Leon Smith, a 22-year teacher at Haverford High School, is also Pennsylvania’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.
In that role, the African American Studies teacher will not only represent the Commonwealth in the National Teacher of the Year competition but will work with legislators to improve student success and diversity writes Cheyenne Conn for Fox 29.
“I knew Black excellence, but I knew they weren’t seeing it,” said Smith. “And I was frustrated by that, so when I decided I wanted to be a teacher, it was really kind of important to me to be the teacher I never had.”
Smith, a Montgomery County native, was inspired to go into teaching by his parents, both educators.
Along with African American studies, Smith teaches 9th grade honors and AP Social Studies, coaches boys basketball, and runs an African American Enrichment Club.
He has created programs encouraging more students, especially those of color, to become educators.
“You have to look back in order to move forward, and I think that’s really what Black history is to me, to really learn from the ancestors,” Smith said.
Find out more about Leon Smith and his efforts as an educator to promote Black excellence at Fox 29.
