Sandy Dennis as Sylvia Barrett, English teacher Patrick Bedford as Paul Barringer, English teacher and unpublished writer Eileen Heckart as Henrietta Pastorfield, English teacher Ruth White as Beatrice Schachter, teacher and soon Miss Barrett 's mentor Jean Stapleton as Sadie Finch, school office staff Sorrell Booke as Dr. Bester, school principal Roy Poole as Mr McHabe, school vice-principal Florence Stanley as Ella Friedenberg, guidance counselor Vinnette Carroll as The Mother, student Roy Atkins ' guardian, Mrs. Lewes Salvatore Rasa as Harry A. Kagan, student council president John Fantauzzi as Eddie, a student who drops out Maria Landa as Carole Blanca, Alice 's friend Lewis Wallach as Lou Martin, the class clown Jose Rodriguez as Jose Rodriguez, introverted student who blossoms in mock trial Ellen O'Mara as Alice Blake, student with crush on Mr. Barringer Jeff Howard as Joe Ferone, an intelligent student admitted on school probation
who played joe in up the down staircase
Jeff Howard