Biographical Info

John J. Gallagher, Ed.D., serves as State Chairperson for Public Relations and Information for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). Since 2006, he has been employed as Director of Music & Fine Arts for the Longwood Central School District where he supervises 49 arts educators.

Before turning to a career in Music Education, John was employed in the public relations industry holding positions in the fields of marketing communications; corporate and health care communications. Arts educators’ associations and educational institutions across the country have invited him to present his clinic that gives useful public relations and marketing techniques to music educators. These include NYSSMA All State Conferences, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)’s Eastern Division conferences; the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and Dallas Baptist University. His writings on the topic have been published in The Instrumentalist, NAfME’s magazine Teaching Music; and NYSSMA’s magazine, School Music News.

He holds a B.S. in Communication Arts from St. John’s University, an M.S. in Music Education from C.W. Post College, an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Administration from the University at Stony Brook, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Dowling College. His doctoral research focused on the role of music administrators and music educators as advocates for their school music programs.

NYSSMA, the New York State School Music Association, is the largest state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. The Mission of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) is to advance music education across New York State for its membership and students in member school programs.