“CBS Mornings” completely revealed Pennsylvania highschool instructor Leon Smith because the 2026 Nationwide Instructor of the 12 months, which is chosen by the Council of Chief State Faculty Officers’ Nationwide Instructor of the 12 months program.
Smith, a social research instructor at Haverford Excessive Faculty in Havertown, Pennsylvania, mentioned the honour “simply means every little thing.”
“It is simply such an honor to have the ability to signify lecturers all around the nation and actually stand on the shoulders of so many others which have come earlier than me which have carried out simply such nice work,” Smith mentioned in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.
Smith, who teaches AP U.S. historical past and AP African American research, was beforehand named the 2025 Pennsylvania Instructor of the 12 months.
In a video, college students at Haverford Excessive Faculty and colleagues described Smith as passionate, caring, charismatic and interesting.
“He’s every little thing you need in a instructor,” principal Pete Donaghy mentioned within the video. “He relates African American research or U.S. historical past to his college students.”
Smith mirrored on the distinction lecturers could make within the lives of their college students. For him, his favourite instructor was his first grade instructor, Ms. Mason.
“Simply how she made me really feel,” Smith mentioned. “So I simply suppose that is the facility of a instructor, that it isn’t at all times the content material nevertheless it’s the way you make the scholars really feel is what they bear in mind.”
Smith mentioned he thinks it is essential to let college students “know that you simply care.”
“And in addition simply having the ability to see issues in college students that they can’t see in themselves.”
Smith can be a longtime basketball coach, teaching the freshman staff at Haverford Excessive Faculty.
“I used to be considered one of his gamers and he made certain that I felt seen,” a former participant informed “CBS Mornings.” “He made me really feel like I really had a function.”
Smith’s love for basketball began when he was younger. His favourite participant ever is Julius Erving, generally known as Dr. J., who Smith mentioned made him “fall in love” with the sport.
Erving shocked Smith on “CBS Mornings” by congratulating him in particular person on being named the Nationwide Instructor of the 12 months.
“After I received the notification about Leon, I noticed that his faculty Haverford is actually proper across the nook from a home that I lived in for 11 years,” Erving mentioned. “So there was a connection … I mentioned, ‘Properly, let’s go and be on the present. Go see some individuals. Unfold some pleasure. Unfold some love.'”
Erving recalled a instructor who had an affect on his life.
“Probably the most vital was Mr. Ray Wilson, who really taught particular ed in my highschool, however he was additionally my basketball coach,” Erving mentioned, describing Wilson as a lifelong mentor.
“He lived till he was in his 80s, and he was at all times there. He was at all times my first name anytime something got here up. Huge or small, I may at all times name him, anytime, day or night time. That was particular.”
Smith referred to as assembly Erving an honor and mentioned he is grateful for a second that he’ll always remember.
