A Pennsylvania educator who dedicates himself to helping students discover their inner strengths while building community connections has earned the prestigious 2026 National Teacher of the Year recognition.
Leon Smith, age 46, has devoted his entire quarter-century teaching career to Haverford High School in Pennsylvania, where he instructs Advanced Placement courses in United States history and African American studies. Smith characterizes his approach as being a “warm demander,” establishing high standards while providing students with love and support. This often involves identifying hidden abilities and highlighting them for students, he explained during a Monday interview.
“An adult can tell you that they see something in you that maybe you didn’t see in yourself,” he said. “I love to do that for students. When I see ambition, when I see talent, I let them know that so that they can hopefully pursue that goal and achieve their dreams.”
Each class session begins with Smith leading a community-building activity. On Monday, he invited students to discuss songs that brought them joy. One student mentioned a tune that brought back memories of a family trip, while another shared music she enjoyed with friends before they parted ways. This exercise helped students relax before tackling a more challenging topic: determining when the United States should become involved in foreign conflicts.
“We want to make sure that our students can think critically, that they have empathy, that they can understand the nuance and complexity that goes into making decisions,” he said. “My hope is that when they leave my classroom, that they can be civically engaged, that they can make sure that they can create a society that they can be proud of.”
Smith’s educational impact reaches beyond school walls, as he annually brings students to Pennsylvania’s state Capitol for direct interaction with government officials. This initiative earned recognition from the Council of Chief State School Officers, the organization presenting the award, which also acknowledged his focus on incorporating diverse viewpoints in historical education.
In his new role as Teacher of the Year, Smith will dedicate a year to highlighting the crucial influence educators have in developing future generations.
“They’ve moved societies. They have empowered activist movements. They’ve helped people to figure out what they want to do when they group up,” he said. “They’ve had a tremendous impact, and my hope is that people are inspired to join that legacy.”
