Schoolteacher

Non-canonical termThis subject matter was never named by a canonical source. However, for the purposes of identification and clarity, the term Schoolteacher has been provisionally adopted by the Wiki.

Schoolteacher
Affiliation	Planetary Union
Occupation / Position	Teacher
Portrayed by	Marina Sirtis
First Seen	Sanctuary
Biographical information
Status	Alive
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Female

An unnamed human civilian aboard the USS Orville served as a schoolteacher in early 2421. She replaced Cassius, who had left to join the USS Watson.

The role is a special guest star appearance by Marina Sirtis.

Career

This schoolteacher joined the Orville in early 2421 after the previous teacher, Cassius, transferred to the Watson in very early January.

In April and May, the schoolteacher led a class of young children, including Topa. She scolded Topa for pushing a girl for her toy and treating her contemptuously after.

Production

Director Jonathan Frakes and creator Seth MacFarlane had auditioned many actresses for a schoolteacher, all unsatisfactorily. According to Frakes, both he and MacFarlane were considering a different woman who had auditioned until MacFarlane suggested they look to former actresses from Star Trek: The Next Generation to fill the role. Frakes proposed Sirtis.

I said, “[O]bviously Marina could do this part." [MacFarlane] said he was thinking he should hold off until he found another part for her but asked what I thought, and I said Marina would LOVE to do this part. So we're in video village – we were already shooting – and both texted her at the same time. She was thrilled and we called her, found a date, made a deal for her.

Sirtis also recounted the story in a separate interview:

Johnny and Seth were sitting together, and Seth said, "Well isn’t there, you know, one of our group?" And Jonathan said, "Well what about Marina?" And Seth said, "Well I was kind of saving her for something better." And Jonathan said, "Oh don’t be ridiculous, just give her this part!" [laughs] And the next day I was on The Orville!

Sirtis showed up for costume fitting and make-up the next day, and performed her role by the afternoon, an amazing turnaround of 24-to-36 hours from job offer to filming.

Trivia

• Due to a schedule change, Sirtis showed up for costume fitting and make-up the day after being hired and performed her role by the afternoon, a turnaround of 24-to-36 hours from job offer to filming.