What did a teacher do that earned your respect?

We used to ditch school and go down the block to a diner. We would drink coffee and smoke ciggies. Pretty fucking dumb, I know. Well our history teacher just said fuck it and showed up, right there. We had class, in the diner.
I didn't skip his class much after that. He really cared and was one of the best teachers I ever had!

More of a respect-loop, but my world history teacher in high school would sit at his desk and all of us would chat or whatever until he was ready to start the lesson. Then, without saying a word, he would get up, walk to the front of the class, and sit on the stool there, and within seconds the classroom was silent with every student looking at him. The man never raised his voice (unless he was telling a story), and ultimately never needed to. He didn't believe in homework, because he respected our time. He never talked down to anyone.
He got respect, behaved in a way that justified that respect, and got more respect. It was inspiring.

Our Spanish teacher moved to rural farmtown PA, and proudly lived his gay punk rock life.

In high school geometry, a kid got snarky in class and said “when am I ever gonna use this?”
The teacher said “you probably won’t when you’re working in the food service industry.” Demolished that kid and I loved that teacher.
- Damn though like, we don't need to denigrate people in food service. Some people do it because they didn't have other options, some people actually like it and are good at it. And either way I bet that teacher wouldn't like if there wasn't anyone who's worked in food service.
  
  I know, but at the time it was such a hilarious roast. As an adult, I know that any job deserves respect (except MBAs, fuck them) but the whole room blew up and it was glorious

The math part of the state-wide high school final exam is always what causes most students to fail.
In the months leading up to the exam, once a week one very talented math teacher took a few hours of his own time to tutor everyone who wanted to attend. He went through previous final exams and explained how to approach them and did the calculations step by step. He did this every year for the multiple decades he worked there.
There is no doubt in my mind that he saved many students from failing those exams, and that brought him a lot of respect both among students but also colleagues.

Upon being asked a difficult question, said "I don't know. Let me figure it out and get back to you." And actually did get back to me.

Took a vote on whether we should be allowed to wear hats in class and actually stuck to the results of the vote rather than overriding with what he wanted.

Asked students what we wanted to spend our time in his class doing, actually followed through, and was then fired.