Fox has announced a replacement for the iconic Simpsons character Mrs. Krabappel, following the death of original voice actor Marcia Wallace in 2013. Kerry Washington, famous for her roles on Scandal and Little Fires Everywhere, will join The Simpsons as the voice of Rayshelle Peyton, Bart's new fourth grade teacher.

　　Washington will make her Simpsons debut as Peyton in the April 24 episode, My Octopus and a Teacher. "She's a great teacher," Washington told Entertainment Weekly. "But like all the best teachers, she knows that her students have just as much to teach her as she has to teach them. And teaching Bart is a job filled with growth opportunities."

　　Bart has never had a teacher like her.

　　Will @kerrywashington be able to get through to him this Sunday? pic.twitter.com/BDZSzzKnlT

　　— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) April 21, 2022

　　Before finding a permanent replacement for Bart's fourth grade teacher, The Simpsons cycled through guest stars like Willem Dafoe (Season 26) and Sofia Vergara (Season 27) as temporary replacements. Ned Flanders also appeared as Bart's teacher for a Season 29 episode.

　　Writer Carolyn Omine told EW of replacing Wallace's Mrs. Krabappel, "I do miss our dear Marcia, and I think there was a little sadness and reluctance to do it, but it's been nine years," Omine said.

　　Omine added: "We would have a conversation at least once a year, maybe every other year. We couldn't really decide, and we couldn't really agree. There just wasn't the inspired thought--until we came upon this."

　　Omine said Washington came to mind after seeing her host Saturday Night Live in 2013. The writer said she knew Washington was a talented actress but wasn't aware of her comedic chops until SNL.

　　As for how much of Peyton we'll see, Omine said the plan is for the character to appear about as much as Mrs. Krabappel did, so that should be every once in a while.

　　Wallace died at the age of 70 in 2013. She won an Emmy for her performance on The Simpsons in 1992. In addition to her role on The Simpsons, Wallace had recurring parts in The Bob Newhart Show, Full House, and The Brady Bunch.