How did directing this particular episode come about? Tyler James Williams: No director gets to pick and choose really. That’s just not how it goes. I brought it up to Quinta at

WARNING: The following story contains spoilers about the Feb. 5 episode of Abbott Elementary. Read at your own risk.] While filming the penultimate episode of Season 3 of Abbott Elementary last year,

Tyler James Williams told Deadline he's thought about directing since he was a child actor on Everybody Hates Chris

Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams made his directorial debut in the latest episode of the hit ABC sitcom.

"Kids, as long as you learn how to speak their language, they want to do a good job," he said of working with child actors. "They want to work, their egos are not involved"