Sweathog, Kotter, against the judgment of his boss, is determined to teach the newest generation of his old group, to varying levels of success, of course.

'Do or do not, there is no try,' might be the most-mentioned adage of the 900-year-old Jedi Master, but as a teacher, Yoda's failures are almost as memorable as his successes. Great teachers don't win every day, but the best teachers leave the biggest impact on those under their tutelage, in this case, members of the Skywalker family.

Not only did Tina Fey write cult classic "Mean Girls," she channeled some of her own past to create teacher Ms. Norbury, who serves as a point of light for student Cady (Lindsay Lohan) steering her away from the Plastics clique and into the Mathletes. What makes her most memorable might be her scene telling the female student body to lay off the sexist insults and treat one another better.

Charles Xavier not only wanted to inspire and educate his Mutant students, as leader of the X-Men, he also fought to protect them. As a visionary and promoter of peace, Xavier chose to be on the front lines in a metaphorical (and sometimes actual) war between humanity and Mutants, with an innate interest in protecting both sides.

Of all the educators on our list, real-life calculus teacher Jaime Escalante, played dutifully by Edward James Olmos in "Stand and Deliver," might've been the best. Instead of just trying to win the hearts of his students, Escalante strove to make them smarter and more ready for an increasingly demanding workforce by attempting to teach them all A.P. Calculus, something his skeptical colleagues thought might be impossible. Just as shown in the film, Escalante indeed delivered by having his students doing A.P. Calculus by the end of the year.

Known in the media as "Crazy Joe," New Jersey educator Joe Clark took radical ideas and a stern approach into his job as principal of Eastside High School in Patterson, New Jersey. His efforts were immortalized in 1989's "Lean on Me,"starring Morgan Freeman as the no-nonsense educator who managed to turn around a failing school into a school with a chance.

A humble man troubled by his past, yet full of compassion for his similarly fish-out-of-water student, Mr. Miyagi, first appearing in 1984's "The Karate Kid," used unconventional techniques to yield exceptional results. As a teacher, his route with young Daniel LaRussa was unique, but he was not only able to teach Karate outside of a dojo, he also taught a boy how to become an even better man.

Sometimes, the teachers we remember the most, we end up liking the least as we learn from them. This is no more evident than in the case of Potions Master Severus Snape, an educator with zero tolerance for the majority of his students, particularly one Harry Potter. Despite his taciturn nature and former allegiance to the Dark Lord, Snape will always be remembered for his loyalty to and ultimately his sacrifice for his students.

While he tops the list as the most memorable teacher, few might actually think of Indiana Jones, adventuring archaeologist, as an educator, but from his very first appearance in 1980's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Jones has always done his work, mostly, in the interest of education, because every artifact he chases after... belongs in a museum.