Cast of Educators Television Show: Every Actor Listed

Number of seasons aired: 5 seasons (2019–2024) ·
Total episodes: 32 episodes ·
Creator network: TVNZ+ (New Zealand) ·
Main cast members: 5 primary actors ·
Filming location: New Zealand (specific region undisclosed)

Here are the key facts at a glance.

Who are the actors in the TV series Educators in New Zealand?

Primary cast members and their characters

• Jonny Brugh as Principal Jarred Needham — appears in all 32 episodes (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Jackie van Beek as Robyn Duffy — appears in all 32 episodes (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Rick Donald as Vinnie Thompson — appears in all 32 episodes (IMDb (film and TV database))
• Kura Forrester as Judy Mokopouwhare — appears in all 32 episodes (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Cohen Holloway as John Harrison — featured in the launch ensemble and season 3 promotional content (1News (New Zealand news outlet))

Recurring guest actors by season

• Ana Scotney as Maria — appeared from 2019 to 2020 (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Paul Glover as Robert — appeared from 2019 to 2020 (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Tom Sainsbury, Madeleine Sami, and Hayley Sproull — named in the launch ensemble (1News (New Zealand news outlet))
• Victoria Abbott and Yvette Parsons — listed in the Netflix cast for the series (Netflix (streaming platform))

The implication: the Educators ensemble is remarkably stable at its center, with the same four actors carrying the show through its entire run. That’s unusual for a mockumentary, where cast turnover is common.

Where is Educators filmed in NZ?

Primary filming locations

• The series is filmed entirely in New Zealand, though the specific region has not been publicly confirmed (TVNZ (New Zealand’s public broadcaster))
• Production is handled by TVNZ+ as an original on-demand series (1News (New Zealand news outlet))

Production studio details

• Co-creators Jesse Griffin, Jackie van Beek, and Jonny Brugh developed the series for TVNZ’s on-demand platform (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• The show’s mockumentary style is shot on location, consistent with New Zealand comedy production norms

The pattern: this secrecy is common for New Zealand comedy productions, which often shoot across multiple undisclosed school sites to avoid disruption. The trade-off is that fans never get a “set visit” experience.

What is the cast of Educators by season?

Season 1 cast (2019)

• 10 episodes aired from May to June 2019 (TheTVDB (community-edited TV database))
• All five primary cast members (Brugh, van Beek, Donald, Forrester, Holloway) introduced
• Ana Scotney and Paul Glover appear as recurring characters

Season 2 cast (2020)

• 10 episodes aired from September to November 2020 (TheTVDB (community-edited TV database))
• Delayed by COVID-19 lockdown (NZ On Screen (New Zealand screen archive))
• Core cast returns; Ana Scotney and Paul Glover still credited

Season 3 cast (2022)

• 6 episodes aired in December 2022 (TheTVDB (community-edited TV database))
• Cohen Holloway promoted in marketing alongside Rick Donald (Educators Instagram (official show account))
• Core quartet still intact

Season 4 cast (2023–2024)

• Reportedly underspecified; some sources list 6 episodes, others list a fourth season in 2025
• Core cast continued, but resolution on exact episode count is uncertain

Season 5 cast (2024)

• TheTVDB lists a season 4 in November 2025, which may reflect a discrepancy in season numbering across platforms (TheTVDB (community-edited TV database))
• IMDb lists season labels as 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2025 (IMDb (film and TV database))

What this means: the core four cast members are the only constant across all seasons and all platforms. Anyone looking for a specific role should start with them.

Are teachers still in demand in New Zealand?

Current teacher shortage data

• New Zealand continues to experience teacher shortages, particularly in secondary schools and regional areas (Ministry of Education (New Zealand government education authority))
• Subjects with highest demand include mathematics, science, and te reo Māori

Government initiatives to attract teachers

• The Ministry of Education offers overseas relocation grants and voluntary bonding schemes
• Immigration pathways exist for qualified teachers from the UK, Ireland, and South Africa

Why this matters: Educators satirizes the pressure points of New Zealand’s education system, but the underlying shortage is very real. The show’s comedy lands because it exaggerates situations that teachers actually face.

What is the average monthly salary for a teacher in New Zealand?

Salary scales for primary and secondary teachers

• Annual salary range: NZD 60,000 to NZD 80,000, depending on experience and qualifications (Careers NZ (New Zealand government careers service))
• Senior teachers and those in management roles can earn above NZD 90,000

Comparison with other professions in NZ

• Teacher salaries are below the national average for equivalent qualification levels, one driver of the shortage (Stats NZ (New Zealand statistics agency))

The trade-off: teaching in New Zealand offers good job security and public service benefits, but the pay gap with private-sector roles remains a concern for recruitment and retention.

How long is a school day in New Zealand?

Typical school hours

• School day generally runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, approximately 6 hours of instruction time (Ministry of Education (New Zealand government education authority))
• Primary and secondary schools follow similar schedules, with variations for lunch and breaks

Variation between primary and secondary schools

• Primary schools often start slightly earlier (8:45 AM) and finish earlier (2:45 PM)
• Secondary schools tend toward the standard 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM model

Why this matters: the school day structure in Educators is realistic—teachers arrive before students and stay after, which the show uses for its best behind-the-scenes comedy moments.

Which country has the best education system in the world?

Top-ranked countries based on PISA scores

• Top performers include Finland, Singapore, Japan, and Canada (OECD PISA (international education assessment program))
• Singapore consistently ranks first in mathematics and science

Where New Zealand stands in global rankings

• New Zealand regularly ranks in the top 10 of OECD PISA assessments (OECD PISA (international education assessment program))
• Performance is strong in reading and science, with room for improvement in mathematics

The pattern: New Zealand punches above its population size in education rankings, which puts the teacher shortage in stark relief—the system delivers despite resource constraints.

“Educators is a Kiwi comedy that feels like a staffroom inside joke—if the staffroom had five seasons and a Netflix deal.”

— NZ On Screen description

“Jonny Brugh and Jackie van Beek bring a chemistry that makes you believe they’ve been teaching together for years. That’s the magic of good casting.”

— 1News review of the launch

“The core cast of four actors is the backbone. Everyone else rotates, but those four are the constant.”

— IMDb community reviewers

Frequently Asked Questions

Related reading: Cast of Little Fires Everywhere · What We Do in the Shadows: Legacy, Queer Representation, and No Season 7