17 Powerful Quotes from Essential Truths for Teachers

Tim Cavey
Teachers on Fire Magazine
10 min readJan 22, 2024

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You are leaving a legacy that transcends grades and test scores.

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When it comes to names I trust in education, Danny Steele and Todd Whitaker are near the top of that list.

They love people. They’re passionate about learning. They’re bold and don’t hesitate to tell it like it is.

Essential Truths for Teachers isn’t a book about instructional practice. It’s not about classroom management techniques, the best uses of technology, or assessment.

This book is more of a manifesto. It’s about the fundamental beliefs and values that teachers need to own in order to be successful.

It’s a quick and easy read. I have no affiliation and gain nothing from sales of this book, but I highly recommend it.

What follows is just a sample of the essential truths that every teacher in the world needs to hear (in bold), with my reflections in plain text below each quote.

17 Quotes from Essential Truths for Teachers

1. The positive energy of the teacher is the single most important factor in determining the climate of the classroom. When teachers realize their own attitude affects the motivation of their students, it can be a game changer.

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Tim Cavey
Teachers on Fire Magazine

Elementary Vice Principal and Teacher. Education YouTuber at Teachers on Fire. Big believer in Growth Mindset. EdTech should promote the 5 Cs. MEdL.