Most Important Role

When I asked my teacher this question, she found it difficult to answer. She took a second to think about it, but eventually came up with a great answer. She said at her particular school, she plays a different role. But more specific than that, with each child she plays a different role; not one more important than the other. She explained that at the school she is teaching at, it is middle class. It is not extremely high end, so she has students who have financial problems as well as some students who have difficult family situations. To one particular boy, she said that her most important role to him is to be a nurturer, to show that she cares and will listen. She is almost a mother figure to this child. Then there is the another boy that her important role for him is to keep him engaged. He is a quick learner and absorbs things fast, so she always has to be ready with new material to keep him learning.
She explained that at she has a friend that teachers in Highland and they were talking about this same thing. Her friend explained that her most important, yet most frustrating role is that of a communicator with the parents. In the higher end school, there tends to be more parental involvement, and they want to know exactly what is going on and want to make sure their child is getting the best education possible. Although it is overbearing, keeping the parents satisfied and involved, yet not controlling the situation is her most important role.
I think that Mrs. Mazeika put it perfectly, that although there are lots of different roles we will play, the most important role is specific to each child and their needs.