Oak Hill Middle School Instructional Coach Tiandra Canty was selected as the 2025-26 Teacher of the Year Oct. 1 during the annual banquet in Georgia College’s Magnolia Ballroom.
Canty is an alum of Georgia College & State University with a Masters in Kinesiology, the study of how the body moves. She originally went to college in pursuit of becoming a physical therapist, but when she began working at a daycare her goal changed to work with children.
“I’ve always had a passion for helping people.
In 2017 (at OHMS), that was my first teaching job and overtime I developed as a leader and made an impact on students based on my lessons, which led me to become an instructional coach,” said Canty.
“When I worked at the daycare, I fell in love with working with kids so in-depth and was encouraged to apply at Oak Hill.
Once I began the job, I never turned back. With the joy of building relationships with my students, seeing their smiles, and the joy they can bring, I knew it was meant to be.”
Canty began working at Oak Hill Middle School in 2017 as a sixth-grade science teacher after a coworker at the daycare proposed the position to her. She also served as an eighth-grade science teacher until this July when she was promoted to an instructional coach.
She has also served as the Baldwin High School head girls track coach since 2020 and, according to a press release, “helped lead Oak Hill’s cross-country team to a championship this season.”
“I was an assistant coach for two years and was awarded the head coach position in 2020,” said Canty. “I grew up loving sports and all of my siblings were into sports. Sports can do so much to push and motivate students and it means so much to be a part of that as both a coach and teacher. That role also applies to my new position.”
For Canty, the most rewarding part of her position is coming up with lessons and activities for teachers to help “enlighten” their mindsets to find new additions or changes for their lesson plans. Her goal as an instructional coach is to make sure each student has support at school.
“My role is to support and improve instruction in the classroom by working directly with the students or helping teachers close gaps in the classroom. I miss being with the kids directly every day, but I love this new role,” said Canty. “I want to ensure that students can participate and excel in programs no matter socio-economic status and to strengthen myself when it comes to the instructional data.”
Her transition from being a physical therapist to an educator was unexpected but something Canty is “gracious” for. Her work as an athletic coach allows her to motivate students and serve others “as I would have wanted to as a therapist.”
“My goal was to be a physical therapist for a sports team,” said Canty.
“While my career title changed, I am serving a team and enjoy motivating and training my students.” Canty stated she was “shocked” and “gracious” to receive the nomination for and title of Teacher of the Year.
“I’m thankful to those who nominated me, for those who continue to support and mentor me, and to all of my fellow teachers who equally deserved this title,” said Canty. “It was an honor to stand with each and every nominee and celebrate together.”