Middleton High School Mandarin teacher Qin Tian was honored with the 2026 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award from the U.S. Heartland China Association, according to an April 9 announcement.
The award recognizes excellence in Chinese language teaching across 21 states in America’s heartland, focusing on creativity in curriculum, positive student impact, and contributions to cultural learning. This recognition highlights the importance of language education and cross-cultural understanding for students and communities.
Tian has worked as an educator for more than ten years in both China and the United States. Her previous honors include being named Wisconsin Chinese Language Teacher of the Year in 2024 and a finalist for a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship in 2025. She is known for her classroom engagement as well as organizing field trips and special events that connect students with the wider community.
“We’re thrilled to see Qin earn this well-deserved national recognition,” said Middleton High School Principal Bobbie Reinhart. “She makes a meaningful impact on her students, who describe her as passionate, charismatic and encouraging. She also connects students, staff and our larger community through events she organizes such as the Chinese program’s annual Lunar New Year celebration to share Chinese culture, food and traditions.”
“Receiving this award means a lot to me as a Chinese teacher,” Tian said. “It reflects not only my own efforts, but also the curiosity, dedication, and growth I see in my students every day. Teaching Chinese is more than just language instruction; it’s about sharing culture, building connections, and helping students see the world from a broader perspective. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a community that values language learning and cultural understanding. This recognition encourages me to continue supporting my students and creating meaningful learning experiences for them.”
According to the official website, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District promotes community engagement through extracurricular activities while maintaining facilities that support education from early childhood through high school with programs focused on literacy, math, social-emotional learning, leadership opportunities for students,
and achieving top ACT composite scores among public non-charter schools in Dane County and statewide.
The district aims to understand each student’s background while preparing them for global challenges—an approach reflected by teachers like Tian—according to its official website. Dr. Dana Monogue has served as superintendent of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District which serves both Middleton and Cross Plains areas in Wisconsin.
