by William Hudgins

Construction teacher Gary Solomon stands up, enjoying his day by teaching his students how to build something in the bay. Making sure that he helps them individually and giving them advice on how to make their builds better.

 Solomon’s construction class teaches students a lot more than how the tools work. “I try to find out what their strengths and their weaknesses are and what they know and what they think they know. And then try to build from there.” 

Even as he introduced tools into his classroom, he does it slowly and efficiently.

“We are starting off with hand tools, and not using power tools to start off with; you will see how much work goes into it and you will appreciate the power tools when you get them and then you will be able to see how your mind will let you build and how far your talent level will go why I do the things I do.”

For Solomon, who’s beginning his sixth year of teaching after the military, teaching construction is all about getting students to problem solve. 

“Teachers always said when I see that light bulb on the student for me it’s not the light bulb, it’s almost like the ‘aha’ version, like ‘aha’ moment where now I get why this tool does this, why I need to use this tool, why we need to do it this way, and now I can see that I can do something besides working at fast food.”

Solomon really cares for his students. He makes sure that his students learn the best way possible and that they can use something from that class to use in their real life. 

 Torin Clapp, administrative assistant to principal Pamela Hall, said,  “I have heard him talk about worrying about students and their daily life, their future. He just wants the best for them. He wants them to learn as much as they can from him. He thinks all the time about projects and things he can start on that will benefit all of his students, in the future and things that they won’t forget and will remember the thing that he taught them.”

Solomon’s wife, Laura, who teaches business, said that he cares about his students. 

“He knows that if a student is sitting in his room or in the bay and they are not their normal self. That there is something going on in their world, whether it’s problems with a significant other or problems at home, and he pulls them aside, has a conversation and talks with them.”

According to Mrs.Solomon, his dedication pushes him to help students  outside of the classroom.

“He went to the kids’ houses and helped them repair plumbing problems that they have at their house. He’s gone and taking our son and helping kids repair their heating because during the winter time they didn’t have any heat at their house. He cares about his kids as a person and tries to help them, when he has the ability to help them.”

Solomon used his skills to help his students, while teaching them about the importance of the trades.

“Because the trades will always be there, you are always going to need the lights on, always going to need the toilets to flush, your car to be worked on, you’re always going to need that. We can do IT all day long and make AI do it all, (but) you need to be able to provide people the resources, the basic resources, electricity, water, heat, air, things like that. With that job you will be able to provide for others, help others and help yourself at the same time.”

If there’s anything you should know about Solomon, it’s this:

“I love my family, I love my country, and love what I do here at Jeff High, and there is no school I want to be at besides this school.”