Community Wishes Distinguished Educator Well After 36 Years of Service
ROOSEVELT, NEW YORK (AUGUST 2025)—The Roosevelt Union Free School District proudly honors the distinguished retirement of Dr. Barbara Solomon after 36 years of dedication to the community, most recently in her role as Centennial Avenue Elementary School Principal.
Dr. Solomon began her remarkable career in 1989 as a Pre-K teacher at the Bauer Avenue Pre-K Center. A year later, she was recruited by the late Lois Baron, Principal of the Harry D. Daniels Primary Center, where she served as an elementary teacher from 1990 to 1999. Her leadership journey continued as Summer School Principal for the BOCES Regional Summer High School Programs in 2000 and 2001.
Dr. Solomon was appointed Assistant Principal at Roosevelt High School in 2001 and held the role until 2008. She played a pivotal role in the organization and establishment of the newly constructed Roosevelt Middle School, where she also served as Assistant Principal from 2008 to 2009. Dr. Solomon assumed the role of Interim Principal at Centennial Avenue Elementary School in 2009 following the retirement of Patricia Charthern and was later named permanent principal that same year.
“Dr. Solomon is the embodiment of what it means to lead with purpose, passion, and pride,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Wightman. “Her unwavering commitment to academic excellence and cultural relevance has transformed Centennial Avenue Elementary and touched countless lives across our district. We are incredibly grateful for her visionary leadership and tireless advocacy for students and educators alike. She leaves behind a legacy of love, learning, and leadership that will inspire generations to come.”
Throughout her tenure, Dr. Solomon championed numerous initiatives that celebrated diversity, culture, and student voice. She is especially proud of spearheading Centennial Avenue’s annual Kwanzaa Celebration, a tradition that began more than 30 years ago at the Harry D. Daniels School. She also led the school’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and introduced the Hispanic Heritage Month Parade of Flags, a vibrant showcase of the diverse cultures and traditions represented in the school community.
A lifelong learner and advocate for equity in education, Dr. Solomon was awarded the Rauch Foundation Fellowship, which enabled her to attend the Reimagining Education Conference at Teachers College, Columbia University, in the summers of 2018 and 2019. That same year, she was selected as part of a Long Island delegation of educators who traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, to study the local educational system and explore strategies to close the achievement gap and promote racial healing on Long Island.
“I am most proud to see the professional growth of our teachers and academic achievement of our students over the years,” Dr. Solomon said. “I believe Teacher Collective Efficacy has been one of my most valuable professional development assets which has proven productive to enhance teachers’ best practices with common beliefs. We have also maintained the Efficacy Principles which have been engrained into our school culture: ‘Smart is not something you are Smart is something you get! Think you can! Work Hard! Get Smart!’”
Looking forward, Dr. Solomon plans on publishing her dissertation “How Teachers’ Culturally Relevant Beliefs and Practices Contribute to Mastery Achievement for African American Students.” Additionally, her goal is to serve as consultant with school districts interested in developing performing arts programs that uphold the cultural integrity and traditions of their students.
