Dr. Judy Gallagher, an assistant principal of Gulf High School, will retire in December, at the end of the semester. She has been at Gulf since February 2001.
Dr. Gallagher’s husband retired earlier this year. He had served as the county administrator for Pasco County.
Mrs. Davis informed the faculty of Dr. Gallagher’s decision in a recent email, writing, “This decision comes with much excitement and just as much sadness as we will truly miss her. Her legacy will be the work she has done to help students, their families, staff members and their families, and the community. We wish Judy and her husband, John, the best as they begin this next phase of their lives.”
Before coming to Gulf, Dr. Gallagher was an assistant principal at Gulf Middle School. She had earlier been an assistant principal at Richey Elementary School and transferred to Cotee River Elementary School when it opened in 1994.
She began her career in Pasco County in 1974 as a teacher at Cypress Elementary School. From 1977 to 1990, she was an owner and teacher of Genesis School.
Dr. Gallagher received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and business education from St. Leo College and her master’s degree in administration and supervision from American University. She received her doctoral degree in early and middle childhood from Nova University.
Judy Brady was born on the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. She came to Florida with her parents at age 7 and attended Richey Elementary, Gulf Junior High, and Gulf High schools. She later worked at all three schools. She was a cheerleader in junior high and high school. One of her teachers at Gulf High School (then on Louisiana Avenue) was John Gallagher, whom she later married. They began dating when she was in college.
Their children Patrick and Bridget graduated from Gulf High School in 2003 and 2006. They also raised John’s nephew Matthew from the time John’s brother died; Matthew graduated from GHS in 2009.
In July the Gallagher family plans to travel to Ireland, where John’s father was born.
