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HARRISBURG, PA (Dec. 9, 2024) – The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) congratulates Leon Smith, a social studies teacher at Haverford High School in Delaware County, who was named the 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

Smith has spent 22 years at Haverford and teaches 9th grade Honors and Advanced Placement Social Studies, as well as 10th-12th grade African American Studies. He has also been instrumental in Haverford’s “Grow Your Own” program with the goal of increasing educator diversity within the district.

Outside of school, Smith serves as a senior policy fellow with Teach Plus PA where he has advocated for policies to diversify the educator workforce and build a stronger teacher pipeline.

“PSEA congratulates Leon Smith on being named Pennsylvania’s 2025 Teacher of the Year,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “Mr. Smith demonstrates a commitment to his students, his colleagues, and his community that goes beyond his important work in the classroom to include his advocacy for strong public schools and a more diverse educator workforce. We admire his passion for teaching, his commitment to his students, and his tireless work to foster more inclusive environments.

“PSEA also congratulates the other 11 finalists for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. It is a tremendous honor to be selected among 660 nominees, and they should be proud to be in such impressive company.”

In addition to Smith, the following 11 educators are finalists for the 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year:

• Sherry Appleton, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
• Anne Fisher, Downingtown Middle School, Downingtown Area School District
• Rob Hodgson, McDowell High School, Millcreek Township School District
• Jill Hyatt, Meadville Area Middle School/High School, Crawford Central School District
• Brooke Nenadal, Curtin Intermediate School, Williamsport Area School District
• Darla Romberger, Cumberland Valley High School, Cumberland Valley School District
• Bo Shappell, Daniel Boone Area High School, Daniel Boone Area School District
• Jennifer Sharek, Blackhawk Intermediate School, Blackhawk School District
• Kevin Tomlinson, Evergreen Elementary School, Perkiomen Valley School District
• Jennifer Toney, Sharpsville Area Elementary School, Sharpsville Area School District
• Jessica Waber, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, School District of Philadelphia

As Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year, Smith will meet and collaborate with other educators and represent the commonwealth in the National Teacher of the Year competition next year.

Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.