The Solar Award
Awarded to an individual who radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness and is a comfort or joy to those around them.

Tery Solomon, RECIPIENT OF THE 2006 SOLAR AWARD

NOMINATOR'S STATEMENT
Tery Solomon began her working life as a writer and free-lance journalist in Chicago and New York City. When the younger of her two children was launched into school, she began to work at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ, as a teacher assistant working primarily with special education students in classrooms. She completed graduate school and returned to the High School as a secondary English teacher. In the ten years since then, Tery has had a powerful impact on the lives of many students at CHS.

Among her achievements:
She has taught Journalism classes and helped students develop a high school newspaper that is innovative, informative, and lively.
She has mentored students who often are overlooked in the competitive world of high school sports and academics. Sometimes she has simply been a listening presence in the lives of lonely or disaffected students. Sometimes she has seen talent or potential others have missed and teased, encouraged, nurtured, and tugged it into being.
She has spent long after-school hours directing students in dramas, some familiar and some not, some full-length and some brief, and all without financial compensation.
She developed and pioneered Advanced Placement English Language as a course for juniors at CHS and through that course has created a partnership with McCarter Theatre in Princeton, “Youth Ink,” to develop young playwrights.
Perhaps most importantly, she has served as a role model and inspiration for students. Her integrity, desire to excel, sense of humor, warmth, and creativity are all powerful aspects of her classroom presence.

Tery is an exemplary teacher whose love of her subject and love of her students combine with powerful results. She is positive, enthusiastic, energetic and passionate about her work and those she teaches. Several generations of high school students have been the beneficiaries of her warmth, cheer, and comforting, stimulating presence.

2008 The Solar Award Recipient

2007 The Solar Award Recipient

2005 The Solar Award Recipient

2004 The Solar Award Recipient