After serving as a teacher, she took the opportunity to support the school in the role of dean of intervention and special education. She then transitioned to dean of upper elementary before becoming principal in 2020. She faced early challenges leading the school through the COVID-19 Pandemic but is proud of the strength and resiliency of the school’s staff and students.
“I do feel like I'm at a place now where we're starting to settle in and with that comes stability,” she said, adding there is always room to grow. “But, I do feel like we’re at a place where we’re building off successes each year. This year is exciting to me because I'm anticipating that we're going to hit some more of our goals and make some significant progress.”
Solomon said it’s important for students and their families to know that the staff at PreEminent share the responsibility of being role models with parents, and students are expected to act with dignity and respect.
“I remind them we're a school that uses Moral Focus virtues. When students come to school, they need to be respectful, and they’re going to use integrity. If they can't do that, then I'm holding them accountable. Let's use wisdom, let’s make wise choices, so I try to connect our Moral Focus virtues to things that I'm seeing across the building.”
Having been at PreEminent for the duration of her career, Solomon takes pride in the fact that she’s served in so many roles within the school. Whether it’s teaching, leading special education, English language learners, and intervention, she has the experience to relate to her all of her staff, and her team is ready and willing to step into any area where help is needed.
“We, as an admin team, are in the trenches with the staff. I've served just about every team, I've gotten a taste of all of it, but I think my staff would also say I am going to do whatever is needed to help where it’s needed. There have been days where I have been subbing in a teacher's classroom, I have been subbing in PE, I've been helping serve lunches. We have an admin team that is going to be in the trenches alongside our people versus us just barking out orders, and that's important to me.
Her team’s connection with their scholars has shown in a fun way, as well. There are two teachers who were former students at the school. Solomon said it’s means so much to know someone appreciated their experience so much they want to come back and work at the school.
“That to me is a compliment of what we have done,” she said.
Her goal for all scholars is the same as it was when she was teaching every day: for all kids to leave the school as good people.
“What I say at my enrollment information meetings is ‘we care about your kids’ academics, and we want them to be successful, but I also want them to leave us being good people.’ That's important to me. We want students using their manners, and not just here at school. We want this translating to when they leave our classrooms, when they leave PreEminent, that they want to be good people, and they want to do the right thing.”
Quick Facts:
- Solomon was a two-sport Division 1 college athlete, competing in soccer and basketball at Canisius University. She credits her time in sports with providing her with plenty of grit and determination.
- She enjoys spending time running.
- Sports continue to play a large role in her life. Her husband is a strength and conditioning coach for North Carolina State University’s football team, and their three children are all involved in their own sports.
- Books play a large role in her life, even if she falls asleep with one in hand. It’s usually fiction.
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About PreEminent Charter School
PreEminent Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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