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Mildred Gallager
Mildred Gallagher helped educate children’s minds and create a better community for all to enjoy. Mildred was born on July 31, 1901 in Nebraska and attended both grade and high school there. Pursuing her love of music, she attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music for one year before transferring to Nebraska Wesleyan for one year. She then switched to Illinois Women’s College in Jacksonville, IL (now MacMurray College) and graduated in 1928. She began teaching soon after and met her husband at her first teaching assignment. They soon were married and had a daughter. After her husband was offered a better job in August of 1933, the family moved to Mount Prospect to begin a new life.
Mildred began teaching at Central School while her husband was the administrator. Mildred was one of only four teachers and was in charge of English and Spelling to the sixth through eighth grades. While there was no sports program at the time, there was music. Because of her brief study at Oberlin, Mildred was put in charge of this. In the 1930s Mildred had no visual aides nor technological gadgets to aide in her teachings. She instead had to rely only on her personal experiences and the books which were available to her.
When asked about the involvement of the family in schooling, Mildred credited parents for their very active roles. She believed that parents should cooperate and comply with the teacher. It was important to know that the teacher would always have the support and backing of parents in regards to the education of children.
Mildred left Central School in 1948 and took on part-time teaching jobs every now and then. When she wasn’t working, Mildred participated in many groups within the community. She was one of the first members of the library board and was also a member of the Mount Prospect Women’s Club, holding the office of president from 1939-1940. Under her leadership membership rose over twenty percent.