Submitted photo
Commissioners honor Ashleigh Crosson as she completes her tenure as National Teacher of the Year. Pictured are Commissioner Noah Wise, Ashlie Crosson, Commissioner Kevin Kodish, and Commissioner Rob Postal.

LEWISTOWN — In a nation with roughly four million teachers shaping the lives of students every day, one of the very best stands right here in Mifflin County.

Ashlie Crosson, a Mifflin County High School educator and graduate, was recognized by the Mifflin County Commissioners on Thursday as she concluded her tenure as the 2025-26 National Teacher of the Year.

Selected from among top educators representing all 50 states and U.S. territories, Crosson’s honor places her at the pinnacle of the teaching profession in the United States.

“This year hasn’t really been my story,” Crosson said during the Mifflin County Commissioners’ meeting at the Mifflin County Courthouse in Lewistown on Thursday. “It has been ours.”

Over the past 12 months, Crosson has traveled across the country as an ambassador for education, speaking to audiences and advocating for students and teachers. She emphasized that her journey has always been rooted in her hometown.

“I am a very proud graduate of the Mifflin County School District,” she said. “Education has never been just an obligation — it has been a way of life.”

As she reflected on her national role, Crosson pointed to the broader impact of her work and the responsibility of representing educators across the country.

“I have spent 12 months advocating for 3.2 million teachers and 74 million children in America,” she said.

Despite the national scope of her work, Crosson said her focus never strayed far from home.

“To be able to shine a positive light on Mifflin County on a national stage has been the greatest opportunity that I will have in my career to serve my hometown,” she said.

Her remarks underscored the connection between her personal achievement and the community that helped shape her.

“This is the place I serve as living proof of what Mifflin County is capable of,” Crosson said.

As Crosson prepares to return to the classroom, she said she is looking forward to bringing her experiences back to the students and educators of Mifflin County.

“What excites me most, though, is that the best part of this journey has yet to come,” she said. “I get to bring all of that knowledge, inspiration and perspective back home with me.”

Commissioners echoed that sense of pride in recognizing her accomplishment.

“This award is the most prestigious recognition bestowed upon educators in the United States, and we are so fortunate to be the home of the 2025 winner,” Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish said.

“It is mind boggling to think of Ashlie’s accomplishment! There are about four million K-12 educators in the United States, and Ashlie was cited as the best. We are all immensely proud of her,” Kodish added.

Purchase of service agreement

The commissioners approved:

• Purchase of a service agreement for use, if needed, by Children and Youth Services for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2026.

• Sub-recipient for the CDBG FFY 2022 with Armagh Township for the Public Trail Improvements Project.

• Letter of amendment No. 8 for the West Railroad Bridge replacement project in Brown Township to change the amount eligible to the municipality from $826,400 to $3,577,837.

Personnel matters

The commissioners approved:

• Retirement of Robert Johnson, corrections officer, effective May 14; • Resignation of Nicholas Loudenslager, deputy sheriff, effective June 5; Promotion of youth caseworker I to caseworker II, effective June 8; Hiring Peter Picciurro for deputy sheriff, effective June 15.

Next meeting

The commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, in the Mifflin County Courthouse in Lewistown.