Miss Pringle, Tim's old no nonsense high school English teacher, stops by his apartment. She was and is the faculty advisor for the school newspaper, she being the one who got Tim first interested in becoming a journalist. The students have chosen him as this year's alumnus to sit on the committee to choose the teacher of the year. She also announces to Tim that she is retiring this year, but Martin finds out that she is not too happy about it despite her outward appearance of happiness. She has in reality been visiting many old students in an attempt to validate her life work. Martin suggests that Tim try and get Miss Pringle nominated, a difficult task because she is and was such a tough teacher. The current students do see Miss Pringle in the same light, and she realizes it. Her doing the Watusi for them does show a different side of the tough as nails teacher, but it's not enough. But in a discussion with the school Principal, Miss Pringle fights for the rights of the students, something that she's always done in private behind closed doors without wanting the credit. This discussion does become public knowledge as Martin broadcasts it over the school's PA system. She does become teacher of the year, and she is surprised and touched. She now knows her life work was not in vain.