February 24, 2025
By Mariia Lytvynchuk ’26
Susquehanna University graduate Ashlie Crosson ’11 is one of four finalists for 2025’s National Teacher of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
“I’m thrilled to be selected and truly humbled and grateful for the community of students, colleagues and loved ones that helped me to get here,” Crosson said. “This pinnacle is the result of all three districts I’ve worked for as well as the foundational education and training I received in my undergraduate and graduate studies.”
Crosson, who currently serves as an English teacher at Mifflin County High School, was Pennsylvania’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Throughout her career, Crosson said her goal was never awards or recognition, but rather “to make others shine.” She became an educator because she wanted to give the next generation of students the same care and support she once received herself.
“My success is the undeniable product of remarkable individuals who dedicated themselves to helping young people, and I realized that if I could ever have an impact like that on just one kid, it would be a life well spent,” Crosson said. “And that’s what continues to inspire me. There’s always going to be another classroom full of kids who need someone to see something in them.”
Inspired by the impact of her own mentors, Crosson now calls on fellow educators to be that guiding force for their students. “Keep advocating for your students, keep championing your schools and your communities, and keep growing as a professional by collaborating and taking risks and asking questions,” she urged.
After graduating from Susquehanna University with a degree in English and secondary education, she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Penn State University and a gifted education endorsement from Millersville University. In 2018, she became a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellow. A passionate advocate for literacy and global education, Crosson integrates international perspectives into her teaching and leads student trips abroad.