This study highlights the factors that contribute to excellence in urban science teaching as pinpointed by five urban African-American science teachers who have taught successfully in the urban system for over 10 years. These teachers shared their experiences and reflections on the qualities that contributed to their success and persistence as urban science teachers. Their ability to understand and care for their students was a major contributing factor; other contributing factors included in-depth knowledge and love of science, caring and commitment to the whole child, effective classroom management strategies, high expectations and motivation of their students, and an understanding and acceptance of the varying parental involvement in the educational decisions about their child.