I DON’T TAKE IT LIGHTLY, BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME THAT HAVE REALLY MADE A TRUE IMPACT IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. A PENNSYLVANIA TEACHER JUST ACED A BIG HONOR. HE’S THE 2026 NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR. LEON SMITH, A HISTORY TEACHER AT HAVERFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN DELAWARE COUNTY, HAS BEEN TEACHING FOR 25 YEARS. HE’S CURRENTLY LEADING ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES IN U.S. HISTORY AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES. THE ORGANIZATION BEHIND THE AWARD, THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS, CITED HIS EMPHASIS ON THE INCLUSION OF MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES IN HISTORY. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEACH HISTORY THE WAY IT HAPPENED. C1 SADNESS, C1 HAPPENED. AND IT’S IMPORTANT FOR C1 BECAUSE THAT’S REAL LIFE. WE HAVE C1 BACKGROUND, C1 THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW C1 IF YOU DO REMEMBER, I’LL BE PREVIOUSLY.
Pennsylvania teacher named 2026 National Teacher of the Year
Updated: 6:11 PM EDT Apr 21, 2026
Leon Smith, a history teacher at Haverford High School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year. “I don’t take it lightly because I realize that there have been a lot of people that have come before me that have really made a true impact in the field of education,” Smith said.Veteran educator brings 25 years of classroom experience to national stageSmith has been teaching for 25 years and currently leads Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and African American studies.Award recognizes Smith’s focus on multiple perspectives in historyThe Council of Chief State School Officers, the organization behind the award, cited his emphasis on the inclusion of multiple perspectives in history education. Smith explained his approach to teaching history, saying, “I think it’s important to teach history the way it happened. I think it’s important to certainly focus on the joy, the sadness, the struggles, the adversity, but also the wins. All of that is the accurate history in terms of what has happened. And it’s important for our students to be able to grapple and see all of that because that’s real life.” He also stressed the importance of valuing all students, stating, “We have to say, look, all students, regardless of their background, we see you, you’re important, your voice matters.” Smith brings students to Harrisburg each year to engage with policymakers.Pennsylvania wins National Teacher of the Year for second straight yearThis is the second consecutive year that a Pennsylvania teacher has received the honor.Last year, Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher from the Mifflin County School District, earned the title.Before these back-to-back wins, no Pennsylvania teacher had ever won the award since its creation in 1952.
Leon Smith, a history teacher at Haverford High School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.
“I don’t take it lightly because I realize that there have been a lot of people that have come before me that have really made a true impact in the field of education,” Smith said.
Veteran educator brings 25 years of classroom experience to national stage
Smith has been teaching for 25 years and currently leads Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and African American studies.
Award recognizes Smith’s focus on multiple perspectives in history
The Council of Chief State School Officers, the organization behind the award, cited his emphasis on the inclusion of multiple perspectives in history education.
Smith explained his approach to teaching history, saying, “I think it’s important to teach history the way it happened. I think it’s important to certainly focus on the joy, the sadness, the struggles, the adversity, but also the wins. All of that is the accurate history in terms of what has happened. And it’s important for our students to be able to grapple and see all of that because that’s real life.”
He also stressed the importance of valuing all students, stating, “We have to say, look, all students, regardless of their background, we see you, you’re important, your voice matters.”
Smith brings students to Harrisburg each year to engage with policymakers.
Pennsylvania wins National Teacher of the Year for second straight year
This is the second consecutive year that a Pennsylvania teacher has received the honor.
Last year, Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher from the Mifflin County School District, earned the title.
Before these back-to-back wins, no Pennsylvania teacher had ever won the award since its creation in 1952.