A Delaware County educator has been named the 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
Leon Smith, who teaches in the Haverford Township School District, was announced as the winner of the annual award during a ceremony Monday afternoon in Hershey.
“Each year, Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year celebrates the educator who is ‘head of the class’ — a teacher with the values, experience and dedication needed to support their learners and set them up for success,” Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer said in a statement announcing the award. “Mr. Smith perfectly exemplifies what it means to be an excellent educator, and his commitment to his school is making a lasting impact on his students, their families and the surrounding community.”
Smith was one of 12 finalists for the award, including Daniel Boone High School physical education and health teacher Bo Shappell and Anne Fisher who teaches at Downingtown Middle School.
Smith has taught in the Haverford School District for 22 years, currently teaching ninth grade honors and Advanced Placement social studies and 10th through 12th grade African American studies.
Officials from the state Department of Education said Smith was named teacher of the year because he strongly believes in helping all students reach their full potential and his dedication to his students goes beyond the classroom through his roles as the African American cultural enrichment advisor, freshmen boys basketball coach and mentor.
Department officials said Smith is also seen as a building leader and provides professional development for the district on culturally relevant teaching, growth mindset, elements of effective lessons, belonging strategies and supporting historically marginalized students. Smith is an advocate for the teaching profession who is committed to supporting new and future teachers by starting a Grow Your Own teacher program in his district.
As Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year, Smith will travel the state, meet and collaborate with other educators, and represent the state in next year’s National Teacher of the Year competition.