Yes, good teachers have played a huge role in our success. Except for first grade, when the teacher was "just" good (and overwhelmed with NCLB requirements), we have had wonderful teachers all the way through and the principal has always been supportive of whatever the teachers felt they needed to do to keep DS engaged (including excempting him from "required" reading curriculum!). Sometimes I go through a chicken and egg argument with myself: is DS so happy because he has had supportive teachers? or are DS's teachers so supportive because he is so easy to like?. By this time, it's clearly both things working together. But which came first?
I have brothers who were more introverted and sullen. They did not "click" with their teachers (even some of the good ones that I got along with well), probably because of their temperment. School was harder for them. Although you can teach them some useful social skills, I don't think you can fundamentally change their temperment.
