Orlando, Fla. — For A+ Teacher Tameka Solomon, teamwork makes the dream work.
She has a unique style of teaching and reaching students down to a science.
“So I’m working doing my best, they’re working doing their best,” Solomon said. “The parents are at home doing their best with the kids, so it’s everybody working together.”
Solomon stays busy digging deep into the day’s science lessons with her sixth graders at Odyssey Middle School in Orlando.
“You know, actually teaching wasn’t my first career; I was a financial advisor,” she said. “But one day we volunteered for Teach for America, and I actually shadowed a classroom teacher, and after that day I decided this is what I want to do.”
Transitioning to teaching was fairly easy for her, too.
“So the next teaching fair opened up for OCPS, I went for my interview, I was offered a job right on the spot and that’s all she wrote,” Solomon said. “No looking in the rearview mirror.”
This is her 20th year teaching — she has spent nine years at Odyssey Middle School.
“I’ve always taught science because that’s my love. I love sharing my love of learning with the children,” Solomon said. “I’m still a learner. I still take classes myself and I like to share my love of science and learning with the upcoming generations.”
“I actually want people to believe in public education, believe in the teachers,” she added. “We are working very hard. We are very passionate about what we do, and we do want to see these kids be the best people they can be.”