For Lindsay Solomon, education isn’t just a profession—it’s a lifelong passion that started with imaginary classroom students in her basement. As a young girl, she’d beg her dad to take her to the teacher store, determined to set up her own classroom at home. That passion deepened when she met her 4th grade teacher, the kind of teacher who made learning feel joyful, who made every student feel cared for. “I wanted to be just like her,” Lindsay shared. “She had so much love for all of us—and made learning fun.”
Today, Lindsay brings that same energy and intentionality to her second-grade classroom at Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences (DAAS). Lindsay has been at DAASever since a high school connection nudged her to apply over a decade ago. “I love my team. I work with so many great people here. It makes all the difference,” she said.
“I love my team. I work with so many great people here. It makes all the difference”
Leading from the Classroom
Lindsay is now in her 14th year of teaching and leads as a Model Teacher—a distinction in her school’s innovative program that recognizes instructional excellence and leadership. Through this role, Lindsay mentors other teachers and collaborates to strengthen instruction across grade levels. She’s known for designing creative and rigorous student activitiest, using both informal and formal data to create student groupings, and supporting colleagues in delivering small-group lessons that meet students right where they are.
Her principal, Ndidi Onike-Onuzulike, describes her as a quiet force: someone who leads with humility, consistency, and vision. “She’s an instructional expert who’s always willing to teach others. Lindsay never stops learning. She uplifts her team and ensures her students—and colleagues—always have what they need to succeed.”
Currently, Lindsay leads her second-grade team in a team-teaching model, guiding data chats that incorporate both literacy and math diagnostics, designing small-group reading interventions, and coaching her peers on delivering those lessons during intervention blocks. She is intentional, student-centered, and generous with her expertise. “Lindsay is the kind of teacher who always shows up for others—whether it’s supporting a peer through a tough moment or celebrating a student’s breakthrough,” her principal shared.
A Presence That Matters
But what Lindsay values most isn’t the accolades—it’s the relationships. She speaks with emotion about the student who once challenged her, who years later returned to the building just to say hello. “She stood in my hallway and surprised me,” Lindsay recalled. “She said, ‘I can’t believe you’re still here.’ That really stayed with me. With so much turnover in education, knowing I was someone who remained constant—it meant a lot.”
That sense of consistency and care is a hallmark of Lindsay’s practice. Lindsay’s school experience was quite different from her students – she attended Catholic school just outside Detroit. Acknowledging this difference in experiences, she’s worked intentionally to get to know her community and students. Her commitment to learning is evident – Among her colleagues at DAAS, Lindsay is known for embodying a teaching approach that centers the needs and brilliance of her students in Detroit. “School has to be a place of safety, love, and consistency,” she said. “I’ve learned to listen more and assume less, to meet kids where they are, while holding high expectations.”
Being part of the TeachMichigan National Board Certified Teacher Fellowship has only sharpened her focus. “It’s been a game-changer. It connected me with people who are purpose-driven and committed to excellence and equity. It reminds me I’m not doing this work alone.”
Even amid the demands of raising two children and pursuing national board certification, Lindsay remains committed to growth—not just her own, but her students’ and her peers’. “I try to show up every day with love, high expectations, and belief in what my students can achieve,” she said. “When things are hard, I think about that student who came back. That’s why I’m here.”
Advice for New Educators
When asked what advice she’d give to new teachers, Lindsay doesn’t hesitate. “Lead with your heart. Build strong relationships. Ask for help. And give yourself grace—because growth takes time.” She pauses, then adds: “Showing up with love and belief in your students makes a huge difference.”
And that’s what Lindsay does, every single day.
“Lead with your heart. Build strong relationships. Ask for help. And give yourself grace—because growth takes time.”
Lindsay Solomon
Lindsay Solomon is a second-grade teacher at Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences in Detroit. She is a TeachMichigan National Board Certified Teacher Fellow and serves as a Model Teacher at DAAS. Lindsay leads her second-grade team in a collaborative team-teaching structure, coaches peers in data-driven instruction, and is deeply committed to helping all students feel seen, supported, and academically challenged. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two children..
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