Genius makes teacher pay attention (10)
I believe the answer is:
mastermind
'genius' is the definition.
(I know that genius can be written as mastermind)
'teacher pay attention' is the wordplay.
'teacher' becomes 'master' (I've seen this before).
'pay attention' becomes 'mind' (I've seen this in another clue).
'master'+'mind'='MASTERMIND'
'makes' is the link.
(Other definitions for mastermind that I've seen before include "brainbox" , "Knowledge-testing TV quiz" , "Person with outstanding intellect" , "Planning supremo" , "Intellectual" .)