Nick discovers that the ""prayer group"" Jordan is conducting in the classroom is actually a gambling operation, and that Jordan owes unscrupulous moneylender Foster a huge amount of money. When the police get involved, they use Nick to capture Mr. Foster at an Italian restaurant where Miles works after school.

Nick discovers that the ""prayer group"" Jordan is conducting in the classroom is actually a gambling operation, and that Jordan owes unscrupulous moneylender Foster a huge amount of money. When the police get involved, they use Nick to capture Mr. Foster at an Italian restaurant where Miles works after school.

During a tutoring session, Tasha and Marco kiss, and he becomes infatuated with her. But Tasha explains that she wants to remain just friends, something that Marco is not accustomed to hearing. He does everything he can to gain her love. Meanwhile, despite Nick's protests, Mezz invites Emerson to come to a sports bar with Nick and him. Nick becomes competitive when Emerson easily beats him at pool.

During a tutoring session, Tasha and Marco kiss, and he becomes infatuated with her. But Tasha explains that she wants to remain just friends, something that Marco is not accustomed to hearing. He does everything he can to gain her love. Meanwhile, despite Nick's protests, Mezz invites Emerson to come to a sports bar with Nick and him. Nick becomes competitive when Emerson easily beats him at pool.

Jordan becomes the star of the wrestling team when he qualifies for a lower weight class, enabling him to win more matches. Although he enjoys the attention, especially from Sophia, he must literally starve himself before each contest. Meanwhile, Emerson must act as a referee between Sophia and Tasha, who insult each other using the school newspaper as their forum.

Jordan becomes the star of the wrestling team when he qualifies for a lower weight class, enabling him to win more matches. Although he enjoys the attention, especially from Sophia, he must literally starve himself before each contest. Meanwhile, Emerson must act as a referee between Sophia and Tasha, who insult each other using the school newspaper as their forum.

Frustrated by her poor grades, Sophia shuns her friends' study group and joins a violent gang instead. However, she must decide who her real friends are when the gang's initiation requires her to beat up Tasha. Meanwhile, Nick becomes enamored with the attractive school nurse. And Yaroker tries to contract influenza so he won't have to come to work.

Frustrated by her poor grades, Sophia shuns her friends' study group and joins a violent gang instead. However, she must decide who her real friends are when the gang's initiation requires her to beat up Tasha. Meanwhile, Nick becomes enamored with the attractive school nurse. And Yaroker tries to contract influenza so he won't have to come to work.

When the school experiences a severe budget crisis, Emerson announces a carnival to earn revenue. While everyone is planning the event, Jordan begins arriving late to school and failing to do his homework. Nick meets with Jordan's parents and discovers that Jordan may be unhappy because they constantly bicker. Nick thinks he has helped Jordan's parents' relationship, but Jordan later blames Nick for their upcoming divorce. Even worse, Jordan ignores his friends and drinks alcohol during school. Meanwhile, the budget problems seem to have no effect on Mezz, who easily acquires all the supplies he requests from Emerson. But Mezz soon realizes that Emerson is overcompensating because he is black and she is afraid of treating him differently.

When the school experiences a severe budget crisis, Emerson announces a carnival to earn revenue. While everyone is planning the event, Jordan begins arriving late to school and failing to do his homework. Nick meets with Jordan's parents and discovers that Jordan may be unhappy because they constantly bicker. Nick thinks he has helped Jordan's parents' relationship, but Jordan later blames Nick for their upcoming divorce. Even worse, Jordan ignores his friends and drinks alcohol during school. Meanwhile, the budget problems seem to have no effect on Mezz, who easily acquires all the supplies he requests from Emerson. But Mezz soon realizes that Emerson is overcompensating because he is black and she is afraid of treating him differently.

Nick's former geometry teacher Mr. Farb is hired to teach at Gerald R. Ford High School. Still remembering the constant verbal abuse he suffered in Mr. Farb's class, Nick defends Jordan when Mr. Farb chooses him as his new class victim. However, Farb easily outwits Nick by gaining Emerson's favor. Meanwhile, Sophia and Tasha must build a birdhouse for Yaroker's class. Sophia convinces Marco to construct the project for them, but Tasha believes that girls are just as capable at carpentry. When Sophia sees Marco's handiwork, she agrees.

Nick's former geometry teacher Mr. Farb is hired to teach at Gerald R. Ford High School. Still remembering the constant verbal abuse he suffered in Mr. Farb's class, Nick defends Jordan when Mr. Farb chooses him as his new class victim. However, Farb easily outwits Nick by gaining Emerson's favor. Meanwhile, Sophia and Tasha must build a birdhouse for Yaroker's class. Sophia convinces Marco to construct the project for them, but Tasha believes that girls are just as capable at carpentry. When Sophia sees Marco's handiwork, she agrees.

Nick's rapport with the students prompts Emerson to ask him to teach a seminar on human sexuality. However, Nick encounters trouble when the kids' desire for a frank and honest discussion conflicts with the strict guidelines of the school district. In particular, Tasha craves advice because her boyfriend Trey is pressuring her to have sex with him. Nick closes the door and tells the students what they need to know. Later, Tasha's parents mistakenly think that Nick has told Tasha that it's okay for her to have sex. But Tasha and her boyfriend actually listened to Nick's advice to wait. Meanwhile, Miles is grateful when Marco defends him from a school bully. But when Miles later purposely seeks out a confrontation with the bully, Marco refuses to help Miles, teaching him not to take advantage of a favor.

Nick's rapport with the students prompts Emerson to ask him to teach a seminar on human sexuality. However, Nick encounters trouble when the kids' desire for a frank and honest discussion conflicts with the strict guidelines of the school district. In particular, Tasha craves advice because her boyfriend Trey is pressuring her to have sex with him. Nick closes the door and tells the students what they need to know. Later, Tasha's parents mistakenly think that Nick has told Tasha that it's okay for her to have sex. But Tasha and her boyfriend actually listened to Nick's advice to wait. Meanwhile, Miles is grateful when Marco defends him from a school bully. But when Miles later purposely seeks out a confrontation with the bully, Marco refuses to help Miles, teaching him not to take advantage of a favor.

When Sophia is terminated from her part-time job at a fast-food restaurant, Nick helps her and the other students realize what they would love to do for work. Sophia gets a job at a cosmetics counter--a job she loves so much that she quits school. Nick feels very guilty about Sophia's decision and is preoccupied with it during a date with Emerson's pretty cousin.

When Sophia is terminated from her part-time job at a fast-food restaurant, Nick helps her and the other students realize what they would love to do for work. Sophia gets a job at a cosmetics counter--a job she loves so much that she quits school. Nick feels very guilty about Sophia's decision and is preoccupied with it during a date with Emerson's pretty cousin.

When Nick learns that a producer is looking for a real teacher to host an educational local television show, he thinks he will finally achieve his dream of being an actor. During Nick's in-class audition, Mezz uses dry ice to provide a dramatic background to Nick's lesson--and the producer hires Mezz instead. Nick is disappointed but urges Mezz to accept the job. Mezz insists that Nick be included in the show in some way. During the fancy live show that mixes entertainment with science, Marco serves as Mezz's cohost, and Sophia and the other girls dance. Nick's role is to demonstrate the effect on motor coordination of drinking too much alcohol. But when he gets drunk, Nick berates Mezz on the air for ruining Nick's opportunity. The show is canceled. Later, Mezz and Nick reconcile. Nick agrees to express his feelings more, and he also realizes that he is perfectly happy teaching instead of acting. Meanwhile, Jordan plans a school calendar featuring sexy photographs of his female classm

When Nick learns that a producer is looking for a real teacher to host an educational local television show, he thinks he will finally achieve his dream of being an actor. During Nick's in-class audition, Mezz uses dry ice to provide a dramatic background to Nick's lesson--and the producer hires Mezz instead. Nick is disappointed but urges Mezz to accept the job. Mezz insists that Nick be included in the show in some way. During the fancy live show that mixes entertainment with science, Marco serves as Mezz's cohost, and Sophia and the other girls dance. Nick's role is to demonstrate the effect on motor coordination of drinking too much alcohol. But when he gets drunk, Nick berates Mezz on the air for ruining Nick's opportunity. The show is canceled. Later, Mezz and Nick reconcile. Nick agrees to express his feelings more, and he also realizes that he is perfectly happy teaching instead of acting. Meanwhile, Jordan plans a school calendar featuring sexy photographs of his female classm

When Emerson adds a newsletter to the curriculum, Nick asks the kids to write articles on whatever is important to them. Tasha surprises everyone with her poignant story about living in a housing project. But Nick must find a way to help her when its discovered that she fabricated the entire story to gain acceptance from her classmates. After Jordan writes about his relationship with Sophia, Marco demands that he prove that it is true by bringing Sophia's bra to school. And Miles expounds on what it is like to quit smoking cigarettes. Actually, he is only wearing a nicotine patch because he thinks girls admire someone who is overcoming a habit.

When Emerson adds a newsletter to the curriculum, Nick asks the kids to write articles on whatever is important to them. Tasha surprises everyone with her poignant story about living in a housing project. But Nick must find a way to help her when its discovered that she fabricated the entire story to gain acceptance from her classmates. After Jordan writes about his relationship with Sophia, Marco demands that he prove that it is true by bringing Sophia's bra to school. And Miles expounds on what it is like to quit smoking cigarettes. Actually, he is only wearing a nicotine patch because he thinks girls admire someone who is overcoming a habit.

When his students mischievously use the school's public address system, Nick makes excuses for them, hoping to become their friend. Mezz warns him that once the students consider him a friend, they won't respect him as a teacher. Nick finds out that this is true when he encounters underage Sophia at a nightclub and ruins her evening by making her leave. The students get revenge on Nick by misbehaving during Emerson's evaluation of Nick, jeopardizing his job.

When his students mischievously use the school's public address system, Nick makes excuses for them, hoping to become their friend. Mezz warns him that once the students consider him a friend, they won't respect him as a teacher. Nick finds out that this is true when he encounters underage Sophia at a nightclub and ruins her evening by making her leave. The students get revenge on Nick by misbehaving during Emerson's evaluation of Nick, jeopardizing his job.

When Marco is too upset over the end of his relationship to complete a poetry assignment, Nick discusses his own failed relationship in an attempt to relate to Marco better. Nick hopes that this will prove to Emerson that his unusual teaching techniques are effective. However, problems occur when Nick unwittingly asks Marco's former girlfriend out on a date. Meanwhile, Mezz concocts a potion to help Miles attract girls. Unfortunately, Emerson's attempts to get to know the students personally cause Miles to assume that he has attracted Emerson.

When Marco is too upset over the end of his relationship to complete a poetry assignment, Nick discusses his own failed relationship in an attempt to relate to Marco better. Nick hopes that this will prove to Emerson that his unusual teaching techniques are effective. However, problems occur when Nick unwittingly asks Marco's former girlfriend out on a date. Meanwhile, Mezz concocts a potion to help Miles attract girls. Unfortunately, Emerson's attempts to get to know the students personally cause Miles to assume that he has attracted Emerson.

Nick returns from summer vacation to discover that the middle school has become the Gerald R. Ford High School for troubled teenagers, and immediately locks horns with the new principal, brilliant Dr. Katherine Emerson. She is a college professor from the Midwest who has written a book about urban education but has yet to test her theories in real life -- and is unimpressed with Nick's unorthodox teaching style. Already at a loss over how to reach the older students, Nick suffers a bigger loss when Elana calls to end their relationship.

Nick returns from summer vacation to discover that the middle school has become the Gerald R. Ford High School for troubled teenagers, and immediately locks horns with the new principal, brilliant Dr. Katherine Emerson. She is a college professor from the Midwest who has written a book about urban education but has yet to test her theories in real life -- and is unimpressed with Nick's unorthodox teaching style. Already at a loss over how to reach the older students, Nick suffers a bigger loss when Elana calls to end their relationship.