Gertrude Scott Galloway

Gertrude Scott Galloway (November 12, 1930 – July 17, 2014) was an American educator and administrator working with deaf children. She was the first female president of the National Association of the Deaf. She is among the first deaf women to head a school for the deaf in the United States. Galloway was an advocate for deaf women throughout her life.

Early life

Gertrude Scott was born on November 12, 1930, in Washington, D.C. She was born deaf to deaf parents and deaf grandparents.

She entered Gallaudet College at age fifteen, just weeks after her father (Roger O. Scott) died. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education from Gallaudet in 1951. After a "devastating" divorce, Galloway and her children moved to Frederick, Maryland in 1970, where she took a position teaching math at the Maryland School for the Deaf. as one of the first deaf women to head a school for the deaf in the United States. In that position, she worked to make the school a resource center for the deaf in New Jersey and advocated for deaf children to have quality interactions with other children, both deaf and hearing. While in that role, she worked to establish a stronger political network for NAD and increase the visibility of other women in the organization. After her death, former NAD president Roz Rosen remarked on Galloway's legacy: "Gertie was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She was a living legend and role model for everyone. Her ability to pinpoint and reframe the issues was amazing, such as 'The Deaf child has the right to be Deaf.' She also was an awesome storyteller with a wicked sense of humor."

She earned multiple awards throughout her life. In 1995 she earned the Bailer Award from Western Maryland College for her "significant contribution to the field of education." Galloway was also selected as one of Gallaudet University's "Visionary Leaders", fifteen prominent alumni honored to celebrate the school's 150th anniversary in 2014.

The Gertrude S. Galloway Award for Deaf Woman of the Year, awarded by Deaf Life magazine, "honors an outstanding stereotype-breaker, teacher, administrator, superintendent, leader." In 2020, Gallaudet University awarded the first Gertrude Scott Galloway Advocacy and Social Justice Award, presented annually to a "strong advocate for social justice for deaf or hard of hearing people."