The story is told of the time legendary Princeton High School Russian teacher Henry Ziegler was visiting Red Square and a passing Muscovite asked him for directions. Mr. Ziegler responded with geographic bearings and Russian so perfect the man never guessed he had approached a foreigner.

        Mr. Ziegler, who died in September, was, by nature, a guide. He led in a way that made students want to follow. He established Midwestern, suburban Princeton as a pocket of excellence in Russian language instruction — if, for no other reason than Mr. Ziegler had a contagious passion for it, and his students caught it.

        Grateful the pupil who encounters a teacher as superb as Henry Ziegler.

        Every district has at least a few. They light up their corner of the building or slice of the curriculum like the noon sun.

        They undertake projects that no one would have dared ask them. These are the people who put on professional quality elementary musicals, ratchet up science classes to college level, establish writing programs of renown. They send our children home with a heart for British novels, Beethoven sonatas — whatever, in fact, their teachers love.

        We pass these modest, single-minded men and women on our way into a 7 p.m. basketball game or committee meeting. They are just leaving for the day.

        Cathy Ransenberg at Mariemont High School is one such teacher, so committed that her senior research paper is a legend in itself. The five-month project is so demanding that students line up at 6 a.m. — with breakfast in hand — to get the topic of their choosing. They begin it justifiably daunted, relaxing only when the 30-year veteran assures them, “We're partners. I'll be working every step of the way with you.”

        When it comes time to grade the 20-page product, she puts on music to match the literary work, settling into what she assures her students will be “a wonderful paper.” Little surprise her pupils rarely let her down.

        Mrs. Ransenberg's magic, says principal Tom Crosby, is a providential blend of knowledge of her subject, superb communication skills and a deep respect for her students.

        They leave her class invigorated about English, he says, asserting that magnificent teachers flock to one another, and thus his staff is full of them.

        At Summit Country Day School, English teacher Carole Fultz regularly invites students to meet over lunch, to stop by before or after school to work out some troublesome assignment. Not only may her students call her at home but, should she suspect a particular lesson was not understood, she will call them.

        “No one gets out of her class alive who cannot read, write and think critically,” says headmaster Ed Tyrrell. “Her greatest strength is that she sees you as a person, that she views you as a gift of God.”

        Surely no further reforms would be necessary in American education than to fill our classrooms with teachers such as these. But how do we spot such legends?

        “You see very early if they have a gift and passion for teaching,” says Mr. Crosby, “then the very good teacher keeps learning, keeps looking for ways to improve.”

        Echoes Mr. Tyrrell, “The No. 1 thing that sets the outstanding teacher apart from the good teacher is that passion for teaching, and that passion for the child.”
       Write Krista Rxxamsey at 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, or e-mail her at krista_ramsey@hotmail.com

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