"Outstanding educators" continuously strive to discover and foster the strengths and abilities of their students. They engage their students’ interests and motivate them so they may reach their maximum potential for academic success. They give their students the tools they need to be able to reach their academic goals and do not limit what their students are capable of accomplishing. They encourage their students to express their creativity and inspire them to be problem solvers and lifelong learners. They support students to be active thinkers and encourage students to be autonomous and active participants in their own learning. Outstanding educators have high expectations of their students and believe that their students are capable of achieving their goals. They practice effective classroom management that encourages positive behavior and interactions between students. They validate that diversity is essential to a successful education because students can learn so much from the experiences and perspectives of those different from their own. They also believe that diversity encourages an environment of respect and teamwork and prepares students to be good citizens locally and globally. They cultivate a classroom that fosters respectful relationships among students and between the students and teacher. They create a classroom community that is safe, caring, structured and predictable. Outstanding educators acknowledge that all students have different learning styles and that not all students learn and comprehend subject matter the same way. Therefore, they they put forth boundless efforts to present the academic content using a variety of instructional methods to allow for all students to have access to the subject content no matter what their learning style is. They promote equity by removing barriers that prevent students from being successful or adding supports so that students can overcome those barriers. They believe that given the right tools and supports, all students can be successful. They put forth efforts to get to know their students, including their interests and learning styles, to be able to create lessons that are meaningful and engaging. They realize the importance of establishing a rapport with students to build a foundation of trust and to promote positive outcomes for their students and the classroom. They are exceptionally organized and capable of being flexible in a dynamic environment. They seek feedback from students and peers, take advantage of opportunities for professional development, and practice personal reflection in order to continuously improve their practice. They seek opportunities to collaborate with their peers to improve instruction and share best practices. They are creative and innovative. Most of all, they are passionate and committed to their students’ success in the classroom and beyond.