What makes a great teacher?

Several weeks ago, I featured a survey of students who had dropped out of school in Baltimore, which asked them why they had left. For this column and next, I would like to share with you the results of my own survey. Actually, this is a reprise of a column I wrote last year. I asked my Hofstra students to think back to their elementary, middle and high school days. Who was your favorite teacher?

The responses speak for themselves. I took the liberty of doing some editing, combining similar answers together. Certain themes are repeated:

"My favorite teacher was a combination of things: very funny, always willing to talk, understanding, able to deal with our maturity level, spontaneous, energetic."

"Challenged us to do more. Encouraged us. Pushed us to do better."

"Saw my potential as an artist- and pushed me to do more and to do better."

"Incredibly tough and stern. It took a lot to make her appreciate you, but she was fair. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't have pushed myself to reach my full potential."

"He kept pushing me to succeed when times got tough."

"Would do anything it took to get a student to succeed."

"Understood our age group and what we were going through."

"Treated us as adults."

"He loved kids-- and loved what he taught."

"I'll never forget what he said: I don't care about your grades and I don't care about the Advanced Placement exam. I just want you to learn and actually remember something.' He forced us to get over our fears of public speaking, encouraged creative projects, got us to think outside of the box and encouraged outside reading to develop us as individuals."

"Mentored any student who needed it."

"Extremely nice, friendly, related to the students. Down to earth."

"Very welcoming; interacted well with all of us."

"Not afraid to let himself into the student's world."

"Never had favorites!"

"Used interesting techniques to teach- which I still remember."

"Understood that every student had a unique way of learning."

"Creative! Unusual projects to help us learn."

"Interacted with us. And made learning itself interactive."

"Always kept the class in control and focused: the perfect blend of being strict and being easy."

"Never stopped learning himself."

"Passionate about his subject."

"Made the classroom fun."

"Sense of humor! Fun to be around!"

"Relaxed atmosphere of classroom. Teased us- but nothing harsh. His classroom was fun."

"Always made me feel that she truly cared about me. Always patient...and fun to be around."

"Treated his students with respect; never spoke condescendingly.

"She believed in me."

"Showed he cared!"

Dr. Steven Kussin, a high school principal for 21 years, is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and an educational consultant for school districts around the country. His guidebook for administrators was published by Corwin Press. Contact him at stevekussin@aol.com.

(c) Dr. Steven S. Kussin, 2010