Everybody agrees: a great teacher is the difference between success and failure, for a school, a class, and a student. But right now, great teachers are leaving the profession faster than Dodger fans exiting the stadium during the 7 inning.

The Internet is awash in videos and blogs from outstanding teachers who have had enough. Usually, they are the ones who tried going the distance, bucking the system, sometimes requiring almost superhuman efforts, and they're the ones who for the most part made a difference in the lives...