Listen Top Shows Blog

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

Update: 2025-03-12

Share

Description

Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael sit down with 2025 PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith to discuss the challenges facing education today. From the shrinking teacher pipeline to the urgent need for more diverse educators, Leon shares his insights on why representation matters, how to rebuild the profession, and what gives him hope for the future.

Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.

Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Comments

In Channel

From book bans to better boards: Building political power for public education

From book bans to better boards: Building political power for public education

2025-09-0325:17

PSEA’s Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year Ann Monaghan

PSEA’s Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year Ann Monaghan

2025-08-2022:44

National Teacher of the Year Ashlie Crosson: "What I've learned"

National Teacher of the Year Ashlie Crosson: "What I've learned"

2025-08-0625:33

Fourth-generation PSEA member follows 100 years of family teaching legacy

Fourth-generation PSEA member follows 100 years of family teaching legacy

2025-07-2424:57

Inside the classroom program that talked to astronauts in space

Inside the classroom program that talked to astronauts in space

2025-07-0924:37

PSEA Lobby Days: Retired members speak up

PSEA Lobby Days: Retired members speak up

2025-06-2525:31

How PSEA Lobby Days turn passion into policy

How PSEA Lobby Days turn passion into policy

2025-06-1123:30

Father and daughter's shared path to teacher certification

Father and daughter's shared path to teacher certification

2025-05-2822:23

What happens at the House of Delegates…

What happens at the House of Delegates…

2025-05-2125:55

Why IUs are the backbone of Pennsylvania's education system

Why IUs are the backbone of Pennsylvania's education system

2025-05-1424:06

Burnout and breakthroughs: Special education in focus

Burnout and breakthroughs: Special education in focus

2025-04-3025:15

The great MRE cook-off

The great MRE cook-off

2025-04-1624:54

Fighting back against Trump's attack on education

Fighting back against Trump's attack on education

2025-04-0427:08

The fight for a living wage: ESPs take a stand

The fight for a living wage: ESPs take a stand

2025-03-2623:51

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

2025-03-1226:02

From classroom to cockpit: How one high school is changing aviation education

From classroom to cockpit: How one high school is changing aviation education

2025-02-2623:04

Teach happier: strategies for a more fulfilling career

Teach happier: strategies for a more fulfilling career

2025-02-1225:55

Breaking down the budget: What's in it for PA schools

Breaking down the budget: What's in it for PA schools

2025-02-0524:58

Why Phoenixville's Educators Rising program is a model for schools everywhere

Why Phoenixville's Educators Rising program is a model for schools everywhere

2025-01-2926:11

A student teacher's stipend story

A student teacher's stipend story

2025-01-1525:22

00:00

00:00

x

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith on representation, retention, and the future of teaching

Leon Smith, Aaron Chapin, Jeff Ney, Rachael West