Leadership Team

Ms. Shannon Smith, Assistant Principal

Ms. Smith supports our teachers and administration with curriculum and instruction.

I grew up in Maryland with my three sisters. I graduated from Penn State, where I majored in Human Development and Family Studies. In 2014, I moved to Dallas, Texas with Teach for America where I fell in love with education, and more specifically teaching struggling readers to love literature.  My next chapter began when I joined the Teaching Trust Aspiring Leaders Program in 2017 where I learned about leadership in urban schools. For my first two years, I grew as a reading Instructional Coach at J.N. Ervin where we earned a state distinction in reading.

I enjoy reading, coffee, and being active as much as I can. I love spending time with my family, no matter the distance between us.

I am beyond excited to continue to lead and grow alongside the Solar Prep Boys team as we serve the Dallas Community!

Ms. Bianca Owens, Instructional Coach

I am originally from St. Louis, MO, where I majored in Mass Communications and Economics. My original plan was to work for the Federal Reserve, but life had something else in store for me. In 2015, I moved to Dallas and began teaching middle school math where I quickly fell in love with the profession. Since then, I have taught and coached all levels of middle school math from 5th grade through Algebra 1.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy practicing and teaching yoga, reading, and spending time with my pup, Teddy. I am the oldest of six children and served six years in the Missouri National Guard, including one tour overseas. I am passionate about education and I’m excited to join the team at Solar as I continue to deepen my understanding of math pedagogy.

 

Ms. Aarika Fulson, Counselor

 Ms. Aarika Fulson has been in education for 20 years, she began her career in Kansas City, Kansas as a high school English, speech and theater teacher. College and Career Readiness curriculum was introduced to the KCK public school system and Ms. Fulson was asked to take the lead at her school, presenting Fafsa/ scholarship nights, ACT prep and college visits.  After a few years of teaching she took a break from teaching and became a Case Manager for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Working with youth in the TJJD system was both challenging and rewarding, it gave her the chance to look at what could be done in education before a student was sent there, so she began her counseling certification program at the University of Texas in Arlington. 

    While completing this program she continued teaching theater at Justin F. Kimball high school , where the theater department went to district three out of the five years that she was there as a director. Her first experience as a school counselor was at Gilbert Cuellar Elementary where she was able to mentor and create leadership programs.  Ms. Fulson has presented research at McNair conferences and most recently the Lone Star School Counseling Association, she loves to continue to put tools in her toolbox to assist students, teachers and families. She is very excited to join the Solar Boys team and be an added resource for the Solar community. 

    Self-care strategies that she participates in are dance, writing, traveling and listening to live music, she loves spending time with family that is spread out in various states and supporting her son on his college and career efforts.