Tucson school library to be named for 'visionary' teacher

Robison Elementary library’s name is about to change, but some things will stay the same.

Margaret Gallego will be the school library’s new namesake. She has taught elementary school for a total of 47 years, is working on her 42nd year at Robison and is not yet uttering the word “retirement.”

Friday was library time for Gallego’s second-grade class at Robison, 2745 E. 18th St.

Some of those students are the second generation of children Gallego has taught.

“Boy, it’s just beautiful to see,” she said with pride in her students.

One of Gallego’s greatest influences was her mother, who taught in Mexico.

Recent generations of Gallego’s family teach, too. She has a niece who teaches and a granddaughter who applied for Teach Across America. The granddaughter died at 18, before she could even begin her teaching career.

Now Gallego’s family teaching tradition will continue not just in spirit, but in brick-and-mortar form.

The Tucson Unified School District Governing Board voted Sept. 12 to approve renaming Robison Elementary’s library as the “Margaret H. Gallego Library.”

Board members were presented letters supporting the change.

“In her reserved and unassuming manner, Ms. Gallego has been a visionary spanning cultural divides, the torchbearer of tradition and the mainstay of education for multiple generations of Robison families,” one letter read.

‘Strong sense of community’

Another, written by a former teaching colleague, said they watched “Margaret’s soft teaching style with her students and how her older students flocked to her throughout the day with hugs and kind words.”

Years later, that former teacher had a student in Gallego’s class. The teacher was a classroom volunteer in Gallego’s classroom.

“Her classroom was a safe haven and had a strong sense of community. She was able to take students from non-readers to readers. She inspired my daughter to work on her math skills until she was more confident in her abilities. She took non-writers to writers.”

Another letter writer said Gallego inspired them to go into education and to eventually become a school administrator.

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“The library is a place of learning and discovery, and Mrs. Gallego’s commitment to education makes her an ideal candidate for this honor,” the writer added.

Many, many of Gallego’s family members attended the board meeting. She seemed overwhelmed.

At the library, among her students, she was more at ease.

“Physically, the school has changed,” Gallego said of Robison. “Programs come and go. You see the pendulum swinging back and forth in curriculum.”

Dedication makes both the teacher and the student, Gallego said her mother taught her.

“A lot of it is focus and dedication. We are all born intelligent,” Gallego said. “They can all succeed. We’re all the same.”

“This is where ideas flourish”

Gallego said she wants her students “to expand their knowledge.”

“This is where ideas flourish. They’re able to voice their opinions,” she said as her second-graders combed the library’s shelves for books.

They hit the jackpot. If you want book recommendations, a school library is the place to be. Ask one of Gallego’s students what they’re reading and the rest chime in, too.

One boy had a book about farming. A bright green tractor took up the front cover.

A little girl was going to read one of the Frances the Badger series books by Russell Hoban. They were first published in the 1960s.

Both children appeared thrilled with their selections.

By all indications, this installment of library time was a good one. Enthusiastic second-graders, clutching books, started to line up near the door. It was almost time to move on to the next class.

Gallego looked at her group, her eyes shining. She’s seen a lot over the course of 47 years, but one thing sticks out to her the most.

“I see the kindness. I see the future. There’s a lot of hope.”