Honoring Teaching Excellence: Meet Ashlie Crosson, 2025 National Teacher of the Year and First Gen College Grad
The role of a teacher goes far beyond instruction—it shapes the future of communities, builds critical thinking in a democratic society, and transforms lives. That’s why the National Teacher of the Year recognition, established by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in 1952, holds such lasting significance.
Each year, one outstanding educator is selected from a pool of state-level winners to represent the best of public education across the United States. This year, that honor goes to Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
Ashlie Crosson is the first Pennsylvanian to ever receive the National Teacher of the Year title. She was selected from a group of 56 state and jurisdictional teachers of the year, standing out for her ability to foster belonging, build student voice, and champion educational equity in and beyond the classroom.
Meet Ashlie Crosson
A first-generation college graduate and a role model of the very district where she now teaches, Crosson returned to Mifflin County with a mission to empower students through literacy, journalism, and critical thinking. She currently teaches English 10, AP Language & Composition, and serves as advisor for the school’s newspaper and magazine, helping students amplify their voices through writing.
Crosson holds a BA in English/Journalism from Susquehanna University, an MA in Educational Leadership from Penn State, and a gifted education endorsement from Millersville University. Her teaching style is grounded in compassion and care, paired with a drive to hold students to high standards that push them to grow and lead.
Students describe her as someone who “shows up every day and gives 100%,” creating a classroom environment where students are seen, challenged, and inspired to think critically.
A Voice for Public Education
As National Teacher of the Year, Crosson will spend the next year traveling the country to advocate for public education and uplift the stories of students and educators. In her address at the NEA Representative Assembly, she emphasized the connection between teacher support and student success, stating, “What’s good for educators is what’s good for students.”
Crosson sees education as essential to preserving democracy. She has spoken about the urgency of the moment, the need to defend public education, and the importance of empowering teachers to shape a better future. She is a role model for her colleagues and for the students she serves both in her district and in our nation. As we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation in the year ahead, leaders like Ashlie represent the foundation of our democracy in how they lead and serve with their gifts, talents and abilities.
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