The teacher who is dedicated to educating for excellence functions as a role model, a mentor, an agent of change, and a collaborator.  As a role model, the teacher implements current strategies and techniques identified in the knowledge base as indicators of teaching/learning excellence.  While modeling, the teacher explains how strategies can be adapted for different audiences and differing teaching styles.  The teacher uses a variety of presentations to communicate information: lecture, discussion, observation, demonstration, multi-media applications, large and small group interactions, and carefully-selected speakers.  The static lecture/note taking/test paradigm is no longer functional in today's highly visual technological society.
Prospective teachers learn best from experiencing a variety of presentations of material; they consistently "do as we do" rather than "do as we say."

    As a mentor, the teacher who strives for excellence must identify both the immediate and future audience.  The teacher must be aware of the variety of experiences the preservice and inservice educator bring to the teaching/learning situation as well as the expectations/needs of their current and future students.  Mentoring enables the teacher to assist another teacher define the audience and match the  teaching strengths and styles to the students' educational needs.

    As a agent of change, the teacher willingly seeks out information that extends the knowledge base, remaining on the "cutting edge" of his/her area of expertise.  Yet, as a change agent, the teacher maintains a global perspective seeing his/her contribution as a sum of the parts.

    As a collaborator, the teacher works comfortably with a variety of audiences across disciplines to deliver current, consistent information.  Such audiences include in service and workshop participants, professional organizations, public school personnel, as well as one's university colleagues in different colleges and subject areas.

    The teacher who is dedicated to educating for excellence and who functions as a role model, mentor, change agent, and collaborator is not only a teacher.  This individual is also a researcher contributing to the knowledge base, an active participant in professional organizations, and a willing contributor to public service.  A composite of these activities is the basis for true excellence in education.