Ann Marie Gallo

I founded Summer’s Edge Day Camp in 1991, and my family quickly became involved in helping with the camp operations. My brother Joe, a USPTA tennis teaching professional, served as the tennis director, and our father, the late Big Tony (as he was known at camp), assisted with tennis and was a master at carving watermelon slices for special events. Our mother earned the name of Clerical Maven for all her behind-the-scenes work with paper mailers, which she loved compiling, and answering the camp telephone. During the first three decades of Summer’s Edge, we welcomed countless campers and counselors to the Summer’s Edge family. As the camp grew, the Summer’s Edge Tennis School (SETS) was founded and operated by Joe, who ran the tennis programs for youth.

During my academic career, I progressed from teaching physical education and coaching at Minuteman High School to serving as an Assistant Professor at UMass Boston. Currently, I am a full time professor at Salem State University in the Sport and Movement Science department. I teach a wide variety of courses in pedagogy and camp administration. In addition, I coordinate the undergraduate and graduate physical education teacher programs at the university. I hold a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University, a Master of Education from Cambridge College, a Massachusetts Teaching License, and a B.S. in Physical Education from UMass Boston. In addition to these degrees, I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician, Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard, and CPR/FPR Instructor.

I have been the recipient of several awards, such as the Massachusetts Association of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) bestowed me with the prestigious Joseph McKenney Award for Distinguished and Exemplary Service and leadership in 2019. In addition, I was honored with the MAHPERD 2015 Presidential Citation Award for my contributions to MAHPERD. In 2006, I received the Presidential Citation Award acknowledging a professional whose life contributions have inspired the youth of Massachusetts within the field of physical education. During my many years working with students, I was named Teacher of the Year at Minuteman High School for the 1998 school year. In 1991 and 1996, I was named Minuteman’s Coach of the Year, and received the Gatorade Coaches Care Award in 1991.

My contention is everything I ever learned about leadership, kindness, and hard work I learned at camp as a camper, C.I.T., counselor, unit leader, director, and founder. With the belief that all that we impart at camp is truly essential for life, I think that our world can benefit from individuals demonstrating character and empathy. I am proud to have my nephews A.J. and Michael attend Summer’s Edge at Camp Thoreau.