After flirting with beautiful Melanie Hale, Nick finds out that she is Tyler's divorced mother. Nevertheless, Nick dates Melanie, despite Mezz's warnings. Soon, problems arise. Tyler expects special treatment from Nick. When Nick scolds Tyler during class like a parent, Tyler is humiliated. Nick realizes that dating a student's mother is risky, and he apologizes to Tyler. Meanwhile, in an effort to achieve his goal of becoming the vice principal of the school, Fust tries to act nicer towards people.

Fust favors Orlando because he is on the school's winning soccer team. When Mezz fails Orlando in science, Fust is upset. Mezz gives Orlando a chance to get a good grade if he creates a science project within one day. Nick volunteers to help Orlando, but Orlando chooses to play a soccer game instead. Finally, Nick and Mezz inform Orlando that he must complete the project by himself on the day of the championship soccer game or he will fail the class. When Orlando tells Fust that he won't be able to play in the game, Fust is furious with him, but Orlando learns to be responsible. Mezz realizes he should be more flexible in his grading, and Nick admits that sometimes he needs to be stricter with the students.

Fust wants to impress the visiting school board chairperson, Mrs. Fleckner, so she will promote him to assistant principal. Meanwhile, to show that his students have a lot to learn from their elders, Nick invites the school's beloved old security guard Phil to tell the kids about his life. When Mrs. Fleckner visits Nick's classroom, Nick surprises Phil with a 73rd-birthday party. Mrs. Fleckner immediately tells Fust that if he wants to become the assistant principal he must terminate Phil because he is past the mandatory retirement age. Despite Nick's begging and a coordinated effort from the students, Fust refuses to reconsider terminating Phil. Then, at the board meeting where Fust is to be promoted, Nick and his students burst in to support Phil. Fust finally relents. During a romantic dinner, he convinces Mrs. Fleckner to promote Phil to security consultant--with no age limit—and hire a younger guard. However, Fust sacrifices his own promotion. Meanwhile, Nick and Mezz are afraid t