What makes a highly qualified teacher? I get asked this question quite often! As the 2016-2017 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, I have been blessed to meet and work alongside some of the best teachers in our country. I have learned that there isn’t just one quality that makes a teacher effective. In fact, the teachers who make the greatest impact in the lives of their students are like a diamond—several facets come together to allow them to use their hearts and gifts to transform lives.
10 Qualities That Make A Highly Qualified Teacher
While this list is not exhaustive, the highly effective teachers that I know and have seen in action all have the following 10 qualities that highly qualified teachers have in common:
Teachable
They are lifelong learners that never stop growing. Instead of waiting for learning opportunities to come to them, they seek them out. They take feedback as teachable moments and not as negative. They use the feedback as a way to refine their craft. They also understand that comparison breeds discontentment, so instead of competing with peers, they strive to be better teachers today than they were the day before.
Reflective
Teachable and reflective are kind of like peanut butter and jelly—they go well together! Teachable teachers are also highly reflective. They are constantly asking themselves questions—How did that lesson go? Why did that lesson that looked great on paper not go well with the students? What can I do to help Susie grow? When is a good time to introduce the next skill? It doesn’t matter if you’re a new teacher or a veteran teacher. Reflection is key to teacher effectiveness.
Risk Takers
They aren’t afraid to be innovative and to try something new. Highly qualified teachers also aren’t afraid to fail because they know that mistakes are opportunities to grow. They know growth often comes when you step out of your comfort zone. Instead of asking, “What if I fall?” they ask, “But what if I fly?”
Engaging
Highly qualified teachers know that their job is not to be the sole source of knowledge in the classroom but rather to be the facilitator of learning. They are passionate about engaging all learners, so they keep students at the center of instruction and let students learn with and from each other. They know that the energy they give to their kids is the energy that their kids will give back to them!
Collaborative
They know that teaching is not a solo act! Collaborative teachers intentionally build a teacher tribe into their lives composed of people from their schools’ surrounding areas and through social media to learn with and bounce ideas off of. In education, we are always better when we work together!
Positive
This one is key because negativity in a school is like a weed that wants to zap the life out of everyone around it. While effective teachers are realistic, they are also positive. Highly qualified teachers try to see the good in every opportunity. They are the glass is half full kind of people. For example, when given a challenging class, they respond, “Well, we have lots of opportunities for growth this year!” They know that things will change, but the one thing that will never change is the importance of relationships and investing in students’ lives.
Passionate
When you ask them about their students or education, their eyes will light up. Their love for students is contagious, and even when difficult days come (and trust me, they do!), highly qualified teachers hold tight to their WHY, which is that they are there for the kids!
Loving
Highly qualified teachers create a safe learning environment where all students can be and feel successful! They love their students, and their students love them. They do everything out of love while keeping high yet attainable expectations for all students.
Fun
They make learning fun! Highly qualified teachers know that worksheets and textbooks don’t teach students but that students learn best through meaningful learning experiences. They are authentic and aren’t afraid to laugh with their kids.
Kids-First
If you ask a highly effective teacher why they teach, they won’t have just one answer. Instead, they will have hundreds of names pop into their head, and if you have the time, they will also have stories to share. Stories that will bring tears to their eyes as they tell you about their students. Does teaching have its challenges? Yes, it does, but highly effective teachers know that education is not about information transmission but instead about life transformation! They keep kids at the heart of all that we do in education.
Being a teacher may not be an easy job, but it is such an important job and a rewarding profession! What an honor it is to spend our days pouring into the lives of our students! Relationships will always be the most important factor in education. Never doubt that you are making a difference!! Your students need you, and I believe they need you and your heart, too! There is no one else like you! I believe that God has placed your students in your room for a reason, and I can’t thank you enough for all you do!
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