Mansfield ISD Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 21

Board Member Profile: Daniel Gallagher What schools did you attend? Arlington ISD: Roquemore Elementary, Nichols Junior High, and Lamar High School Gallagher was sworn in as an MISD Board Member on Dec. 15. College: UTA, B.A.; Texas Wesleyan University, M.Ed; currently completing my Ed.S. from Arkansas State University. What would be a perfect afternoon for you? The perfect afternoon for me would be my wife and I watching our son play baseball. My son started playing baseball when he was 4 years old, and he is now a sophomore and plays for Summit High School. As parents, we love seeing our son do something that he enjoys, learns from, and excels at. I often use baseball analogies because it is a game that if you are successful 30 percent of the time you have a chance to end up in the Hall of Fame. To be successful in baseball, you have to have a growth mindset which is exactly what you need to have in order to be successful in life. Knowing how to turn challenges into opportunities is the secret to success. I love all sports, but I truly love springtime baseball. Who was your role model that you looked up to as a kid? When I think about role models, I think of family. My parents are great examples for me because they were successful small business owners. Because of their focus and hard work, they reached their goal of owning several gas stations over their lifetime. My two older sisters are also great role models for me as well, and they are both great examples of how education can change lives. Give us a brief bio of your career. I started my career in education 20 years ago as a second career. Over the last 20 years, I have been fortunate to have been a teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels. I started teaching in Grand Prairie and then moved to Mansfield just before our son started kindergarten. Like many residents of Mansfield, my wife and I chose to move here because of the school district. The reputation of Mansfield schools is excellent because of our employees. I started teaching in Mansfield at T.A. Howard Middle School. I then had the opportunity to move to Summit High School, where I had the privilege to teach many of the same students that I taught at Howard. I was also fortunate to open Legacy High School as a teacher and administrative intern. I moved into administration in Arlington ISD as an assistant principal and then principal of Butler Elementary. It was a unique experience to become a principal in a neighborhood where I played as a child. I was also an elementary principal in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD at Remington Point Elementary. All of my experiences have assisted me in my current role as the Director of Elementary Services in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. My primary responsibility is to supervise our campus principals and provide support to them as they work to improve instruction and learning on their campuses. What makes you so passionate about MISD? My wife and I chose to move to MISD because we wanted to provide our son with an opportunity to attend great schools. I began teaching in MISD when we were a one high school district. I am very proud of how MISD has maintained a focus on excellence throughout this time of unprecedented growth. Mansfield is a great community with an outstanding school district. Our schools offer incredible opportunities for our students including fine arts, athletics, academic, and career and technical education. What makes our schools so great are the dedicated employees of MISD. Every employee from custodian to principal plays a critical role in student success. MISD has created a culture where every employee is appreciated for their commitment and dedication to our children. This culture extends beyond our school buildings as well. The support that we receive from our parents is tremendous. For schools to be truly successful, a partnership between parents, teachers, students, and administration is needed. Mansfield ISD values these relationships which is why we are a great school district. Mansfield School & Family 19