An Ohio County middle school teacher has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 West Virginia Teacher of the Year, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) announced. Tiffany Barnes is a special education teacher at Wheeling Middle School in Ohio County. She holds certifications in Multi-categorical Special Education (Pre-K–Adult), Autism, and is a Reading Specialist. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from American Military University and a Master of Education in Reading from West Liberty University.
