ABSTRACT
Great Teachers seldom need to repair situations as they are always working to repair. Dr. Todd Whitaker gave an example of a teacher apologizing to students for having a 'bad day' the day before and the students not realizing it had been a bad day for the teacher. Dr. Whitaker talkes about not giving power to negative people or situations. Great Teachers work to build a positive climate in their classrooms based on mutual respect and trust. Staying Positive is a critical element to being a Great Teacher. All teachers must understand the impact they have on their students. Dr. Whitaker's file contains letters from his former students in which they talk about the impact he had on their lives. Long after a student leaves the classroom, teacher's words and actions could influence decisions they make, how they treat others, and the future they chose. Great Teachers make a positive difference.
