Think back for a moment on a teacher in your past that has made a positive life-changing difference for you. It could be an elementary or secondary teacher. Perhaps it even was a college professor. What was it about that teacher that had such an impact on you? Was it strict classroom discipline, impressive expertise, excitement about learning, personal concern for you, or some combination of the above?
More than likely the trait that made the teacher most influential in your life was not something superficial, but was something deep and meaningful. It would probably be safe to assume that the key characteristic about this teacher was the relationship he or she was able to establish with you.
Before teachers can have a positive influence on youth, they first must care about them as students and as people. There is an old saying that goes, “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.” This adage communicates a strong message.
The truth of this statement is what separates the strong teachers from the average. It is what helps some instructors make such a difference in the lives of so many young people. Teachers that truly care about students will have a huge impact on the future by the way they help them uncover and develop their awesome potential.
This writer has had the good fortune to know a number of teachers who have had profound affects on the young. No two of them have been alike. They all are fiercely unique and unfailingly individual. All are memorable in their own ways. That makes them very interesting.
Though this is true, there are certain features that they share. One is they have a genuine interest in their students. They have the ability to look at each as the most important child they have. This is expressed very clearly at parent/teacher conferences. Parents are able to immediately sense that these teachers not only care about their children they also understand their children extremely well. It is almost like these teachers have an innate ability to appreciate the young people almost as much as or sometimes more than the parents do.
Another common trait is their empathy and willingness to see issues from the students’ and parents’ perspectives. They have a talent for getting inside the skin of others to understand why they think and act as they do. As a result, they connect with young people and their parents in deep and meaningful ways. Because of this ability, they can often determine causes of behaviors and problems and help the young people deal with them. This is contrasted to those who only deal with the symptoms of the problems, but never get at the root of the problems themselves.
Probably the most important trait that all these great teachers have is the ability to be truly concerned about other people. They have the unusual talent of taking their focus off themselves and putting it on the well-being of others. This selfless tendency is a rare gift. It not only makes these teachers extremely caring and effective; it also makes them very happy. People who are not focused on their own satisfaction and fulfillment seem to find inordinate joy in being a part of the success of others.
CPS is now in the midst of another hiring season. The principals who are searching for teachers are looking for those that have the characteristics described above. Why are they so focused on teachers who care deeply about young people? Think once again about that great teacher that made a difference in your life. These principals want Columbus’ young people to have those kinds of teachers every year they are in our schools. Do you know any candidates that fit the description above?
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