Most of us had at least one superb teacher — many of us have been blessed with several. These life-changing educators are the ones you never forget. They just have “it” — that undeniable ability to make kids want to learn and improve. What is “it”? What skills help every child succeed? The seasoned teachers we spoke with work with vastly different ages: one is a first-grade teacher one teaches seventh grade and one has been a high school teacher for decades. Yet in their reflections all three of them went beyond observable expertise in the classroom and touched upon elements in the teacher’s heart as the secret to true success. Similarly years of observing and working with kids in the classroom have helped them identify what helps students improve their odds of success. And it has little to do with reading or writing and everything to do with their beliefs and attitudes. Here these teachers share their wisdom along with a sampling of stories of shining success.