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I have had the opportunity to work with teachers for the past 35 years. During that time, I have observed many teachers with a variety of teaching styles. I have seen poor teachers, good teachers, and masters of the craft. There are clear and distinct differences between teachers who are extremely effective (master educators) and the rest. So what are the characteristics of a master educator who can seemingly work with all children and consistently produce strong growth in academic achievement? I'll try to list some of the attributes that I have observed over time and have been identified in research.

Master teachers care deeply about children and have the ability to build positive relationships with each child. In short, they care! Over the years I have conducted numerous surveys with middle and high school students. In interviews, students are always forthright in identifying the best' teachers. What is fascinating is the consistency of their answers when you ask them why. According to students, the best teachers truly care about them and take an interest in them as individuals. They are supportive and never give up on them. Interestingly enough, many of these best' teachers are very demanding in what they expect students to learn and do.

Master teachers fundamentally believe that all students can learn and achieve. This belief is the foundational cornerstone of their practice and drives all they do. The obvious question is don't all teachers believe this? Although all teachers will tell you they believe all students can learn, in reality the practices of less effective teachers reflect a belief that only most of the students can learn and succeed. Historically, the education system as a whole has perpetuated this myth. Current research indicates that less that 10% of our students have disabilities severe enough to prevent them from being successful in the classroom.

Master teachers constantly work at their craft to improve their professional practice. They seek to deepen their knowledge of content and develop heightened levels of precision in utilizing instructional strategies that effectively reach all students. They are collegial sharing best practices and engaging in problem solving with fellow teachers. All of this is done in the pursuit of improved student achievement. In every sense of the word, they go beyond what we have traditionally assumed to be the work of teachers. They are in reality classroom researchers who have a clear handle on what they want

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