In the early years of education, students were punished for things like writing with their left hand and speaking a language other than English in class. In the years since, there have been many changes and advances in education. These changes include everything from how to treat students in the classroom, to what to teach students and which students were deemed eligible to receive an education. Another area in which this profession has undergone growth and development is in the qualities that teachers must possess to become more effective in educating their students. In this article I will discuss the qualities necessary for effective teaching, supported by information from an interview with Dr. Ginny Maurer. Since the educational profession is constantly evolving and changing, it is very important that the teacher possesses the necessary qualities to be as effective as possible. One of these qualities is the ability to motivate students to push themselves in learning. The ability to create a passion for education in the student is something every teacher should aspire to throughout their career. In my interview with Dr. Maurer, she said that knowing your students and making the lesson as interesting and engaging as possible are two ways to motivate students toward an education. He went on to say that teachers need to plan around students, be realistic and be as interactive as possible. By motivating students to think for themselves, they will be able to accomplish more and become leaders in their own lives. The second quality, important for an effective teacher, is to know as much cutting-edge information that.... .. half of the paper ...... being criticized by each other for poor teaching that could easily be fixed with professional development and improvement in one's subject. With all the qualities that teachers must possess to become For an effective teacher the main thing to remember is that teaching is a matter of small things. A teacher, no matter how good, will never be able to radically transform the life of every student he comes into contact with. However, an effective teacher will never stop trying and, in most cases, will have a positive effect on the lives of all of his or her students. Ultimately, teaching is about having fun, being flexible, working with others to add substance to the subject, and guiding students along the path to an education that will continue to enrich their lives years after the classroom doors have closed. behind them..