Being a Good Teacher Means

It is no longer a secret that our nation is obsessed with the supposed battle between "good" and "bad" teachers.  Apparently, according to many, America has an epidemic of bad teachers on their hands and it is only through dismantling of the unions that these bad teachers can be disposed of.  So for the sake of research and help, I asked colleagues to finish this sentence "Being a good teacher means..."  So America, here to help you with the definition of a good teacher, as well as how to evealuate them, see my favorite answers below:

Being a good teachers means...

• Being willing to reflect, change, and improve-looking for the best opportunities for student learning - @MrMacnology

• Laughter, lots of laughter. Laughing with your students - @HeidiSiwak

• Recognizing you are a learner, as well as a teacher and getting your students to understand that learning is for life -@henriettaMI

• Listening more than you talk ... Often kids have a better answer and you just have to hear it - @Polygirl68

• Being open 2 our students drive their own learning in the classroom - @MollyBMom

• Always feeling the lesson could've gone just a wee bit better - @Attipscast

• Means u never stop learning and u always work to improve - @KTVee

• Being a learner. being humble. being empathetic. being flexible. being knowledgeable. being driven. @RussGoerend

• Always doing what's right by the kids @Becky7274

So there you have it; what makes a teacher good.  In my words; passion, change, dedication, transparency, authenticity, knowing when to be quiet, and knowing when to fight.  No one said test scores, rigidity, or grades, so why do they seem to be the driving force behind what determines someones worth?

What is missing?