Photographed from left to right: Jeff Clark (Pt. Angeles High School Principal), Marc Jackson (Pt. Angeles Supt.), Greg Lynch (OESD Supt.), John Gallagher (2017 Regional Teacher of the Year) Chuck Lisk (Pt. Angeles Asst. Supt.)
John Gallagher was honored at the Port Angeles Board meeting on September 8, 2016, as the 2017 Regional Teacher of the Year. Olympic Educational Service District Superintendent Greg Lynch was joined by the Port Angeles Board members, Superintendent Marc Jackson, and Port Angeles High School Principal Jeffrey Clark, to present Mr. Gallagher with a special plaque celebrating his achievement.
A 26-year educator and Port Angeles High School science teacher for 20 of those years, Mr. Gallagher has proven to be an outstanding inspiration and dedicated teacher to countless students. Prior to Port Angeles High School, he was a science teacher at O’Leary Junior High School in Twin Falls, ID and Summer Science Camp and College for Kids Instructor for the College of Southern Idaho, also in Twin Falls, ID. He received his BS in Geology at the University of Washington, his Professional Teachers Education Program Certificate at the University of Northern Colorado, and his MS in Geosciences from Mississippi State University. His strengths and expertise include: Science, Astronomy, Geology, Integrated Science, UW Astronomy 101 and 150, Field Course Instructor of Yellowstone and Washington State Field Courses through Mississippi State University, Online Instructor (Planetary Science, Landforms, Stellar Processes through Mississippi State University, Regional STARLAB Educator for Learning Technologies Inc., and Continuing Education Instructor for Peninsula College and Instructor for various professional development courses.
Mr. Gallagher states, “My career defines me. I am a teacher. Nothing makes me happier than having a student return after graduation to update me on their life. I often put them right in front of my students and have them share their experiences. I have had students go on to college and careers in every corner of the nation. I have a student currently working at NASA after being the youngest member ever of the Space Policy Institute; I have a student in the astronaut candidate program after receiving his doctorate studying antimatter containment for future propulsion systems; I have a student designing and flying drones for Google; I have a student who started his own arborist business; I have students who are musicians, dancers, engineers, construction workers, lawyers; and I have quite a few students who are teachers.”
Lillian Cone, Assistant Principal, Port Angeles High School states, “John came to Port Angeles 20 years ago as a young teacher. Each year his actions with students, teachers, and community members have rippled through Port Angeles. Twenty years later the impact of John Gallagher is profound and in 20 more years, his actions will still be changing lives for the better.”Congratulations! Find out more about the Teacher of the Year Program – Click Here
Photos of the ceremony are now available for viewing and download via OSPI’s flickr site.