The Community Connection
What Great Leaders Do Differently with Todd Whitaker
Lessons from My First Year as a Principal: What Makes Great Teachers Truly Great
In my first year as a school principal, I encountered a conversation that I still vividly remember today—one that would challenge both my leadership and my understanding of what it truly means to be a great educator. It happened as a parent was enrolling her third-grade child in our school. She asked if she could speak with me, the principal. Of course, I obliged.
Her question was straightforward: “Would it be possible to place my child with the best third-grade teacher?”
This caught me off guard, and frankly, I didn’t know how to respond at the time. What is the “best” teacher? How do you define excellence in education? I couldn’t answer her question honestly, but, in the moment, I made a decision: I placed her child with the teacher I believed to be the most experienced, assuming that experience would naturally equate to excellence. Sadly, the results were far from what I had hoped. The student struggled academically, the mother was frustrated, and the relationship between the teacher and the family quickly deteriorated. Eventually, the mother decided to unenroll her child. This experience taught me a crucial lesson: experience does not automatically translate to excellence.
A Leadership Challenge: Defining Excellence
This experience raised some important questions for me—and now I want to ask them of you, as educators and school leaders:
- If you were asked to list the top five teachers in your school, could you do it?
- What would your criteria be for selecting these elite teachers?
- How much time do your newest teachers spend with your most experienced and successful educators?
- How much time do teachers who are struggling get to work with these elite teachers?
- And finally, as a school leader, how much time do you spend with these outstanding teachers?
Across the country, every school has a few exceptional teachers—those who have figured out how to get the most out of their students, form deep relationships with families, and continuously refine their teaching practices. But the real challenge isn’t about whether or not your school has elite educators. It’s about how we, as leaders, can ensure that all teachers in our schools are empowered to become like these elite educators.
What Makes a Teacher Elite?
In my work with schools across the United States, I am constantly seeking out those teachers and leaders who are truly exceptional. When I get the opportunity to talk with them, observe them in action, and collaborate with them, I’ve noticed three key characteristics that they all have in common.
Elite Educators Are Relational: These teachers prioritize relationships above all else. They treat every student, every family member, and every colleague with dignity, care, and respect. It's as if they treat every person as if they share the same last name. They take the time to understand the unique needs of their students and colleagues and meet them where they are, helping them grow from there. This relational approach is the foundation of their success.
Elite Educators Are Reflective: The best educators are never satisfied with the status quo. They’re constantly reflecting on their practices, always seeking ways to improve. They’re deeply engaged in learning, not just teaching. Many of these educators are involved in action research, continuously asking questions about what works and what could work better. One thing I’ve noticed is that elite educators never blame others or make excuses. They take ownership of their successes and their failures. If something doesn’t work, they don’t scapegoat—they learn, adjust, and grow.
Elite Educators Get Results: Perhaps the most obvious sign of an elite educator is their results. These educators don’t just rely on good intentions; they produce evidence of their impact. They are focused on the outcomes—how well their students perform, how their school culture evolves, and how their teaching practices translate into student success. When you look at their classrooms, their students are achieving, and those achievements aren’t just random—they’re the direct result of intentional, thoughtful teaching.
Imagine if Every Teacher in Your School Possessed These Qualities?
Think about it for a moment. What if every teacher in your school was relational, reflective, and results-driven? How would that transform your school? How would it change your students’ experience? How can we take the steps to get there, and where do we even begin?
Enter Dr. Todd Whitaker
One of the foremost experts on educational leadership and teacher effectiveness is Dr. Todd Whitaker. An educator, author, and speaker, Dr. Whitaker has written over 60 books on topics ranging from teacher motivation to instructional improvement, leadership, and more. His best-selling book, What Great Teachers Do Differently, has become a cornerstone for understanding what sets exceptional educators apart from the rest. In this episode of The Community Connection, we sit down with Dr. Whitaker to dive into the qualities that make great teachers stand out. We’ll explore the difference between average and exceptional educators, how to recruit and retain the best talent, and the vital distinction between culture and leadership in schools.
As school leaders, it’s our job to not only recognize excellence but to cultivate it in every teacher. By understanding what makes elite educators effective and how they think about their practice, we can empower all our teachers to reach their full potential.
Nathaniel Provencio has worked in the public education field since 2001 as a classroom teacher, building administrator, and associate superintendent. Nathaniel is a regional, state, and nationally awarded leader, author, and speaker.
Nathaniel partners with schools and districts across the United States to provide school leadership coaching, collaborative teaching and planning structures, school success audits, and community engagement enhancements. Contact Nathaniel to learn how to move your school or district to the next level!