Research assesses the attitudinal factors that characterize outstanding first-year elementary and secondary school teachers as nominated by their superintendents and judged for the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) by a panel of experts selected by the American Association of School Administrators. Sallie Mae nomination forms generated the data. Frequencies were tabulated per response (N=63). The findings revealed that the attitudes of those nominated could be considered "routine" teacher behaviors. The conclusion, then, is that behind each outstanding teacher is a wonderful ordinary teacher. (JAM)