College of Education alumna prepares to serve as National Teacher of Year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To say Ashlie Crosson, a Penn State College of Education alumna and English and journalism teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, has had a memorable year would be an understatement.

In 2024, she was nominated for and won the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. Then, earlier this year, she was named a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year award.

Then, she said, she received a phone call that left her feeling a mix of shock, humility and immense gratitude — she had been selected as the National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) becoming the first teacher from Pennsylvania to win the award, although she had to largely keep it a secret for a while.

“My significant other, Josh, was there when I received the phone call,” Crosson said. “The selection remains confidential for several weeks, but the next person I got to tell was Ms. Williams, the woman who inspired me to become a teacher. I have met so many phenomenal educators across our state and our country. To think that I am qualified to be one of their representatives for the next year is beyond my wildest imagination.”

Ms. Williams is Tona Williams, who was first Crosson’s teacher as a student in the same Mifflin County School District for which she now teaches and was later a colleague in a neighboring classroom until Williams’ retirement at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

“She saw potential in me when I didn't see it in myself,” Crosson said. “She made her students feel like they matter. So, coming back and being able to teach with her, that really was like a personal dream come true for me.”

Because the announcement would be made live on “CBS Mornings,” Crosson traveled to New York City to appear on the April 29 edition of the program and be interviewed by hosts Nate Burleson, Vladimir Duthiers and Adriana Diaz.

Back home, her school tuned in to watch the announcement live. When Crosson returned to school, she received a hero’s welcome.

“I came back to my room covered in balloons and streamers and congratulatory notes,” she said. “My department, student teacher and students planned together for my return from the CBS studios, and it was really sweet of them.”

Crosson, who received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Susquehanna University in 2011, began her teaching career in Delaware. After a year, she was able to return to Pennsylvania as she joined the Bellefonte Area School District. It was during her eight-year tenure there that she opted to pursue a master’s degree from Penn State.

She enrolled in the Educational Leadership program, which appealed to her because of her desire to study curriculum and development in a program that wasn’t geared toward aspiring school principals — a combination that proved difficult to find. She found what she was looking for at Penn State and credits the program and the faculty who taught and advised her with taking her career to the next level.

“Penn State propelled my education and my career forward by giving me an incredible student experience,” Crosson said. “I pursued my master’s degree while teaching full-time, and I benefitted tremendously from my hybrid courseload. Taking classes through World Campus while also attending some at University Park was the ideal pacing and structure for me. My professors and adviser in the education department were so engaged with their students and so dedicated to the courses they taught. I grew as an educator, as a learner, and as a leader under their guidance.”

After graduation and as an Advanced Placement English teacher, Crosson has continued to use Penn State as a resource for her students — most of whom are planning to attend college after high school.

By utilizing Lewistown’s relative proximity to the University Park campus (approximately 30 miles away) to give her students a valuable experience, Crosson said they will have a leg up when the time comes to start their collegiate journey. 

“Almost every year, my students have come to campus to research at the library and work with the librarians,” Crosson said. “They get the chance to tip-toe into what it's like to be a college student while familiarizing themselves with campus resources, and I'm so grateful that Penn State provides that experience. Helping high school graduates navigate their transition to college is a crucial part of setting them up for future success.”

Being National Teacher of the Year is a full-time job itself, meaning Crosson ironically will be out of the classroom for the 2025-26 school year. However, while she will spend a year away from teaching, she said she is looking forward to the platform for advocacy this honor will provide.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to shine a positive light on our community and to celebrate how so many people and places have become a part of a story that has ultimately led to this honor,” she said. “I talk a lot about how Mifflin County is ‘the community that raised me,’ and I love that my students get to see just how beneficial their upbringing can be to their future dreams. At that same time, education in our country has become a significant talking point for our nation. I have the privilege to advocate for students, educators and schools as we work through the changes that come our way, and I hold that responsibility very carefully.”