Sadly I would have a lot of difficulty coming up with a "best" teacher. I really don't remember any of them that fondly - although I think that has far more to do with my confusion through the teen years than anything else. I do however have a great fond memory of Mr. Hodge, the librarian at MacDonald high school in St Anne De Bellevue Quebec. He turned me on to Folkways Records!
A few months ago he heard something of mine on the radio up in northern Alberta, and contacted me through his daughter. What a hoot. Couldn't call him Gil though. He's still "Mr. Hodge".
Rick