Teacher encouragement has greatest influence on less advantaged children
'Big data' study finds that children from families with limited education have strongest long-term response to teacher encouragement, and are more likely to progress to university as a result. Ref. Source 7g.
Teachers play a HUGE role in the lives of students. In cases where the parents aren't in the picture, they can be the factor that determines a child's path. I have a few teachers that I will personally never forget, since they encouraged me way beyond more than they needed to. For these people, its way more than a job. You can tell that they genuinely enjoy what they do.