2026年4月21日 / 美国东部时间上午11:11 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻（CBS News）
作者：凯尔西·霍夫曼
《CBS早间新闻》独家揭晓，宾夕法尼亚州高中教师莱昂·史密斯当选2026年全美年度教师，该奖项由州首席学校官员委员会全国年度教师项目评选产生。
史密斯是宾夕法尼亚州哈弗敦哈弗福德高中的社会研究教师，他表示这项荣誉“意义非凡”。
“能够代表全美各地的教师，站在众多前辈的肩膀上——他们之前都做出了卓越的工作，这是一份莫大的荣幸，”史密斯在周二接受《CBS早间新闻》采访时说道。
史密斯教授美国大学先修课程（AP）历史和美国非裔研究，此前曾获评2025年宾夕法尼亚州年度教师。
在一段视频中，哈弗福特高中的学生和同事们评价史密斯充满热情、关爱他人、富有魅力且善于互动。
“他就是你理想中教师的模样，”校长皮特·多纳吉在视频中说道，“他会将美国非裔研究或美国历史与学生的生活联系起来。”
史密斯回顾了教师能够对学生生活产生的影响。对他而言，他最喜爱的老师是一年级的梅森女士。
“她带给我的感受，”史密斯说，“所以我始终认为，教师的力量不在于教学内容本身，而在于你让学生感受到了什么，这才是他们会铭记于心的。”
史密斯认为，让学生“知道你在乎他们”至关重要。
“同时还要能够发现学生自身未曾察觉的闪光点。”
史密斯还是一名资深篮球教练，在哈弗福特高中执教新生队。
“我曾是他的球员之一，他让我感受到自己被看见，”一名前球员告诉《CBS早间新闻》，“他让我觉得自己确实拥有人生目标。”
史密斯对篮球的热爱始于幼年。他最喜欢的球员是朱利叶斯·欧文，绰号J博士，史密斯表示正是欧文让他“深深爱上”了这项运动。
欧文亲自现身《CBS早间新闻》，祝贺史密斯获评全美年度教师，给了他一个惊喜。
“当我得知莱昂的获奖消息时，我意识到他所在的哈弗福特高中，距离我曾经住了11年的房子仅咫尺之遥，”欧文说道，“所以我们之间有种联结……我说，‘那我们就去节目现场吧，去见见这些人，传递一些快乐，传递一些爱。’”
欧文回忆了一位对自己人生产生重大影响的老师。
“对我影响最深远的是雷·威尔逊先生，他其实在我的高中教授特殊教育，但同时也是我的篮球教练，”欧文说道，他将威尔逊形容为一生的良师益友。
“他活到了80多岁，始终陪伴在我身边。无论遇到任何事情，大事小事，我随时都能打给他，无论白天黑夜。那是一段特别的情谊。”
史密斯称与欧文见面是一种荣幸，并表示他将永远铭记这一刻。
全美年度教师揭晓
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/cbs-mornings-exclusively-reveals-2026-national-teacher-of-the-year/
《CBS早间新闻》独家揭晓2026年全美年度教师
（播出时长：10分21秒）
Leon Smith of Pennsylvania named 2026 National Teacher of the Year: “He is everything you want in a teacher”
April 21, 2026 / 11:11 AM EDT / CBS News
By Kelsie Hoffman
“CBS Mornings” exclusively revealed Pennsylvania high school teacher Leon Smith as the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, which is selected by the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year program.
Smith, a social studies teacher at Haverford High School in Havertown, Pennsylvania, said the honor “just means everything.”
“It’s just such an honor to be able to represent teachers all over the country and really stand on the shoulders of so many others that have come before me that have done just such great work,” Smith said in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.
Smith, who teaches AP U.S. history and AP African American studies, was previously named the 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
In a video, students at Haverford High School and colleagues described Smith as passionate, caring, charismatic and engaging.
“He is everything you want in a teacher,” principal Pete Donaghy said in the video. “He relates African American studies or U.S. history to his students.”
Smith reflected on the difference teachers can make in the lives of their students. For him, his favorite teacher was his first grade teacher, Ms. Mason.
“Just how she made me feel,” Smith said. “So I just think that’s the power of a teacher, that it’s not always the content but it’s how you make the students feel is what they remember.”
Smith said he thinks it’s crucial to let students “know that you care.”
“And also just being able to see things in students that they cannot see in themselves.”
Smith is also a longtime basketball coach, coaching the freshman team at Haverford High School.
“I was one of his players and he made sure that I felt seen,” a former player told “CBS Mornings.” “He made me feel like I actually had a purpose.”
Smith’s love for basketball started when he was young. His favorite player ever is Julius Erving, known as Dr. J., who Smith said made him “fall in love” with the game.
Erving surprised Smith on “CBS Mornings” by congratulating him in person on being named the National Teacher of the Year.
“When I got the notification about Leon, I realized that his school Haverford is literally right around the corner from a house that I lived in for 11 years,” Erving said. “So there was a connection …I said, ‘Well, let’s go and be on the show. Go see some people. Spread some joy. Spread some love.’”
Erving recalled a teacher who had an impact on his life.
“The most significant was Mr. Ray Wilson, who actually taught special ed in my high school, but he was also my basketball coach,” Erving said, describing Wilson as a lifelong mentor.
“He lived until he was in his 80s, and he was always there. He was always my first call anytime anything came up. Big or small, I could always call him, anytime, day or night. That was special.”
Smith called meeting Erving an honor and said he’s thankful for a moment that he’ll never forget.
National Teacher of the Year revealed
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/cbs-mornings-exclusively-reveals-2026-national-teacher-of-the-year/
“CBS Mornings” exclusively reveals 2026 National Teacher of the Year
(10:21)
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