Hope Hynes Love poses with Stranger Things creators Ross Duffer (left) and Matt Duffer (right) (Image via Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools on Facebook)

The fifth and final season of the Netflix drama Stranger Things features a familiar face from the Chapel Hill Carrboro community.

Miss Harris, a new teacher character, was portrayed by Hope Hynes Love of East Chapel Hill High School. Love is a longtime theatre teacher and has been the school’s artistic director since 2005. She was included because during her time as a teacher at Jordan High School in Durham, she taught a young Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things.

“High school was rough for me and my brother,” Ross Duffer wrote in an Instagram post. “But Hope saw something in us we didn’t see in ourselves — and she helped give us the confidence to not only survive those four years, but to move to LA and chase our dreams.”

In the new season, Miss Harris plays an important part in the plot, serving as one of the adult role models who notices strange behavior in the young Holly Wheeler, portrayed by Nell Fisher. Holly Wheeler is the little sister of main characters Mike and Nancy Wheeler, and she took on a more prominent role in the fifth season.

“Shoutout to all the teachers out there making a difference,” Ross said. “And please… let’s prioritize the arts in schools.”

CHCCS also shared its excitement over having one of its educators take to the small screen, posting on Facebook to inform students and families about her role in the show.

The Duffer brothers have included nods to their native North Carolina in every season of Stranger Things. From references to Cornwallis street in Durham, the Eno River, and Jordan Lake, there are plenty of North Carolina Easter eggs to be spotted throughout the show’s run.

Part one of Stranger Things 5 was released Nov. 26, consisting of four episodes. Part two will be released Dec. 25, consisting of three episodes. The series finale will be streamable on Netflix Dec. 31.

 

Featured image via CHCCS on Facebook.

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