The Founder

About Frank...

My name is Frank Gallagher. I was born in St. Louis to wonderful parents who had immigrated from Ireland.

After coming to America, they struggled through the depression years. They worked very hard, but armed with a strong faith, a hard work ethic and lots of love, even on a limited budget, they were able to provide us with a good family life.

As I grew, I chose teaching as my career and know it was the best choice I could have made. I married the lady of my life and we have two beautiful daughters, one is now a teacher, author and youth minister and the other is a CPA in a large international firm. At this point in life, we are also grandparents to three wonderful children. I have lived in Bridgeton, a suburb of St. Louis, for these 35 years and enjoy being active in our church and community as well as professional organizations. My hobbies are grandkids, golf, barbequing, reading and sports in general.

After thirty five years as an elementary teacher, I am now retired (although I still substitute on a regular basis to keep in contact with the students and schools). I have taught at all levels, mainly elementary. I have taught many different types of students from the inner city to St. Louis County. I also have a master’s degree specializing in elementary school administration, which has enabled me to not only have a teacher’s perspective but a principal’s as well.

Halfway through my teaching career, I formalized a set of teaching principles that had informally been part of my daily teaching all along. I called them “The Keys to Success”. Read how the keys came about in the History and Philosophy of the Keys to Success.

After retiring, I formatted this philosophy into a formal all-school program. It has been introduced into four schools with very diverse types of students and has been very successful.

These keys have changed my life forever. They have given my teaching more meaning and purpose than ever before. Hopefully they will do the same for you.

Community Involvement

President of St. Lawrence the Martyr Men’s Club
President and lifetime member of Phi Epsilon Kappa Professional Fraternity
Chairperson for the American Heart Association Celebrity Golf Fund-Raiser
Chairperson for numerous activities of the local Hibernians Association
Chairperson for St.Lawrence the Martyr Irish Dances for over ten years (fundraiser for school)
Emcee for Bridgeton’s Annual Fourth of July Parades

Education Awards

1986 Teacher of the Year, Pattonville School District
2003 Pride of Pattonville
Bridgeton JayCees Outstanding Young Educator Award

Phi Epsilon Kappa Distinguished Service Award

Degrees

Masters of Education, Emphasis on Elementary Administration, University of Missouri at Columbia (1969)
Bachelor of Science, Southeast Missouri State (1966)

Educational and Personal References

“From the beginning of his career he displayed an enthusiasm, in a manner not
normally found in beginning teachers.”
- Wayne Cashion, Pattonville Principal

“He sets forth his expectations of the students, helps them set their goals,
and then guides and motivates them to achieve those levels. His pupils are
always urged to ‘strive for excellence’.”
- Charles Wippermann,
Pattonville Elementary Physical Education Coordinator

“What separates Frank from many is his ability to see in each student something greater than they see in themselves.” - Roger Clough, Superintendent

“Moreover, he seems to have a unique gift for finding what is positive in others and in helping others to discover and to develop what is positive in themselves.” - Nancy Brown, Clinical Psychologist

“I have been impressed with his contagious enthusiasm and the rapport he has developed among his colleagues.” - Robert A. Marx, National President Phi Epsilon Kappa

“Frank’s enthusiasm is contagious. When he begins preparations for special projects, parents and staff are always willing to support his endeavors in the areas of costuming, supervision, transportation, or wherever needed.” - Nancy Greenblatt, Patttonville Executive Assistant

“It is educators like Mr. Gallagher who believe in the youth of today that will make our world a better place to live.” - Sr. Lois Hellebusch, St. Lawrence the Martyr School Principal

“Sportsmanship was most important. I learned not to give excuses but to simply do my best and be able to admit my defeats. That’s important and essential in life. – Lisa A. Fisk, Student

“‘Do the best…Expect the best.’ Frank Gallagher seems to live by this.” - Knut and Suzie Hansen, Parents

“Frank believes firmly that any goal worth reaching can be accomplished by hard work and effort. He is the first to encourage a person to reach out for that goal and eventually, they can achieve it.” - Steve and Judi Schneider, Parents

“Another lesson which I learned from Mr. Gallagher was the simple fact that ‘it does not matter whether you win or lose but that you tried the best that you could’.” - Lucy Boenker, Student

“Not only does Mr. Gallagher do an outstanding job in the school but also he sets an example for the children with his untiring involvement in school, church, community and family.” - Roger Creason, Student and Parent

“More than a teacher of physical education, or a track coach, he has been a friend, a listener, a counselor, and a teacher of high quality.” - Susan Michelle Myers, Student, currently an interpreter for the United Nations

What Students Are Saying

"I like that kids actually get noticed for doing good and not just bad." - Fifth grade student

"I like them because they motivate me to do my best. I also like how there is always a key of the week. Every week I try to do my best at the key of the week." - Fourth grade student

"I’m more ready for school." – Fifth grade student

"It makes me remember about all the things that I need to do." – Fourth grade student

"My favorite key is attitude, because with a positive attitude, it becomes easier to love, cooperate, prepare and all the things other keys represent." - Sixth grade student

"Preparation is my favorite Key because it helps me make sure I have my homework." – Fourth grade student

"They [The Keys] challenge you to be good." – Eighth grade student

[The Keys program] gives you an incentive to be your best. – Sixth grade student

"When I receive a key I feel like I have accomplished something that will benefit me later in life." – Seventh grade student

"When I’m not getting along with my sister, cooperation reminds me to work it out." – Sixth grade student

What Teachers Are Saying

"Any child that values keys – and most do – will figure out which actions will merit a key in my classroom."

“I enjoy looking for opportunities to notice the positive. It is so easy to hand out a key spontaneously than to fill out forms!”

“I enjoy the class keys because it acknowledges their behavior as a group. They have improved their behavior during the class and in the hallway because they know I am watching.”

“I have used it as a positive reinforcement tool for students that maybe aren’t always as kind and considerate as they should be. It does redirect negative behavior.”

“I think the students are more aware of their actions. They Keys program encourages and motivates students to try their hardest.”

“It helps build self-esteem and anyone can earn them. Your grades are not the determining factor. Students beam when they count their keys each month and realize that each key stands for something special they have done to earn those keys.”

"It is good to have something tangible to reward good behavior with...It is a more 'concrete' method of reinforcing what is expected than only verbal rewards or remarks on a report card."

“It often works to get work/projects done early and often helps students volunteer for jobs/other activities.”

“It’s an immediate reward for the children’s behavior. I like the variety of keys – all with different meanings. It’s a fun way to reward. [It] teaches them also to save their keys for a bigger prize.”

"Students are more motivated when completing class work and…the students are more caring towards one another."

"When I hand out keys for clean cubbies, suddenly, the others start looking neater. If I seem to be having an extra quiet class, a few keys passed out seems to stir the pot and participation. They also seem to improve memory.”

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The Founder

What Students Are Saying

What Teachers Are Saying

"Students are more motivated when completing class work and…the students are more caring towards one another."