She had no intention of working where she once attended, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.
Stefanie Solmson, who once attended Davis Academy as a student, will be in her first year teaching at the day school when the classroom doors open on Aug. 16.
After graduating from College of Charleston in May 2009, she had plans of going to graduate school. But while filling in as a substitute teacher this past year, she was offered a position to teach the third grade.
After a weekend of deliberation, Solmson knew she would take the job.
"I did a lot of talking with my parents, a lot of crying because I was excited, and didn't know what to do," Solmson said. "And then [Lower School Director] Drew [Frank] and I talked and I said I had to take the job. I'd be crazy not to. I couldn't say no."
This will be Solmson's first full-time teaching job, and she has done some preparation in anticipation of her first day's arrival. She's read books on the topics of teaching the first few days as well as the first year because, as she said, "no one ever teaches you how to do the first day of school."
She's also been familiarizing herself with the Davis Academy curriculum; she will teach her third graders all subjects except for Hebrew and Science.
Solmson becomes the first teacher in Davis Academy's 18-year history to have been a student at the day school.
"It marks the maturity of the school," Davis Academy Head of School Sid Kirschner said. "We now have someone who started here, left here, went on to receive a college education and is now back here teaching. ... It's no longer a young, start-up school."
Being a legacy adds a little pressure to the upcoming task, according to Solmson.
"I'd have to say I'm a little nervous,” she said. That's a lot to live up to. I hope that I can do it. But it's really exciting and it's a great faculty, so I have wonderful people to work with."
Since she's been substitute teaching at Davis Academy, Solmson has noticed a few changes. When she was a student there was only one class in each grade, with her class in eighth grade having about 23 students. Now there are four classes in each grade.
"Being able to sub at Davis really showed me the closeness that I remember, and how great the teachers work together," Solmson said. "It was an absolutely great place to be."
The teachers will begin work on Aug. 9, a week before the students are scheduled to return to school. Like any first-year teacher, Solmson said she's anxious, hoping her students and their parents will like her, while hoping she works well with the third grade team at Davis Academy.
But ultimately, she is confident that everything will turn out well when she begins her first full-time teaching job in a couple of weeks.
"I'm nervous, excited and anticipating this start," she said.
