How can you identify the best teachers?

1 Qualifications and credentials

One of the basic requirements for any teacher is to have the appropriate qualifications and credentials for the subject and level they teach. This means that they have completed the relevant education, training, and certification programs that prepare them for the curriculum and standards of your state or country. You can verify their qualifications and credentials by checking their transcripts, diplomas, licenses, and endorsements. You can also ask them to provide evidence of their professional development and continuing education activities.

2 Experience and performance

Another important factor to consider is the teacher's experience and performance in the classroom. You can assess their experience by looking at their resume, portfolio, and references. You can also ask them to provide samples of their lesson plans, student work, assessments, and feedback. You can assess their performance by observing their teaching, reviewing their student outcomes, and soliciting feedback from their peers, supervisors, and students. You can also ask them to demonstrate their teaching skills in a mock lesson or a trial period.

3 Communication and collaboration skills

A key skill for any teacher is to communicate and collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, such as students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. You can evaluate their communication and collaboration skills by observing how they interact with others, how they present themselves and their ideas, how they listen and respond to feedback, and how they handle conflicts and challenges. You can also ask them to participate in group interviews, discussions, or projects that require them to work with others and share their perspectives.

4 Passion and enthusiasm

One of the most intangible but essential qualities of a teacher is to have passion and enthusiasm for their subject, their students, and their profession. You can gauge their passion and enthusiasm by noticing how they express their interest and excitement, how they engage and motivate their students, how they seek and apply new knowledge and ideas, and how they reflect and improve on their practice. You can also ask them to share their vision, goals, and values as a teacher, and how they align with your school or district's mission and culture.

5 Adaptability and creativity

A final skill that you can look for in a teacher is to have adaptability and creativity in their teaching. This means that they can adjust and modify their instruction according to the needs, abilities, and preferences of their students, the resources and constraints of their environment, and the changes and trends in their field. You can measure their adaptability and creativity by observing how they differentiate and personalize their instruction, how they use various strategies and tools to enhance their teaching, and how they respond to unexpected situations and opportunities. You can also ask them to solve problems, design projects, or propose innovations that demonstrate their adaptability and creativity.

By using these criteria and methods, you can identify the best teachers for your school or district. Of course, you may also have other specific or unique factors that you value or require in your teachers, depending on your context and goals. The important thing is to have a clear and consistent framework that guides your evaluation and selection process, and that reflects your vision and expectations for teaching and learning.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?