When Jess has to make a quick decision about her career, her friends all recall how they ended up at their jobs.

Jess hires, then must immediately fire Coach as her school’s new volleyball coach. Meanwhile, Schmidt gets sued and enlists Nick and a procedural television-loving Winston to represent him at the deposition. Also, Cece catches the eye of a much younger man.

Jess fears someone is trying to sabotage her first middle school dance and she enlists the gang to help her chaperone on the big night.

When Coach's liaison with the school nurse gets messy, vice principal Jess must enforce a new, "no fraternization" policy among the teachers. But the tables soon get turned when she finds herself attracted to the hot new science teacher. Meanwhile, Nick is enjoying being Schmidt and Winston's secretary, after the loft gets a new home phone

A class trip turns disastrous when Jess tries to avoid showing favoritism to Ryan; Schmidt develops an ulcer; Winston becomes fixated on wearing a crystal.

The gang takes a tour down memory lane, which includes a final round of "True American."