Philip is a ninth-grade student at Harrison High School who dreams of running track. He is a talented runner with a habit of cracking jokes in class to mask his lack of academic effort. When a low English grade blocks him from the track team, he channels his frustration into disruptive behavior during morning announcements.

Ms. Margaret Narwin is an English teacher with twenty-one years of experience at Harrison High School. She is deeply passionate about literature and strict about classroom discipline. Despite her dedication, she feels out of touch with contemporary students and seeks professional development to improve her teaching methods.

Mr. Malloy is a hard-working salesman dealing with immense pressure and criticism from his boss. He once dreamed of being an Olympic runner but dropped out of college for his family. He attempts to connect with his teenage son by encouraging him to run track and stand up for his personal rights.

Mrs. Malloy works a clerical job and frequently worries about her son's emotional well-being. She pushes her husband to engage more deeply with Philip. She is protective of her family and quickly becomes alarmed by any signs of unfairness directed at her son.

Ted Griffen is a neighbor of the Malloy family who is running for a seat on the local school board. He is a politician who frequently weaves appeals to traditional values and patriotism into his speeches. He quickly capitalizes on Philip's situation to build his campaign platform against the current school administration.

Dr. Seymour serves as the superintendent of the Harrison school district. His primary focus is securing funding for the schools, as a failure to pass the upcoming budget will result in severe personnel cuts. He approaches the controversy pragmatically, prioritizing the district's public image over individual teacher support.

Principal Doane is the principal of Harrison High School and a former star pupil of Ms. Narwin. She manages the daily operations of the school while facing pressure from the superintendent regarding the upcoming budget vote. She attempts to balance her support for her staff with the political demands of her superiors.

Jake Barlow is a national conservative talk radio host who picks up the story of Philip's suspension. He strongly advocates for traditional values, portraying the incident as an attack on patriotism. He uses his platform to rile up his audience and encourage them to take action against the school.

Coach Jamison is the track and field coach at Harrison High School. He recognizes Philip's athletic talent but strictly enforces the school's academic eligibility rules. He frequently counsels his students on the importance of teamwork and compromise.

Allison is a ninth-grade student at Harrison High School who initially shares a mutual crush with Philip. She is a dedicated student in Ms. Narwin's English class and becomes increasingly uncomfortable with Philip's behavior toward their teacher.

Ken is a high school student who successfully makes the Harrison High track team. He walks to the bus stop with Philip and shares his friend's penchant for joking. He is present during the homeroom incidents and provides a student perspective on the events.

Dr. Palleni is the assistant principal at Harrison High School, tasked primarily with handling student discipline. He views his role as enforcing cooperation and maintaining order. He is impatient with rule-breaking and expects students to apologize and fall in line.

Robert Duval is a senior reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He recognizes that the viral news story about Philip is missing the teacher's perspective and attempts to investigate the situation more thoroughly to provide balanced coverage.

Jennifer Stewart is a reporter for the local Harrison newspaper. She conducts cursory interviews regarding Philip's suspension and publishes an article focusing on the patriotism angle, accelerating the local dispute into a wider controversy.

Mr. Lunser is a teacher at Harrison High School who runs a relaxed homeroom. He frequently makes jokes during the morning announcements, creating a stark contrast to the strict environment Philip experiences later.

Anita is Ms. Margaret Narwin's sister who lives in Florida. She serves as a confidant for Margaret, receiving letters and phone calls about the escalating situation at the school and offering emotional support.

Todd is a student at Harrison High School who respects Ms. Narwin. He is confused by Philip's claims regarding the national anthem, as his own experience in the classroom differs from Philip's narrative.

Cynthia is a student in Ms. Narwin's homeroom. When questioned by the administration, she admits she was not paying close attention but notes that Ms. Narwin is generally known as a fair teacher.

Mrs. Harland is the current head of the Harrison school board. She is concerned about the political ramifications of the rumors spreading about the school and demands accurate information from the superintendent.