Gagliano, Eugene

1946 -

Buffalo, WY 82834
Email address
www.gargene.com
Johnson County

Biographical and Professional Information

Known by many children as the teacher who dances on his desk, Eugene M. Gagliano is a retired elementary teacher whose author presentations are entertaining, informative and inspirational. Gene was the recipient of the International Reading Association’s 2004 Wyoming State Literacy Award and the 2001 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. He is a member of the Wyoming Writers, Wyoming Poets, SCBWI, and local IRA. His published books include: C is for Cowboy: A Wyoming Alphabet, Four Wheels West: A Wyoming Number Book, Inside the Clown, Falling Stars and Secret of the Black Widow, a Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award nominee for 2005-2006. He is the author of a book of adult poetry about Wyoming, Prairie Parcels. His latest work is My Teacher Dances on the Desk, a collection of children’s poems he wrote over 26 years teaching at Meadowlark School in Buffalo.

Gagliano was born on May 14, 1946, in Niagara Falls, New York. Gene's love of nature developed early in the suburbs just outside the woodlands and farmlands of Niagara Falls. His interest in books was sparked after reading Surprise Island by Gertrude Chandler Warner, author of The Boxcar Children. Dr. Dolittle books and horse stories by Walter Farley helped further his love of reading. He began writing poetry in seventh grade with the encouragement of his English teacher, Mrs. Erwin. His poems were published in national high school and college anthologies. After a visit to the school where he taught by Wilson Rawls, author of Where the Red Fern Grows, Gene knew he wanted to write for children. Gene's love for children began with a loving Italian family. He and his wife Carol have four children and three grandchildren. Gene graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo and taught in grades K-5 for 34 years. Now he is a full time writer and author presenter.