2002 Kentucky Teacher of the Year
Mr. Lin is a teacher at Atherton High School with twenty-seven years of teaching experience. His students in grades nine through twelve learn from him beginning mixed chorus, concert choir, bel canto singers, chambers singers international baccalaureate music and humanities.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"My belief about teaching is that music education is basic and academic. Every child should have the opportunity to explore its own talent and creativity through music or any other art form. Fine art education leads to academic success in other disciplines."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I incorporate my teaching beliefs with vocal/choral music instruction through exploration of the meaning behind the music style and its relation to the text incorporated with the music. I often use Socratic methods during my music rehearsal to involve the students to interpret the meaning behind the text and music."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest teaching accomplishment would be when our school's music department was designated as a Grammy Signature School – one of only one hundred schools in the nation. I am proud to have led our school's choral music department through performances to a variety of cultures and a multitude of nations. Countries in the tour included Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Switzerland."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"The most critical issue facing educators today is the teacher shortage in all fields and levels. One way of resolving this would be to encourage students to consider the profession of teaching. We also need to restructure the college level education courses to have more hands on relationships with real world education programs in the community."

Inspirational thought:
"Don't ever give up on your students. Try your hardest to be positive with your students, colleagues and administrators."