The role of a teacher

Teachers play multiple parts in students' lives. From kindergarten on up through the college years, a teacher can be at various times role model, parent, sponsor, peace officer, nurse, caretaker, challenger, referee, supporter, confessor, friend, and mentor. And the best teachers take each and every one of these roles seri­ously! Here are some former students' definitions of teacher: A teacher is someone who holds your future in his or her hands. Someone who always seemed "old" to me. Some­one I had lots of respect for (although I'm not sure that's the case with many students and teachers these days). To me, a teacher was always someone who just plain knew more than I did-and probably still does!
-AMY, CINCINNATI, OH

A teacher is a person who helps others to succeed.
-PAT, VERONA, PA

A teacher is... a helper.
-RENEE, TEMPLE, TX

A good teacher is a person who respects children and whose students, in turn, respect him or her. A person who knows how to make a child feel spe­cial. A person who is creative enough to open up whole worlds to young minds.
-SARAH, NORTHAMPTON, MA

Someone who challenges me to try harder, to think "outside of the box." A role model for learning. Some of the most difficult teachers I had are now, in retrospect, those I consider the best.
-SUE, TUCSON, AZ