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Haverford history teacher Leon Smith was named the National Teacher of the Year

Smith, a longtime history teacher at Haverford High School, appeared on 'CBS Mornings' Tuesday to learn he won the honor — and got to meet basketball great Julius Erving.

Leon Smith, an AP U.S. History and AP African American Studies teacher, teaches a class at Haverford High School in February.
Leon Smith, an AP U.S. History and AP African American Studies teacher, teaches a class at Haverford High School in February. Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

Longtime Haverford High School history teacher Leon Smith, who brought African American studies to the school and is known as a mentor to students, was named the National Teacher of the Year Tuesday.

Smith appeared on CBS Mornings Tuesday, where the award was first announced — and where Smith, who coaches freshman boys’ basketball at Haverford, was also surprised with a visit from basketball great Julius Erving.

“You gotta be kidding me right now,” Smith said, as the show’s hosts brought out Erving after Smith had recounted admiring Erving as a child.

Smith, who previously won the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award through the Council of Chief State School Officers program, has taught at Haverford High for 25 years. He currently teaches AP US History and AP African American Studies.

» READ MORE: This Haverford teacher didn’t have Black role models in school. Now he’s a finalist for National Teacher of the Year.

Smith. who is Black, has said he was motivated to become a teacher in part to be the type of mentor he didn’t have growing up attending Upper Dublin schools.

The recognition as National Teacher of the Year “just means everything,” Smith said on CBS. “I just have so much reverence for the teaching profession.”

The award will allow Smith to spend a year traveling the country promoting the teaching profession.

    Maddie Hanna
    I'm a reporter covering K-12 education. I focus on the Philadelphia suburbs — covering schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties — and statewide education policy issues, including school funding and charter schools.