This article describes a teachers reflections on the matter of student expectations. Santini begins with a common understanding of the "Pygmalion effect" from research projects conducted in earlier years that intimated "people's expectations could influence other people in the world around them." In the world of deaf education, he noted, teachers expected students with disabilities to perform less well than their peers without disabilities and thus acted in ways that contributed to that result. Choosing to teach in an inner city public school environment, Santini goal wasn't to treat the occasional deaf or hard of hearing student "specially" but equally, because he believed doing so would give him or her the greatest opportunity. Santini immersed students in a self-selected reading program on par with what other students in the same grade experienced. He chose to have class discussions and group projects instead of worksheets. While being honest with students about their initially poor achievement, he set expectations that helped them improve. Santini further notes, as teachers, they are often considered the most important variable in a student's success, so that means that, as teachers, they needed to be active and aware participants in the school community. They also need to be in touch with the student's home community. Further, they need to move beyond standardized tests and try to forge a true connection with students. Santini concludes, teachers can help advocate to diversify in their schools in terms of gender, race, and ability, and to provide a set of role models who help students form respectful communities of learning colleagues.