From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? The Council of Chief State School Officers named Leon Smith, a Haverford High School history teacher, as one of five finalists for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award. Smith, a former Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, has taught in the School District of Haverford Township for nearly 25 years. He serves as a national teacher policy cabinet member for Teach Plus. Smith also volunteers on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium.