This publication presents portraits of nine teachers from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Jordan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Senegal, and Trinidad and Tobago who are opening up young minds and nurturing their potential. The portraits describe how these teachers created an educational situation in which students could thrive and grow. Some of the creative efforts included: intensive reading and writing projects; a health and hygiene course; a training center in business and waste recycling; a study of rock and roll music that led to the study of folk musicians, authors of the artistic freedom movement, and philosophers; training in inquiry and reasoning; interactive teaching; native language immersion; role playing in future vocations; and student exchange programs. (SM)