8 NORTHERN MAGAZINE NSU Foundation Announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni Graduate of the Last Decade DANIEL GALLAGHER ‘18 Daniel Gallagher has quickly established himself as one of South Dakota’s most respected young educators, earning recognition at the local, state and national levels for his commitment to students, educational excellence and servant leadership. A 2018 graduate of Northern State University with bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and history, Gallagher is currently a middle school science teacher and head boys basketball coach at Aberdeen Roncalli, his alma mater. He is also pursuing a Master of Education in Leadership and Administration at Northern and will assume new responsibilities as dean of middle school and activities director at Roncalli beginning next school year. Gallagher’s path to education began with a desire to coach. Entering Northern in 2014, he envisioned a future as a history teacher and football coach, believing coaching would provide the greatest opportunity to impact young people. It was through his experiences in Northern’s School of Education, however, that he discovered the profound influence teachers have on students’ lives. “The faculty and staff of the School of Education completely transformed my way of thinking,” Gallagher said during Northern’s 2025 rededication of the H.P. Gerber Building. “Teaching and coaching really aren’t that far off. Every day as a teacher or coach, I have the opportunity to impact lives for the better.” That philosophy has become the foundation of Gallagher’s career. Since returning to Roncalli, he has taught a variety of subjects, including math, social studies, English language arts and science, consistently stepping into roles where he is needed most. Known for his enthusiasm, high expectations and strong relationships with students, Gallagher creates engaging learning experiences through hands-on, project-based activities that encourage curiosity and critical thinking. His students have built catapults, designed models of the digestive system, made ice cream to study thermal energy transfer and constructed roller coasters to explore principles of physics. Gallagher’s commitment to student success extends well beyond the classroom. As head boys basketball coach and assistant football coach, he emphasizes character, accountability and service. He established study tables for students needing academic support and regularly writes handwritten notes to encourage personal growth. His teams participate in numerous community service projects, including volunteering at youth camps and leagues, cleaning gymnasiums after games and spending time with residents at Mother Joseph Manor during the holiday season. His impact has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, Gallagher was named Aberdeen Roncalli Teacher of the Year. The following year, he received one of education’s highest honors, the Milken Educator Award, often referred to as the “Oscars of Teaching.” He was surprised with the award during a schoolwide assembly in February 2025, becoming one of approximately 40 educators nationwide selected that year and one of more than 3,000 recipients throughout the award’s nearly 40-year history. “Dan Gallagher is a living example of what excellence in teaching looks like,” said South Dakota Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves during the award presentation. “He has a reputation as a teacher who inspires students to put forth their best efforts in all they do. He sets the bar high, and his students rise to meet his expectations.” Education, remembers Gallagher as one of her first students when she Gallagher credits much of his success to the educators and mentors who invested in him throughout his life. Their guidance helped shape a philosophy that continues to drive his work today: empowering students to make a difference in the lives of others while striving to become the best versions of themselves. Dr. Anna Schwan, dean of Northern’s Millicent Atkins School of joined the university faculty.
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