"I think the most important thing I can teach my kids is to think for themselves." —Debbie Scesa, Music Teacher, Farmland Elementary School, Rockville, Maryland

"You have to teach to the whole child . . . It takes a lot of effort, it takes a lot of time. Sometimes it takes a lot of heartache." —Marzet Farris, Industrial Arts/Applied Technology Teacher, Conackamack Middle School, Piscataway, New Jersey

"Our job is to build viable, contributing members of the community. We'll try to do whatever it takes." —Nancy Barnett, Special Education Teacher, Southside High School, Muncie, Indiana

"I think the keys to success in teaching are being excited about what you're doing, sharing that enthusiasm, and teaching the student instead of just the subject." —Harvey Burniston Jr., Agriculture/Horticulture Teacher, Johnson County Vocational School, Mountain City, Tennessee

"Without teachers, there are no doctors, no lawyers, no presidents. I am responsible for the world, and I take that very seriously." —Becky Winters, Math Teacher, Central Middle School, Edmond, Oklahoma

"Classes should be an adventure every day. They should be places where children discover, where failure is kept at bay." —Andy Baumgartner, Kindergarten Teacher, A. Brian Merry Elementary School, Augusta, Georgia