32 Qualities of Effective Educators

I revisited my roots a bit this week by putting myself in a new teacher's shoes and looking at the "Pennsylvania Standard Teaching Application."  On the very last page of the application, there are 3 essay choices. I was immediately drawn to one that asked, "What are the qualities of an effective educator?" I challenged myself to create a list of qualities that don't go beyond the one page maximum (as my colleagues here at The Educator's Room might tell you, have I have a tendency to be more verbose than succinct).

In no particular order, effective educators are those who:

• Have a student-centered mindset that keeps students at the focus
• Work on becoming content specialists, and continually seek to improve the breadth and depth of their knowledge
• Never pretend to know everything, but work at anticipating questions
• Continue to improve their classroom skills with both solicited and unsolicited professional development
• Foster and sustain a strong rapport with parents through regular phone calls, email updates, and meetings
• Seek and develop relationships with people who’d be considered pillars of the community
• Make good use of his/her resources
• Share and learn from colleagues
• Create assessments first and allow that to drive the instruction
• Vary instructional techniques for the multiple intelligences
• Differentiate instruction to challenge each student on a personal level
• Treat others with respect
• View the profession as a calling or a career, not as a job
• Are professional
• Are positive
• Inspire students to continually improve
• Encourage students to use their minds and their hearts to move their feet
• Uphold a core set of values such as integrity, honesty, transparency
• Earn and share respect
• Are available for and unafraid of questions, comments, concerns, and commendations
• Reward and award major accomplishments and minor improvements equally
• Share personal accomplishments with his/her students and staff
• Handle classroom discipline on his/her own
• Are fair and firm to every student
• Treat every child as he/she would expect his/her own child to be treated
• Find time for professional reflection
• Find time for leisure and a personal life
• Build and sustain a cooperative, comfortable learning environment
• Set both short- and long-term goals
• Work with the current, not against it
• Yet still stick to ideals, dreams, and dedications that are worth fighting for because they represent the best interests of students
• Put a smile on your face every day and watch it become contagious
• Be the teacher that others remember for making a difference in each and every student’s life

What did I forget to include on this list? I encourage you to add to it!