Izzie Stevens was fired last night on "Invasion."

But she will be back on Grey's Anatomy at some point next month.

We know this because the (appropriately named) veteran actor Joel Grey, 77, will appear in a November episode as a blast from Izzie’s past - her old high school teacher.

“It’s a pretty amazing episode,” says show creator Shonda Rhimes.

“It turns out he was the teacher who convinced Izzie (Katherine Heigl) she was more than just another girl from the trailer park. And now he’s in need of her help.”

What role will Izzie's former mentor have on her future?

This will be Heigl's only episode in November sweeps, as she is off shooting a movie. Her character's firing last night cleared the way for her to miss five episodes.

Rhimes is also considering bringing back Sharon Lawrence as Izzie’s mama, Robbie Stevens, who was last seen at the end of Season 5 at her ailing daughter’s bedside.

“We love Sharon,” Rhimes says.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.