Elizabeth Halsey is a middle school teacher in Illinois who is deeply unsatisfied with her job and lifestyle. After her wealthy fiancé breaks off their engagement, she is forced to return to teaching to make ends meet. Motivated by the desire for a new breast augmentation and a lavish lifestyle, Elizabeth is desperate to find a way out of her financial predicament. Her approach to teaching is apathetic and cynical, doing the bare minimum and showing little interest in the students' education or well-being. She sets her sights on a wealthy substitute teacher, Scott Delacorte, who is also the heir to a watch fortune, hoping to charm her way into a new life of affluence.

As Elizabeth pursues Scott, she faces competition from Amy Squirrel, an overzealous and beloved colleague, known for her energetic and idealistic approach to teaching. The rivalry between Elizabeth and Amy escalates quickly, as both vie for Scott's attention, with Elizabeth using underhanded tactics to try and win him over. Meanwhile, the school's gym teacher, Russell Gettis, takes an interest in Elizabeth, but she initially dismisses him due to his lack of wealth. Intertwined with her romantic pursuits, Elizabeth learns of a state exam that, if her class scores highly, could lead to a substantial bonus, synergizing with her goals of augmentation and affluence, sparking a newfound if self-serving, interest in her students' academic success.