Phenomenal Teacher

This year about half a million high school students will drop out of school, but that number could be even higher were it not for some outstanding teachers. In many cases a single teacher can change a child’s life and get them on the right track. Experts say that often, all it takes is one phenomenal teacher.

“Miss Jackson was really the first person that led me to believe that I was gifted, or talented, or smarter,” says college bound Jason Patrick. Jason of his fourth grade teacher, Queen Jackson. Ms. Jackson, was named by Jason as his STAR teacher. (STAR is an acronym for Student Teacher Achievement Recognition.) Jason, who grew up in a tough neighborhood, is now on his way out and on his way up with offerings of full scholarships to five colleges.

Some say the secret to creating award winning students is as much about feelings as it is about facts. “I don’t think kids care how much I know until they really know how much I care, and I really do care about the kids I work with,” says teacher Michael Perry.

Because students often spend more time with teachers than their own parents, the teachers’ impact can be huge. Many of them, the good ones, spend hours outside of the classroom in their dedication to helping children learn. More than half of a person’s development years are spent in schools; therefore, parents need to find teachers who will get to know a child and who genuinely care.

 What Parents Should Know

So what makes a good teacher? There are many characteristics and qualities that they possess, and they vary by individual. Here are a few things to keep in mind. A good teacher should:

• be willing to follow up with students outside of regular classroom hours
• teach a child to think (i.e. the gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing of information)
• have the ability to recognize a student’s individuals needs
• focus on the positive aspects of a child’s abilities instead of the negative
• assist students with setting and achieving reasonable goals
• present a good self-image both inside and outside of the classroom
• be aware of current and progressive teaching practices; constantly learning