Describes the impact 1 creative first-grade teacher made on students over her 47 years of teaching and explains the importance of significant teachers on students' development and educational careers. The teacher made school a place of challenge and reward where students felt valued, comfortable, loved, and respected. (SM)

A first-grade teacher reflects on a new student in her class one year. The student was from a disadvantaged home and had few appropriate social skills but was very eager to learn and responded to the teacher with great affection. The teacher explains how much the experience affected her. (SM)