Weston Awards: Lei Haiting Liang

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the 2026 winners of the Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools.

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Montclair High School teacher Lei Haiting Liang doesn't just teach Mandarin, he makes students want to live it. This sentiment was shared over and over again by parents and students who nominated him for a Weston Award.

Perhaps the most prominent example was the trip he planned for students over spring break to China, visiting Chengdu, Xi’an, and Beijing, which was the result of more than a year of meticulous planning. Kids and their families alike described this experience as “life changing,” “epic,” and  “something spectacular.” Several noted that the trip was planned amid uncertainty due to the budget deficit, making it all the more meaningful that Mr. Liang made it happen. 

“The journey transformed Mandarin from something studied in a classroom into something [my child] could see, touch, and experience firsthand,” one parent wrote. “The highlight was a visit to a local Chinese high school, where students exchanged gifts and spent time with their peers, a genuine, unscripted cultural exchange that no textbook can replicate. Immersive, real-world experiences like this don't just teach — they spark curiosity, broaden perspective, and for [my son], opened up a world he never knew he wanted to explore. I have never seen [him] so energized about anything academic… [this trip] ignited a lasting passion for learning and global exploration.” 

Throughout the journey, Mr. Liang kept parents connected through updates and photos, allowing them  to share in the experience from afar.  It was noted that amid the deep cultural immersion, Mr. Liang built in stops at familiar restaurants like McDonald's and Shake Shack. “He understood that teenagers navigating a foreign country for the first time need moments of comfort alongside moments of discovery,” a parent said.  

To many students, his class feels more like a “close-knit community than a traditional classroom,” and they appreciate his humor, deep knowledge of the people, culture, and traditions of China. 

“I will always cherish the four years I've spent in his classroom, and I hope to stay in touch with him after school,” one student wrote. “The impact he has had on my high school life was so great that I don't know what I would do without his class. Because of it, I'm pursuing a minor in Chinese in college, and I hope to one day utilize Chinese in a corporate setting and maybe even spend a few years of my life in east Asia.” 

For his exceptional dedication, sparking students' curiosity about the world, and transforming language learning into a passion for global understanding, the Montclair community is honored to call Mr. Liang an inspired teacher. Congratulations.

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