CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education has named its finalists for the 2026 Teacher of the Year.
The finalists this year are as follows:
- Tiffany Barnes — Wheeling Middle School (Ohio County)
- Brooke Davis — Buffalo High School (Putnam County)
- Amber Hibbard — Capon Bridge Middle School (Hampshire County)
- Renee Powell — Big Elm Elementary School (Harrison County)
- Nicole Pratt — East Lynn Elementary School (Wayne County)
Barnes, a two-time Iraq veteran, serves as a special education teacher at Wheeling Middle School and is also a certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Barnes established the school’s annual Autism Acceptance 5K race to support special education classrooms throughout the county.
Davis is an English teacher at Buffalo High School in Putnam County. She holds roles as Faculty Senate President, student council sponsor and Academic Showdown team coach.
Hibbard is an 8th grade math teacher at Capon Bridge Middle School in Hampshire County. Her teaching journey began during the pandemic when volunteering at a South Carolina foster care facility. There, she created structured learning environments for middle schoolers.
Powell, a 4th grade teacher, has taught at Big Elm Elementary School in Harrison County for 14 years. She is a team leader and a member of Big Elm’s hiring committee. Powell is also a member of the English Language Arts Standards Review Committee.
Pratt is a 2nd grade teacher at East Lynn Elementary School in Wayne County, where she has spent her entire 13-year career. Pratt chairs the hiring committee at Pratt and serves on the school’s leadership team.
State School Superintendent Michelle Blatt says these teachers are special and make a difference at their respective schools.
“The impact a teacher leaves on a student extends beyond the classroom. They nurture personal growth, recognize potential and offer unwavering support that students need to overcome obstacles well past their public-school years,” Blatt said in a statement. “Our educators are recognized for not only being thought leaders, but also innovators because they adapt classroom practices that align with the unique needs of their students. Each of our finalists embodies these qualities, and I am proud of the example they are setting for other educators.”
The Teacher of the Year Award and the Service Personnel of the Year Award will be announced on Tuesday, September 9, at the state Culture Center in Charleston.