Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, PA, was named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year on May 1 by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
As a first-generation college student, Crosson was inspired to educate future generations by her teachers and counselors. Crosson's dream was always to teach English in the town she grew up in, Lewistown, PA. Crosson’s story is not only one of perseverance, but a testament to the impact educators can have on their students and the trajectory of their lives. It’s a story, with a career full of student success, that earned her the prestigious title of National Teacher of the Year.
“It feels like a big responsibility, but it’s also this incredible chance to share my kids and community with our country,” Crosson told “CBS Mornings.”
Crosson currently teaches English 10 and Advanced Placement language and composition, among other classes, at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, PA-the same district where she was a student After earning her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Journalism, Crosson went on to earn her Master's Degree in educational leadership at Penn State University, as well as a gifted endorsement from Millersville University.
In 2020, Crosson returned to her hometown to continue the cycle of kindness she was shown by her past teachers to the students who now sit in the seats she once occupied. And it was there where her passion for teaching and journalism helped shape the work she is doing today.
After spearheading the revival of the Mifflin High School’s journalism program in 2021, Crosson began advising the production of the Lewistown Sentinel and The PawPrint, the school newspaper and district magazine, respectively.
"Ashlie embodies our core belief that public schools and educators spark imagination, cultivate curiosity and critical thinking, and open doors for every student—no matter their race, background, ZIP code, or ability," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "For Ashlie, teaching is more than a profession—it’s a true calling."
One student reporter told “CBS Mornings” that Crosson taught her everything she knows about writing.
“Miss Crosson [is] a huge part of who I am professionally,” said the student who now writes for the sports section of the Lewistown Sentinel.
Crosson is no stranger to the spotlight. In fact, only a year ago, she was named the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
In 2018, Crosson became a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms fellow, which led her to reframing her curricula and focusing on fostering the students’ global citizenship.
As an elective course, Crosson teaches Survival Stories, which looks at global humanitarian crises from a youth perspective.
In her fourteen years of teaching, Crosson has managed to turn her dream of being someone that her students can depend on into a reality.
PSEA President Aaron Chapin congratulated Crosson, highlighting that she “works hard every day to nurture in her students a love for learning.”
