Mourning the Departure: Gwen Solomon, passed away on June 1, 2025, born April 25, 1944
In the realm of educational technology (edtech), Gwen Solomon was a trailblazer whose influence and impact are still felt today. Her life and work were recently commemorated in 2025, serving as a testament to her significant contributions to enhancing learning and teaching experiences through technology.
Though her detailed achievements may not be fully documented, Gwen Solomon was renowned for her role in empowering educators to communicate ideas with clarity, creativity, and confidence using technology. Her work was instrumental in shaping the way technology is integrated into education, and her legacy continues to inspire educational technology leadership programs.
Gwen Solomon's association with *Tech & Learning*—a leading media organization focused on technology in education—was substantial. Her educational influence and thought leadership in the space played a crucial role in shaping practices and awareness around effective educational technology use. The recognition of her passing by prominent education technology platforms underscores the meaningful role she played in shaping the relationship between educators, leaders, and technology in school settings.
During her career, Gwen Solomon served as a senior analyst in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology during the Clinton administration. This experience provided her with a strong foundation for her future work in edtech.
In her retirement years, Gwen Solomon developed her photography skills and was featured in several art shows. She also won awards for her "Backstories" series, which featured photographs of interesting New Yorkers. In addition to her work in photography, Gwen Solomon wrote or co-authored eight books on educational technology and penned numerous magazine articles in the edtech field.
Gwen Solomon was a devoted wife to Stan Solomon, who predeceased her, and a proud mother of Deborah Solomon, economics editor at the New York Times. She was also an engaged, loving, and fun grandmother to her two grandsons.
Gwen Solomon's professionalism, respect, and innovative spirit were remembered by her former colleagues, who described her as a connector, innovator, teacher, and leader. Her legacy lives on through her creation of the Well Connected Educator website, one of the first online resources for teachers, which she later merged with the newly launched Tech & Learning website.
Gwen Solomon was a pioneer in the edtech world, founding the School of the Future in New York City. Despite her passing in June 2025, her work continues to inspire and influence the field of educational technology, leaving a lasting impact on the next generation of educators and students.
[1] Source: Various online articles and obituaries.
A student aspiring to lead in educational technology can draw inspiration from Gwen Solomon's life and work, who was a trailblazer in the field during her career and retirement. Solomon's contributions, such as her role in shaping practices and awareness around effective educational technology use, are still felt today, and her influence continues to impact personal growth and self-development in education. In particular, her creation of the Well Connected Educator website remains one of the first online resources for teachers, signifying her legacy as a teacher, leader, and innovator in the realm of education and self-development.
