The perceptions of Laotian refugee parents about what constitutes a "best teacher" were studied. The study focused on the Lao Loum ethnic group, and did not include members of Hmong or other ethnic minority groups. Twenty-eight Likert-based interviews were conducted with Laotian refugee parents residing in 5 states in the United States. Parent responses indicated that the "best teacher" would be Asian, teach at the high school level, and be male. They thought that the best teacher would be able to manage disruptive behavior and enforce fair discipline while demonstrating punctuality and good attendance. The best teacher would accept constructive criticism in a positive manner, be fair with regard to issues of race and ethnicity, and fair to both genders. Parents were not interested in having the teacher reward positive behavior rather than punishing negative behavior, nor did they value high expectations for all students, demanding grading, and effective communication with students at their levels of learning. The perceptions about a best teacher may reflect prior experiences of these parents in Laos, and may not concur with characteristics identified in the United States for superior teachers. (Contains 28 figures and 75 references.) (SLD)