Mr. Mike Gallagher

We set up this endowment several years ago and have been funding it as well as we can, but also know that our hopes will never be realized unless we can obtain outside funding that would go into the corpus of the endowment.

Our motivation is purely personal. We have a son who is developmentally disabled, according to some, but is indeed, a special needs person. We have been trying to work with “professionals” of all types regarding his development for the last 24 years (now 32 years). We know firsthand what a disaster a poor teacher can be, and on the other hand, what a blessing a well-trained, motivated, compassionate teacher can make in the progress of learning.

We are not persons who just complain, but put forth alternative options when confronted by a situation we do not agree with. Thus, we created the endowment, putting our money where our mouth is, so to speak. This endowment is targeted at junior or senior undergraduates who want to pursue a certification of “special needs education.” It is also open to practicing teachers who want to expand into that field.

The only obligation we ask of the recipients is that they actively perform teaching in the classroom for at least three years after certification, and that they do it in the special needs classrooms. The law is changing so there may well be fewer specially designated classrooms, but there will always be those persons that are developmentally disabled in some way that will need those teachers with that special capability.