When Ashlie Crosson first entered the classroom as an educator 15 years ago, little did she know that she would later have the opportunity and honor of a lifetime: to crisscross the country as an ambassador for the teaching profession and advocate for students.

“When you put educators, families, communities and stakeholders in a room to talk about how to make schools better, it is the most positively contagious space,” says Crosson, the 2025 National Teacher of the Year. “If you are involved in education, you are inherently driven to improve because that’s what education is.”

Crosson, an English teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, has addressed a wide range of audiences, from PTA leaders and the National Education Association to retired educators and policymakers on Capitol Hill. She has even traveled to London for an AI summit with Google to discuss what artificial intelligence looks like in classrooms and how to use it responsibly.

In every setting, she says, she is learning, even after more than a decade in the classroom. “In each space I’m becoming a better teacher because I’m surrounded by people who are the best advocates for their communities and organizations.”

Lifelong Learning

As a student and first in her family to attend college, Crosson found a sense of belonging in a journalism classroom in her hometown of Lewistown. Her teacher created a space where she could focus on herself and her growth, and the impact was lasting. “If I could give to another generation of students what was given to me as a kid,” she says, “that would be a really rewarding way to spend a career.”

Crosson went on to graduate from Susquehanna University with a bachelor of arts in English and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Penn State. She loves what she does —sharing knowledge and helping young people find and use their voice. “This generation is so engaged,” she says. “Society is coming at them all the time with these issues that they’re supposed to care about and have an opinion about. It’s only fair that we help them learn how to articulate those opinions.”

She has used her own voice to help elevate her profession. Despite the variety of audiences she has faced this year, her message carries consistent throughlines: what is good for the profession, what is good for students, and what is good for communities are deeply connected. Crosson believes teachers must “practice what we teach” by modeling vulnerability, resilience, and a growth mindset. Being human with students, she says, helps them overcome anxiety and discomfort and shows them that learning is a lifelong process. “What’s beautiful about students and teachers is that they learn from each other every day.”

As she has interacted with educators across the country, Crosson has been struck by the innovation occurring in classrooms — from reimagining teacher leadership roles beyond the traditional path to principal, to states like Arizona and North Carolina exploring ways to sustain the profession while improving student success. “That’s a gold mine of potential for our country,” she says.

Teaching as an Art

Crosson is also clear about what she wants the public to understand about teaching. One of the biggest misconceptions, she notes, is that teaching is easy. “Education is a science and an art,” she explains. Teachers must understand the human brain and social dynamics while also performing — engaging students in ways that spark passion and understanding. Doing both at once is extraordinarily complex.

Though being away from her own classroom has been difficult, Crosson sees this year as a profound opportunity to grow and to shine a spotlight on students and educators nationwide. Her ultimate message — to students, families, and communities alike — is simple and powerful: Teachers are dedicated professionals doing what’s best for kids, and through education, “you can touch the world.”

“I have a tremendous blessing to work in an incredibly beautiful and persistent profession filled with teachers and educators who are 5,000 times better than me,” Crosson says. “It’s really life-giving.”

Hit a Homerun With Teachers

Ashlie Crosson encourages parents to engage with their children and schools in order to help students get the best possible education. Here are her tips to family leaders:

• Talk with children. Go beyond the surface-level “How was your day?” Know what your children are studying in school so that you can talk to them about it.
• Build relationships with teachers. Share what’s happening in a child’s life. It will help a teacher better understand the child and build connections.
• Go to school events and open houses. You can learn a lot about what’s going on inside and outside the classroom.

“Your school is like home base for your community,” Crosson says. Strong connections between families and schools strengthen everyone.

Barbranda Walls is a freelance writer and editor in Alexandria, Va.