What makes a teacher great?

What makes a teacher great?

Honestly? It’s not just about knowing the subject. It’s about seeing the person behind the student.

I’ll never forget my 8th-grade science teacher, Ms. Rivera. Back then, I was the quiet kid doodling crystals in my notebook instead of paying attention to the rock cycle. One day, she paused mid-lecture, held up a piece of obsidian, and said, “You know, this isn’t just volcanic glass—it’s a mirror if you polish it right.” Then she walked over, placed it on my desk, and whispered, “What do you see in it?”

Here’s the thing: She didn’t scold me for daydreaming. Instead, she wove my curiosity into the lesson. Suddenly, geology wasn’t just textbook diagrams—it felt like uncovering hidden stories in stones. She connected.

Over time, I realized her greatness came from three quiet superpowers:

1. Listening deeper (she heard my unspoken fascination with minerals),
2. Nudging, not pushing (that obsidian became my “in” to learn everything about igneous rocks),
3. Making space for wonder (even if it derailed her lesson plan).

Years later, I’m running a crystal shop—and I still think of her when a customer’s eyes light up holding moonstone. A great teacher doesn’t just fill your head; they help you uncover what already sparkles inside you.

What about you? Was there a teacher who saw you differently?