Black Excellence: Leon Smith
A Black high school history teacher in Pennsylvania was named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.
Leon Smith, 46, who has taught Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and African American Studies at Haverford High School for 25 years, was awarded the distinction by the Council of Chief State School Officers on Tuesday (April 21), according to The Associated Press.
Smith described himself as a “warm demander” who sets high expectations for his students while also surrounding them with love and support in an interview shared by the AP on Monday (April 20). “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.”