STAR Teachers: Our Hope for Tomorrow

Wow! I have never encountered a more profound piece of literature than Haberman’s (2004) description of a Star teacher.  Every teacher should read this article and ask the question - Am I a STAR Teacher? And if the answer is no, then why am I choosing to not be? 

The article has so many nuggets but three particular attributes stood out to me, so much so that I held back tears as I reread the description of each. The first attribute of a Star teacher that I found particularly interesting were (1) Star teachers are nonjudgmental. Too often are students are victimized by their teachers own ethnocentric approaches to learning. As a guidance counselor, I often had teachers discuss aspects of a child’s home life that appeared to be judgmental and/or critical. I can recall one day we were giving out thanksgiving baskets and I wanted to decorate them in pretty baskets with colorful paper. One teacher asked why I put so much effort in the baskets rather than using the standard boxes left over from our copy paper. She further explained that the parents only wanted the gift card anyway. I wish she could have seen the gratitude expressed by the parents or read some of the thank you cards. Too often, teachers tend to ‘major in the minor’ and focus on things that are totally unrelated to learning and teaching. (2) Star Teachers respond as professionals and are not easily shocked- I really appreciate this attribute for sure. Teachers often respond in shock when they encounter aspects of their students’ home life that differ from their own or when they cannot relate to certain scenarios. Many students, for example, could encounter violence and/or crime on a regular basis. Teachers need to seek to broaden their world view and understand that life happens to all of us, in one form or another. My reality may not be my students’ reality, but I am wise enough to know that we all experience adversity in life. I am not too shocked when students share various experiences in their lives, families or neighborhoods.  (3) Teachers see themselves as teachers of children as well as teacher s of content. This attribute is most profound to me.  I am a firm believer that if you truly understand your role as a teacher, then you can teach any kid from any background. Haberman provides an effective strategy for doing so- taking charge of your own professional growth and development to ensure you have the skill set to work with the students you serve. 

All I can say is WOW! I wish every education major would begin their coursework with the heart and mind of a Star teacher- with the intent to enter this profession to truly serve All children well. I pray the day will come when teachers no longer prefer one type of classroom over another- a day when they understand the enormity of their responsibility enough to find a way to reach any kid who shows up to school.