Gardner High’s Gallagher named Secondary Art Teacher of the Year

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Sue Gallagher has been teaching art at Gardner High School since 1989, and the numerous activities she has done with her students has required her to do extensive work both inside and outside the classroom. As a direct result of her commitment to not only teaching but advancing the art program at the high school, she has been honored as the Massachusetts Art Education Association’s Secondary Art Teacher of the Year. The award came as a shock to Ms. Gallagher, who said that although she doesn’t know where the nomination came from, she was pleasantly surprised. “I am extremely honored and actually humbled by the whole thing,” said Ms. Gallagher. “It is a huge recognition for me. I have been working long hours at the high school, not necessarily to get an award, but it just takes a long time to do everything that this job needs me to do.” Alyssa Nelson, who has been working as a student teacher in Ms. Gallagher’s class since March, said that she noticed that it is Ms. Gallagher’s unique personality that makes her so successful with her students at the high school. “She definitely has complete control of her classroom; it has been a great learning experience for me because I have been able to observe someone with her level of experience,” said Ms. Nelson. “Teaching art comes as second nature to Sue, she has a very inviting laid-back atmosphere in her classroom, but students also know that when they get to class it’s time to start working.” Ms. Gallagher said that without the consistent support of the local community and school Superintendent Carol Daring, none of her accomplishments would have been possible. “I have a great superintendent and a great community,” said Ms. Gallagher. “The people of Gardner really have been great.” In addition to her work with her students in class, Ms. Gallagher was the driving force behind starting a club within the high school aimed at raising money for the department. “One thing that we are particularly proud of is our art boosters club that we started here,” said Ms. Gallagher. “ We started the boosters to supplement the art program so we could raise money to go on field trips and we also needed additional money for our art supplies.” Ms. Gallagher said she thought people realized how much extra work she had been doing following several workshops she had organized over the past year. “I presented a workshop at the Massachusetts Art Education Association’s fall conference last year and then I presented two workshops this year at the national conference in New Orleans in March,” said Ms. Gallagher. “I think it was after that someone noticed my hard work.” Ms. Gallagher will formally receive her award Saturday at the New England Art Education Association’s Spring Conference at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 3 on 5/2/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 105)