Teachers of the year announced
H.E. McCracken Middle School teacher honored as 2025-26 District Teacher of the Year
A veteran teacher with 16 years of experience has been named Beaufort County’s 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year. Allison Gallagher, an eighth-grade science teacher at H.E. McCracken Middle School, was selected and announced during a celebration honoring Teachers of the Year from all the district’s schools on Friday.
“Teaching is who I am, and I am so thankful for this honor,” Gallagher said. “I started my teaching journey in this district 16 years ago, and I’m just so excited to continue my journey and my love of teaching in this role. I’m really excited about the growth that it will bring me, as well as the opportunities to share how amazing this district is, how amazing our students are, all of our families, our administrators, all of my fellow teachers, and I’m just really excited to be their representative.”
H.E. McCracken Middle School Principal Dr. Roger Ward said Gallagher is a great representative for the Beaufort County School District. “Allie is just the epitome of what any teacher should be. She builds incredible relationships with her students and her parents. She approaches this not just as a job but really as an important part of her own life, and I think she enjoys watching her students grow, learn, and just be everything they can be. I’m so proud of her.”
The four other finalists for the 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year were Elizabeth Herring of Bluffton High School; Audrey Kaney of Red Cedar Elementary School; Alison Lopes of Hilton Head Island Elementary ECC; and Amy Turner of Coosa Elementary School.
In her District Teacher of the Year application, Gallagher shared that from a young age, she was passionate about learning and inspired by her supportive father and two influential high school educators. Although she began college studying to become a pharmacist, a transformative internship in Australia reignited her dream of teaching. Over the past 16 years, she has led impactful programs like “River of Words,” which combined science, writing, and art through real-world exploration. At her current school, she elevated the Science Fair by guiding over 200 students annually with students earning top district and regional awards. Her work continues to inspire students to think deeply, explore boldly, and embrace their genius.
Gallagher holds a master’s degree in Middle Grades Education and a Bachelor of Science in Family & Consumer Sciences from the University of Georgia.
In addition to District teacher of the Year, the 2025–26 Teachers of the Year for each of the districts individual schools were announced. Bluffton and Hilton Head school’s honorees include Jeff Bates at Beaufort-Jasper ACE; Jill Pink at Bluffton Elementary ECC; Elizabeth Herring at Bluffton High; Samantha Gera at Bluffton Middle; and Allison Gallagher at H.E. McCracken Middle. On Hilton Head Island, Alison Lopes was named Teacher of the Year at Hilton Head ECC, Jason Ziegler at Hilton Head Elementary (IB), Cynthia Strandt at Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts and Daufuskie Island Elementary, Hannah Harrington at Hilton Head Island High, and Andrea Norman at Hilton Head Island Middle. Other recipients are Kelly Jardin at May River High, Liz Dowe at M.C. Riley Elementary/ECC, Amanda Altman at Okatie Elementary, Madeline Lumley at Pritchardville Elementary, Audrey Kaney at Red Cedar Elementary, and Marlayna Tracy at River Ridge Academy. Lois Lewis was recognized as Teacher of the Year for Adult Education.
