Meet Baldwin County School District's Teacher of the Year, Oak Hill Middle School’s Tiandra Canty

If you wander the halls of Oak Hill Middle School, you might spot Tiandra Canty doing exactly what she does best, connecting. Whether it’s encouraging a student in science lab, chatting with kids in the hallway, or coaching on the track field, Canty radiates the kind of energy that makes school feel like a second home.

This year, Canty was selected to take on the position of Instructional Coach for Oak Hill Middle School, “I honestly think it was a calling,” she says. “Even as a teacher, I would find myself helping others; planning lessons, looking at data, asking what’s best for their kids. Stepping into the role of instructional coach just gave me more time to put forth that work.”

On Wednesday, October 1st, Tiandra Canty was officially announced as the District's 

From Athlete to Educator

Canty didn’t originally plan to be a teacher. She earned her first master’s degree in kinesiology, “the study of how the body moves,” she explained, with dreams of becoming a physical therapist for athletes. But life had other plans.

Working in a daycare, she was nudged to apply for an opening at Oak Hill. “Teaching wasn’t on my radar,” she admits. “But when I got here, I fell in love with being around the kids. Every day isn’t perfect, but every day is a day to learn.”

Science + Joy = The Perfect Formula

Canty taught both sixth and eighth grade science before moving into her current coaching role. For her, the magic comes when students make discoveries for themselves.

“The joy comes when we’re doing hands-on experiments. They’ll run a lab and suddenly shout, ‘Oh, this does work!’ Seeing that curiosity come to life is unmatched.”

Coaching on and off the Field

Her athletic background still shines through. Canty ran track at Paine College and now coaches Baldwin High School’s track team. “It’s a way for me to use my kinesiology background. We design workouts, talk about form, and make sure athletes understand the purpose behind what they do.”

She also helped lead Oak Hill’s cross-country team to a championship season; proof that her passion inspires both in the classroom and on the field.

A Passion That Shows

This is Canty’s first Teacher of the Year award, but her colleagues weren’t surprised. “I put forth 100% effort in everything I do,” she says. “And I let kids and teachers know it’s not about perfection. I’m not perfect. But I will always stand behind what I believe in and try to make the best of it.”

Building Student Leaders

As if that weren’t enough, Canty is also spearheading the Oak Hill Ambassador Program, the school’s new student ambassador program. “I want to use it to shine a light on all the good that’s happening here at Oak Hill,” she says. From planning spirit days to organizing community service events, Canty is helping students find their voices as leaders.

Family First

Outside of teaching, Canty stays grounded by spending time with her husband, Coach Floyd Canty (who coaches football at Oak Hill), and their son,Elijah, who’s a 5th grade studnet at LVA about to join the Oak Hill family as a student. “Family is everything,” she says. “Teaching takes a lot out of you, but making time to show up for them matters most.”