about kelly
Since 1985, Kelly Gallagher has devoted himself to the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking—first and foremost, as a high school ELA teacher in Anaheim, California, and also as an author/consultant who works with educators around the world. Today, he is considered one of the leading voices in literacy education.
Always in search of a better way, Kelly honed his craft by taking on leadership positions in several key literacy programs, including the California Reading and Literature Project, the South Basin Writing Project at California State University, Long Beach, and the Puente Project, a University of California outreach program that prepares under-represented high school students for transition into universities. For several years, he taught secondary literacy courses as an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, and, most recently, he served as the president of the Secondary Reading Group of the International Reading Association (IRA). In 2005, Kelly received the Award for Classroom Excellence from the California Association of Teachers of English, the state’s highest honor for English teachers. In 2018, the California Association of Teachers of English presented Kelly with their Distinguished Service Award.
Inspired by his classroom and professional development experiences, Kelly has written numerous books for teachers, many of which are used in education schools around the world. They include:
180 Days (co-written with Penny Kittle)
In the Best Interest of Students
Kelly also works with the Savvas Learning Company as a featured author for the myPerspectives and iLit ELA programs for grades 6-12.
Kelly travels to school districts and conferences around the world to share his thoughts and insights on literacy education and to guide his colleagues toward more effective instruction. Despite his demanding schedule, Kelly remains a dedicated writer. He is currently working on his eighth book, another collaboration with Penny Kittle.
Outside of his work with students and educators, Kelly loves watching baseball, playing with his dog, Scout, reading, hiking and spending time with his family.