I am in awe of great teachers.My own children are lucky enough to have been

taught by a few of those special people, and I have had some of them as colleagues.

Against the most difficult odds, they accomplish the impossible day after

day in

the classroom, be it fourth grade or 12th grade, biology or Spanish. With

the current discussion about teacher preparation and what makes an effective

educator, their qualities deserve close examination. First of all,

outstanding teachers constantly reflect on what they do. They thrive on being

challenged by their colleagues; it’s all part of the quest for new ideas. They

are clear that they must ultimately empower those young people before them,

give them the skills and ability to use what they now know and to communicate

what they have learned clearly and persuasively.

This is where the job really gets tough. It means explaining how knowledge can

be used in the real world. It means taking the tlme to create effective exams

that test what’s important. It means carefully evaluating those exams so that,

they become meaningful. It means ‘ painstakingly reading and commenting, on

student writing. Those are lonely, unglamorous and unsung tasks, but they are

also the foundation of real education. Great teachers also respect and care,

about their students. Good Teachers focus on each day, they don’t think

good days are a matter of luck, and they never rest on their laurels. That

kind of intensity can be exhausting to those around them, but who can argue

with the results?

Highly successful teachers continue to teach well regardless of the

circumstances. Neither damaged textbooks, broken desks, faulty

air-conditioning nor an assembly schedule can keep them from their appointed

rounds. It’s not that they don’t get frustrated by the absurdities of public

education, but they never allow them to become an excuse for bad teaching.

Outside class, they may lobby as hard as anyone for smaller class sizes and

better school conditions. But once they face the 35 kids in the classroom,

each student will be held accountable: the one reading below grade level, the

one limited in English, the one who just can’t sit still. A great teacher lets

no one off the hook.

An unwavering sense of purpose is another trait of great educators. They

truly believe that what they teach is vital, fascinating and can change

students lives.

In fact, their enthusiasm is legendary and often the topic of student

conversations. But being charismatic is not enough. Such teachers realize that

exceptional teachers take lt to heart. They understand that their, classes,

though important, are not the center of a young person’s universe. They

recognize that a parent’s divorce may affect grades, that a report deadline,

may need to be adjusted because of a grandparent’s funeral. Good teachers

allow students to get derailed sometimes but help them back on track with

kindness and understanding.

Unfair as it may seem, there are no big rewards for these amazing teachers

Rather than basking in praise or collecting bonuses, they are frequently

“tolerated” by administrators and often resented by their peers. Every day

they must deal with teachers who are poorly prepared, seldom grade a paper,

waste class time