Beyond the Title: 12 Questions with Qin Tian
Qin Tian
Mandarin Chinese Teacher, Middleton High School
Qin Tian is a Mandarin Chinese teacher at Middleton High School, where she teaches five classes of more than 110 students at levels ranging from introductory Mandarin through AP Chinese. In April 2026, Tian was named a recipient of the Heartland Chinese Teacher Award from the U.S. Heartland China Association, which recognizes excellence in Chinese language teaching across 21 states; she was the only recipient from Wisconsin that year, selected from nominations spanning 17 cities in 14 states. She joined the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District during the 2024-25 school year, part of a district program that begins Mandarin instruction at the middle school level and that she has described as the largest in Dane County. She collaborates with the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and partners with the Chinese American Museum of Chicago to connect students with Chinese language and culture, and helped organize the district's annual Lunar New Year celebration. She was previously named the 2024 Wisconsin Chinese Language Teacher of the Year and was a 2025 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship finalist. Tian has more than 13 years of experience in education in China and the United States, and her students have placed first and second in state-level Mandarin speaking competitions.
01Built to Last starts with a strong foundation. What is the foundation your leadership is built on, and how do you return to it when things get shaky?
My leadership is built on three foundations: purpose, connection, and service.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: language has the power to connect people, build understanding, and bring cultures closer together. As a world language educator, my goal is not only to teach students how to communicate, but also to help them understand others, appreciate different cultures, and see the world with curiosity and compassion.
In today’s rapidly changing world, technology allows students to connect with people and information across the globe more easily than ever. But becoming a global citizen requires more than knowledge, it requires empathy, respect, and the ability to understand different perspectives. Through language learning, I hope to help students develop these qualities.
My leadership comes from the relationships I build with my students and my community. I believe every language classroom can become a bridge, a place where students feel supported, valued, and inspired to learn about the world beyond themselves.
When challenges arise, I return to my purpose as an educator. I think about my students, their growth, and the future they will help create. They remind me why I do this work and encourage me to continue learning and serving others.
For me, leadership is not about a title. It is about caring for students, building connections, and empowering the next generation to create a more understanding and connected world.
02Where do you come from, and how do your roots keep you steady when leadership gets hard?
I come from a small city in southern China, where I learned the importance of hard work, gratitude, and staying humble. I was the first person in my family to attend college, and I am now continuing that journey by pursuing a master’s degree at Michigan State University. These experiences have taught me the transformative power of education.
My roots remind me to never forget where I started and the people who supported me along the way. They keep me grounded, grateful, and open to learning from others. They also remind me that every person has a unique story, potential, and opportunity to grow.
As an educator, I carry those lessons into my classroom every day. I see my students not just as learners, but as individuals with their own dreams, challenges, and possibilities. I hope to create a learning environment where students feel supported, valued, and encouraged to discover their own potential.
When leadership becomes challenging, I return to my roots and my experiences. I remind myself of the people who believed in me, the opportunities that shaped me, and the responsibility I have to support others. I believe that small acts of encouragement, kindness, and connection can create a lasting difference.
03What's a piece of advice that has stood the test of time for you, the kind you still come back to years later?
One piece of advice that has stayed with me throughout my career came from one of my former principals, who often reminded us to “have grace.”
When I face difficult moments, I return to this advice. I remind myself to pause, listen, and respond with empathy rather than judgment. As educators we have the opportunity to create environments where people feel supported, valued, and encouraged to become their best selves.
This simple reminder has stayed with me because leadership is not only about making decisions; it is also about how we treat people along the way.
04What's a book, quote, lyric, or scripture that has stayed with you and shaped how you lead or live?
One quote that has stayed with me throughout my life is inspired by Confucian tradition: “人之初，性本善,” which reflects the belief that every person has the potential for goodness.
This belief reminds me to approach people with understanding, patience, and an open heart. When I face challenges, I return to this idea and remind myself to look beyond the situation, seek understanding, and respond with compassion rather than judgment.
As an educator, this wisdom deeply shapes the way I see my students. I believe every student has strengths, potential, and a story worth understanding. My role is not only to teach a language, but also to encourage, support, and help students discover their own possibilities.
Years later, this lesson continues to guide me to stay humble, remain hopeful, and lead with empathy.
05What's something you've had to rebuild after it broke or fell apart, and what did that teach you about building things that last?
One thing I have had to rebuild throughout my journey is my confidence and my sense of belonging in a new environment.
When I first came to a different country and culture, I had to learn how to find my voice, communicate across differences, and believe in the value of my own experiences. That journey was not always easy, but it taught me that strong foundations are built over time through patience, resilience, and self-belief.
As an educator, I carry this lesson with me. I want my students to know that growth does not happen overnight, and challenges are often part of becoming stronger. Building something that lasts requires not perfection, but the courage to keep learning, adapting, and moving forward.
This experience has taught me that lasting leadership begins with knowing who you are and having the courage to continue growing.
06What's one question every leader should ask if they want to build something that outlasts them, and why?
I have never really thought of myself as a leader. I have always seen myself first as an educator and someone who wants to make a difference.
But one question I often ask myself is: “What’s next?”
For me, this question is not about always looking for the next achievement. It is about staying curious, looking for new possibilities, and asking how I can continue to grow and create opportunities for others.
I believe leaders who build something that lasts do not only focus on what they accomplish today; they think about what can continue beyond them. They ask how their work can inspire others, create new opportunities, and make a lasting impact.
“What's next?” reminds me to keep learning, keep improving, and keep looking for ways to serve my students and my community.
07Who are you actively preparing to carry this work forward, and what are you doing to set them up to succeed without you?
The people I am actively preparing to carry this work forward are my students.
As an educator, I believe my greatest impact is not only what I teach in my classroom, but what students carry with them after they leave. I hope to prepare students to become curious, open-minded, and compassionate global citizens who continue building connections across cultures.
In my classroom, I do not want students to simply learn a language. I want them to develop confidence, cultural understanding, and the ability to see the world from different perspectives. These skills will continue to serve them long after they graduate.
To set them up for success without me, I focus on helping students become independent learners and encouraging them to believe in their own ability to grow. If my students continue learning, connecting with others, and making a positive difference in their communities, then the work continues beyond my classroom.
08When leadership feels heavy, what do you turn to (music, travel, culture, faith) that restores you and keeps you feeling like yourself?
When leadership feels heavy, I return to the things that keep me connected to who I am, my culture, my students, and the simple moments that remind me of my purpose.
As a Chinese language educator, I find strength in my culture and the language I share with my students. Teaching is not just my profession; it is a connection to my roots and a way to build bridges between people.
I also return to my students. Seeing their curiosity, growth, and excitement reminds me why I chose this path. Their learning and their stories give me energy and perspective.
These connections help me slow down, stay grounded, and remember that leadership is not about carrying everything alone. It is about staying connected to the values and people that give meaning to the work we do.
09When you think about the legacy you want to leave, what do you hope still stands long after you've moved on?
I know that years from now, my students may not remember every vocabulary word or grammar structure they learned in my Chinese classroom.
But I hope they remember how they felt.
I hope they remember that they were seen as individuals, each with their own strengths, ideas, and potential. I hope they remember that making mistakes was not something to fear, but a meaningful part of the learning journey, a moment where growth and discovery happened.
Most importantly, I hope they remember that my classroom was a place where they could learn with joy, take risks, and become more confident in who they are.
That is the legacy I hope will continue long after they leave my classroom.
10What's a small daily habit or discipline that has compounded into something meaningful over time?
One small habit that has had a meaningful impact on my life is simply arriving early.
For me, arriving early is not just about being on time. It is about creating a little extra space, time to prepare, reflect, and organize my thoughts.
Over the years, this small habit has helped me become more intentional and dependable. As an educator, those extra moments before students enter the classroom allow me to prepare not only my lessons, but also my mindset. It reminds me that the way we show up matters.
11What's a moment in your life where the music playing in the background ended up meaning more than you expected, a song that showed up right when you needed it, or made an ordinary moment stick with you?
A song that has stayed with me is Selena Gomez’s “Who Says.”
What I appreciate most about this song is its reminder to listen to your own voice and not let the opinions or expectations of others define your path.
I think this message is especially meaningful for high school students. They are not only facing academic pressure, but also the challenges of discovering who they are, finding their confidence, and navigating the many voices around them.
The question “Who says?” represents a mindset I hope my students develop.
12What's a tradition in your life or family that you hope lasts for generations?
A tradition I hope continues for generations is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most meaningful traditional holidays in Chinese culture. It is a time when families gather together, share a meal, enjoy mooncakes, admire the moon, and celebrate the importance of connection and reunion.
Growing up in China, I learned that this festival was never just about food. At its heart, it represents the value of family, taking time to appreciate the people we love and create meaningful memories together. In today’s fast-paced world, where people are often busy with work, school, and daily responsibilities, opportunities for families to truly come together have become even more precious.
I also love how this tradition connects the past and the present. Stories like Chang’e flying to the moon have been passed down for generations, carrying messages of love, hope, and the importance of family. Even as our world continues to change, these traditions remind us to stay connected to our roots and to each other.