What does it mean to be an outstanding teacher?

This is a standard question on AppliTrack applications. It took me a couple of weeks to draft and polish my answer. My approach was to list what I believe is necessary to be a competent teacher, then extrapolate. In other words, an outstanding teacher must be more than just competent.


Describe the skills or attributes you believe are necessary to be an outstanding teacher.

An outstanding mathematics teacher:

• Knows the subject thoroughly, but can also place it in context for students, by knowing its history and logical development and its uses and applications.
• Understands how students learn mathematics and applies that understanding in the classroom.  An outstanding teacher also understands how the process of learning mathematics varies among different students in ways both inherent and socially acquired. 
• Not only enjoys teaching and is comfortable in a room full of students, but is passionate about teaching and shows delight and awe for mathematics.
• Doesn't just motivate and engage, but inspires and challenges students. 
• Not only models learning in the classroom for students, but is a role model for lifelong, independent learning. 
• Is organized but flexible, sensing when it is necessary to abandon the lesson plan. 
• Assesses progress not just through formal means but through continuous observation. 
• Keeps abreast with the technology available to students and uses that technology appropriately.  
• Understands that public education is necessarily a compromise between the needs of students, parents, and social institutions, and strives to balance those needs by working closely with the school, parents, and community,