WHEELING – Wheeling Middle School special education teacher Tiffany Barnes is the 2026 West Virginia Teacher of the Year.

Barnes received the honor during ceremonies Tuesday night at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston.

Barnes is a two-time Iraq War veteran with the U.S. Army Military Police. She went on to earn 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.

Barnes began her career in Ohio County Schools five years ago as a substitute aide and cook. She went on to earn her teaching certification, and she now teaches full time in the autism classroom at Wheeling Middle School.

She also is a certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

On Memorial Day weekend, she participated in the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend. Notably, she was decked out in camouflage and carrying the American flag while participating in the contests. Most notably, she wore a backpack adorned with the photos of fallen comrades she knew who were either killed in action or were victims of post-traumatic stress disorder after returning home.