Pennsylvania History Teacher Leon Smith Honored as National Teacher of the Year

Pennsylvania high school history instructor Leon Smith was officially named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year. The announcement celebrated not only Smith’s dedication to his students in the classroom but also his impact as a mentor, basketball coach, and advocate for his community.

Smith, a beloved social studies teacher at Haverford High School who teaches AP U.S. History and AP African-American Studies, expressed deep gratitude for the honor.

“It just means everything,” he shared after the announcement to CBS. “I just have so much reverence for the teaching profession. And it’s just such an honor to be able to represent teachers all over the country and really stand on the shoulders of so many others that have come before me.”

“It just means everything”: Congratulations to the National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith, a social studies educator at Haverford High School in Havertown, Pennsylvania!

Mr. Smith, who also coaches the school’s freshman basketball team, gets a surprise from a very special… pic.twitter.com/uBHwRmjLxp

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 21, 2026

Smith revealed that keeping the prestigious award a secret from his school community had been incredibly difficult, noting that he had only confided in his wife and two children before the official broadcast.

To understand exactly why Smith earned this national recognition, one only needs to listen to his students and colleagues. During the broadcast, several members of the Haverford High School community spoke highly of his passionate and engaging teaching style.

Students described him as “charismatic,” “highly intelligent,” and “everything you want in a teacher.” Beyond the curriculum, his colleagues noted his essential role as an advocate for students of color, especially during a period when he was the only Black teacher at the school.

“I think what makes Mr. Smith a really good teacher is that he’s very passionate. He’s very caring,” one student shared. Another, a former player from the freshman basketball team Smith coaches, added, “He made me feel like I actually had a purpose. I’m just grateful for everything he’s done for me.”

For Smith, that deep sense of connection is the most critical ingredient to being an effective educator. He shared that he strives to emulate his first-grade teacher, Miss Mason, who made a lasting impression on him by showing genuine care for her students. “It’s not always the content, but it’s how you make the students feel is what they remember,” Smith explained.

To foster that connection, Smith starts every class with a daily circle, asking his students simple, humanizing questions about their lives to build trust and let them know they are seen. “It’s important to care about your students and let them know that you care… and also just being able to see things in students that they cannot see in themselves.”

The celebration of Smith’s achievement took an unforgettable turn when the conversation shifted to his passion for basketball. When asked who made him fall in love with the game, Smith enthusiastically named Julius Erving, better known as “Dr. J.” He recalled the exact moment his father called him into the room as a child, telling him to sit down and watch the Sixers legend play.

In a stunning surprise, Dr. J himself walked onto the set to personally congratulate the newly minted Teacher of the Year, handing Smith a signed basketball.

“I got a little present for you, too,” Erving smiled as Smith sat in shock. Erving revealed that he had actually lived right around the corner from Haverford High School for over a decade. While he could have simply sent a video message, he wanted to be there in person to “spread some joy” and “spread some love.”

Erving, who spoke about his own high school mentor and basketball coach, Mr. Ray Wilson, emphasized the importance of passing the torch. “You’re mentored by someone, but then eventually you become the mentor. And that’s the passing on thing,” Erving noted.

For Smith, the moment was the perfect culmination of a life dedicated to guiding the next generation. “Off the court and just how you carry yourself has always been something that stood out to me, not just as a basketball player, but just as a man,” Smith told his childhood hero. “This is a moment I’ll never forget.”

Photo Credit: Haverford School District

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