Patricia Gallagher, Kenmore West High School Teacher Aide

Patricia Gallagher is part of what makes Kenmore West so special. She works as a teacher aide in Mr. Jeff Martin's classroom. On a daily basis, she helps plan lessons for students that are engaging and relevant to their lives. Her creative touches are obvious throughout the classroom, whether it is the welcoming decorated door or the hands-on activities she plans for the students. But her influence reaches far beyond her classroom. Mrs. Gallagher is a bundle of energy. It is not uncommon for her to ask what else she can do when parts of her day might slow down. She volunteers to cover extra classes and is always in the halls greeting all of our students and helping them with whatever they need. She serves as an unofficial mentor to all of our teacher aides. She serves on interview committees and goes well beyond her job description at a moment's notice. Recently, she spearheaded a project to build a portable food pantry cart at Kenmore West. The pantry was just completed and is ready to serve the needs of our community. Her wonderful sense of humor and contagious laugh bring joy to our school every day. Kenmore West is a better place because of Mrs. Gallagher.