Spotlight: Dan Gallagher (SD '24)

South Dakota Milken Educator Dan Gallagher (SD ‘24) is a sixth through eighth grade teacher at Aberdeen Roncalli Middle/Senior High School. Gallagher’s commitment to excellence shines through in his hands-on science projects, like building catapults and creating rollercoasters to teach physics. His dedication goes beyond the classroom, where he encourages selflessness by having basketball players clean the gym after every game. Gallagher received a Milken Educator Award on February 13, 2025.

Milken Family Foundation: How did you feel at your Milken Educator Award notification?

Entering the notification, I was wondering what the assembly was about because we weren’t given much information. Throughout the assembly, my mind was caught up in thinking about the basketball game we had the next day, and what we would have to do to be successful.

When I heard my name announced, I was in disbelief. Just before Jennifer announced my name, a student in front of me asked if we knew who won, and having no idea, I told her my top three guesses on who it would be! It was a complete surprise and an extremely humbling experience!

MFF: How did students respond to your Milken Award?

They were ecstatic! My favorite picture from that day is my eighth grade boys mobbing me after the Award was announced! After I came back from lunch with the veteran South Dakota Milken winners, all of the middle schoolers were hiding in my classroom to surprise me with balloons and poppers! The cleanup wasn’t much fun, but that experience with the students was so rewarding!

MFF: What made you want to pursue a career in education?

I knew from an early age that I wanted to get into coaching because I loved sports, and I recognized that my genetics weren’t going to help me get to the NFL or NBA. As I went through high school, I began to recognize the profound impact my coaches had not just on my life as an athlete, but also more importantly, my growth as a whole person. They helped guide me through adversity, and instilled values and virtues that built me into the person I am today. The more I thought about it, I saw many of my teachers who weren’t coaches having that same impact on me and my classmates. I knew from that point that I wanted to impact the lives of others in the same way my coaches and teachers impacted mine.

MFF: How do you use hands-on science projects and service activities to help students grow both academically and personally?

The hands-on science projects help the students to visualize scientific concepts, such as Newton’s Laws or the processes of the digestive system. The projects help them develop critical-thinking skills while also learning to persevere through failures. As the students construct things like roller coasters that must contain loops and hills, they often experience setbacks and recognize many situations that don’t work. However, through communication and cooperation with their group, they are able to diagnose the problems and counter them with solutions.

The service projects are something I like to do with our athletic teams to help them understand that they are never too big to do the right thing. Whether we win or lose, we clean the bleachers after games, and our athletes get a sense of what it means to serve others, no matter the situation.

MFF: As a teacher and coach, how do you build a culture of high expectations, character, and continuous growth among your students?

It is challenging, especially in a culture of immediate gratification. However, I believe that in order to build this type of culture and make it sustainable, there are three pivotal starting points. The first is to be authentic and lead by example. Since beginning my coaching career, I have committed myself to never having my athletes do something that I first won’t do or won’t do with them. They see me in the weight room, sweating and going through the grueling workouts with them, and all excuses go out the door. When it’s August and football practices are hot and grueling, I jump into the drills and team segments with them to help them understand they’re not going through it alone.

The second is that you have to first dive into a few students and athletes who you feel can help lead and impact their classmates and teammates. As an individual, I can only do so much. Having those high expectations being demanded of them by their peers speaks much louder than if it were to come from me.

The third, and in my opinion, most important piece to building a sustainable culture of high expectations, character, and continuous growth, is by building a relationship with everyone involved. The old adage of “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” reigns truer today than I feel like it has at any time before. Our students and athletes need to know that they are loved, they are cared for, and that someone believes in them. As their teacher and coach, it is my duty, my obligation, to not only lead them and help them learn, but also to love them and help them recognize they have the power to make a difference in this world. When you build these types of relationships, students and athletes begin to believe in themselves and give more than they may have thought possible!

MFF: What does “success” look like for you and your students in life?

As a huge John Wooden fan, I love to look at his definition of success. “Success is a peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to be the best of which you are capable of becoming.” In a world where we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others, it is important to remember that we were created to become the very best versions of ourselves. If we can strive to become a little bit better every day, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally, then we are going to be successful!

MFF: Who are your role models in education?

My parents—though they never taught, showed me that sacrifice is the greatest form of love you can give to others. Jesus—the master teacher. My former coaches— especially Terry Dosch, Mark Stone and Tim Beck. John Wooden.

MFF: How do you hope to be remembered by your students?

If my students remember me only as someone who was fun to be around or had good lessons, I know that I failed them. I pray that, when my students exit my class or the locker room for the final time, they can look back and say that I loved them, cared for them, and helped them recognize their God-given ability to make a difference in the lives of others while striving to become the best version of themselves.

MFF: Are you working on any interesting initiatives or new projects these days? Is there anything else you want to share about your school?

I am currently beginning my master’s degree in leadership and administration at my alma mater, Northern State University. I am working with the  other South Dakota Milken winners on growing our South Dakota Network, and we are in the process of beginning a mentorship program for new teachers in our state!