Pennsylvania high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year

A high school history teacher in Pennsylvania who helps students look inward to find their strengths and outward to find community inside and outside the classroom has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

- Holly Ramer and Tassanee Vejpongsa

Leon Smith, named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, talks to students in his classroom at Haverford High School, in Havertown, Pa.on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Leon Smith, 46, has spent his entire 25-year career at Haverford High School, where he teaches Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and African American studies. He describes himself as a “warm demander,” someone who sets high expectations while surrounding students with love and support. Often, that means recognizing hidden talents and bringing them to the forefront, he said in an interview on Monday.