At Booker High, draconian Principal Donna Weller (JULIE BOWEN) runs the school with an iron fist, partially because that's just the way she is, but also because she's running for the state's school superintendent position. Most of her instructors, such as theater teacher Chip Stratton (ANDREW SHAIFER) and Ed Mumsford (ADAM ARKIN) kiss up to her or just do their job. But then there's Will Drucker (MALIK YOBA), a former documentary filmmaker and social protestor who tries to instill his passion for justice in his students.
Some of that's evident in the class video projects his students have created, such as Charlotte Pratt (STEPHANIE SHERRIN) speaking out about female genital mutilation in other countries, Walanda Jenkins (CRYSTAL CELESTE GRANT) being adamant about black rights, and Emily Chua (EMY COLIGADO) being fed up with tired Japanese stereotypes.
But it really comes to a head when Holden Donovan (GREGORY SMITH) does a memorable improvisation of Hamlet by going off on Weller's abstinence only policy regarding sex-ed and her punishment of a student for bringing that to light. Holden ends his tirade with a mock suicide that causes Weller to expel him. Not one to give up, Holden then sets out to get the other students - including Chuck McGinn (CHRIS MORRIS) and his frat boy mentality, the flamboyantly gay
Lawrence Reitzer (ALEX ANFANGER) and even Katie Carmichael (CAITLIN WACHS) who breaks away from the snobby attitudes exhibited by her fellow cheerleaders such as Kelly Stepford (NICOLE CAMILLE RICHIE) -- to join him in protesting Weller and her policies.
With Will as his role model, Holden then does what he can to undermine Weller and ruin her chance of getting the coveted job, all while falling for Charlotte who's also sweet on him.