Gallagher garners national award for teaching excellence
Kevin Gallagher was one of five educators nationally to receive the 2023 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. The South Fayette resident is a math and computer science educator at Keystone Oaks High School.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) nominated Gallagher for the award, which is one of public education’s highest honors. Presented by the National Education Association (NEA), the distinction recognizes educators for their exceptional skill in the classroom, attention to equity and diversity, engagement of families and communities, commitment to ongoing professional development, and advocacy for the profession.
“I am honored and proud to represent educators from Keystone Oaks and Pennsylvania in being a Horace Mann Award recipient,” said Gallagher, a KO alum. “I would like to thank the NEA Foundation and PSEA for their support through this process.”
An affiliate of the NEA, the PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
PSEA President Rich Askey said it was fitting to celebrate Gallagher’s award as Pennsylvania and the nation kicked off American Education Week Nov. 14, a weeklong celebration of public education, educators, students, and their families.
“PSEA is beyond proud to count Kevin Gallagher as a member,” Askey said. “Kevin inspires his students every day, helping them reach their full potential in the classroom and in life. We congratulate him and all the awardees for their teaching excellence.”
For 26 years, Gallagher has excelled in education. Teaching has been a fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“Math was always my strong point and when I was in eighth grade, I decided I wanted to be an educator,” he said. “I remember my teachers and coaches paying attention to even the weakest person in the room and bringing out their strengths and working to help them improve and overcome their weaknesses. I wanted to be like that and I try to do that in my classrooms.”
When the district decided to add to its curriculum, Gallagher was asked to add computer science to his resume. He helped KO establish the Girls Who Code club, which helped pave the way for him and the school district to gain national recognition.
“One day the district asked me if I wanted to teach computer science. I liked computers but I knew nothing about the process but I did what anybody would do. I googled ‘How To’ and learned what the best training techniques were and incorporated them.”
The other winners hailed from South Dakota (Stephanie Ballard), Kansas (Natalie Johnson-Berry), New Jersey (Theresa Maughan) and Nebraska (Lee Perez).
“These talented educators have connected powerfully with students, supporting them in the moment and empowering them for the future,” said Sara A. Sneed, president and CEO of The NEA Foundation.
“Their educational expertise, commitment to serving students’ diverse needs, and ability to uplift their colleagues are fundamental to creating robust and inclusive learning environments for all. We thank them for their commitment to their students and the teaching profession, which is fundamental to a democratic society.”
Sneed also thanked the Horace Mann Educators Foundation for its support in recognizing outstanding educators in an “uplifting” manner.
Gallagher received a $10,000 award. In addition, he will be featured in a mini-documentary video that will premiere at the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala on May 5, 2023. Visit: www.neafoundation.org to learn more about the award.