Education is a path to empowerment. Those who possess and apply knowledge tend to flourish; those who lack it tend to suffer. A strong education provides an individual with the skills to pursue and achieve his dreams regardless of whether that dream is additional schooling, a better job, or a newfound perspective. Teachers play an undeniably vital role in the educational process. We are the ones on the front lines; we are the ones who must help students develop the necessary tools and skills. Without effective teaching, the process of learning grinds to a halt. Effective teaching is comprised of several ingredients. A great teacher obviously must have extensive knowledge in his content area; this knowledge serves as the foundation of instruction. Yet, an effective educator must possess more than content expertise. The job of the teacher, after all, is to help students acquire valuable skills. In order to learn efficiently, students must be first engaged and motivated. To promote student engagement, a teacher must demonstrate passion and energy; this, along with mastery of subject matter, lets the students know that they are working with someone who can both answer their questions and hold their attention. Teachers who teach with creativity and passion have the ability to inspire a sense of self-efficacy in students; I consider myself to be exactly that kind of educator. Powerful teaching also requires the use of varied pedagogical tactics in order to meet the educational needs of all learners. Instruction must often be differentiated in order to ensure that all students are adequately engaged and challenged. To that end, a teacher must be able to effectively utilize methods such as small group discussion, whole class discussion, presentation, lecture, and guided practice. Those methods of instruction can be optimized through the use of educational technology platforms. In my current job, all teachers utilize a learning management system; this allows for centralized digital posting of syllabi, handouts, supplemental reading, and multimedia links. Tools like that engage the learning process to operate more efficiently. Excellent instruction also involves extensive collaboration between teachers and students, as well as between colleagues. Through the years, I have found fellow department members to be excellent sources of ideas, strategies, and inspiration. I have worked with them to share best practices. Similarly, I believe that teachers must work with and support students; outstanding education requires effective communication between the two. A teacher must show that he cares about more than just a student.