Saturday, November 14, 2026
For more than 25 years, Gwyn Solomon has dedicated her career to helping children discover the joy of reading. Now, the Oceanside educator is being recognized for her commitment to making literacy instruction both meaningful and engaging for young learners.
Solomon, a teaching and learning coach at Oceanside School No. 6, was named a Literacy Luminary by Molloy University during its second annual Literacy Conference last month in Rockville Centre.
The award recognizes educators who advance literacy instruction, inspire a love of reading and create meaningful learning experiences for students and fellow teachers.
Solomon is the second Oceanside School District staff member to receive the honor, following Jessica Keegan, the district's director of elementary teaching and learning, who was recognized in 2025.
"Teaching children to become readers and more importantly, to develop a love for reading has been a passion of mine for over 25 years," Solomon said. "My current role allows me to work with incredible teachers to support their students' learning by designing and implementing data driven lessons that are having a big impact on our young readers in Oceanside."
As a teaching and learning coach, Solomon works alongside educators to develop instructional strategies that strengthen students' reading abilities while fostering enthusiasm for literacy.
Her approach combines research-based teaching practices with creative, hands-on activities designed to make reading accessible and enjoyable for young students.
In their nominations, School No. 6 Principal Julie McGahan and Keegan praised Solomon's ability to translate her extensive knowledge of how children learn to read into engaging lessons that encourage curiosity, confidence and a lifelong appreciation for books.
"She helps teachers design small group instruction and centers where decoding and comprehension feel like magical discoveries," Keegan wrote.
Solomon received the award in the early elementary and elementary education category, joining four other educators recognized for their contributions to literacy instruction across Long Island.
The other honorees were Tiffany Maksimowicz of Island Park Public Schools, who received the Rising Star award; Mary Kay Mannle of New Hyde Park Memorial High School, recognized in secondary education; Theresa Walter of Great Neck Public Schools, honored for leadership and administration; and Kerry Vann of Molloy University, recognized in higher education.
The awards were presented during a conference that brought approximately 230 educators, students and educational leaders together to exchange ideas, explore emerging instructional strategies and discuss the changing role of literacy in classrooms.
The event, themed "Embracing Literacy Practices in All Disciplines: Past, Present, and Future, PreK-20," emphasized that literacy extends beyond traditional reading and writing lessons, playing an essential role in communication, critical thinking and comprehension across academic subjects.
"Literacy is not something that belongs exclusively in an English classroom. It is the foundation of learning across every subject, at every grade level," said Vicky Giouroukakis, associate dean of Molloy's School of Education and Human Services.
The conference featured a keynote address by Angelique Johnson-Dingle, deputy commissioner for prekindergarten through 12th-grade instructional support at the New York State Education Department.
Participants also attended 24 workshops covering topics such as reading assessment, multilingual learner support, personalized learning and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on classroom instruction.
Keegan was among the presenters, joining Emma Annonio and Rina Hartigan for a workshop focused on practical strategies to help students read and write multisyllabic words.
The gathering also explored New York state's changing graduation requirements and how educators can prepare students to demonstrate proficiency through evolving assessment methods.
For Oceanside, Solomon's recognition highlighted the district's continued commitment to strengthening early literacy instruction and supporting teachers as they help young students develop the skills and confidence to become successful readers.
