Chad Gallagher

Safeguarding the Culture of Your School – The Greatest Challenge of Growth

Chad Gallagher is the Founder of Legacy Academy, a fully accredited K-12 classical Christian school serving families in rural Southwest Arkansas. What began as a deeply personal journey—homeschooling his two eldest children—soon became a calling. With a vision for restoring timeless academic excellence through a classical approach, Gallagher and his wife, Jessica, established Legacy Academy in 2008 with just three kindergarten students. Through his leadership, the school has grown steadily, adding a grade each year and graduating its first class in 2020. Today, Legacy Academy serves 150 students and continues to expand, now including a daycare program to support families in need of early childhood education.

Beyond Legacy Academy, Gallagher has been a driving force in shaping education policy in Arkansas, leveraging his extensive experience in governance, strategic consulting, and business. As a former mayor, political director, and advisor to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, he has played a key role in advancing initiatives that benefit Christian schools and educational choice across the state.

In addition to his work in education, Gallagher is the founder of a strategic consulting firm serving governors, high-profile individuals, and private-sector clients. He and Jessica, his wife of 28 years, are entrepreneurs with diverse business ventures, including a grass-fed beef farm, a restaurant, and a historic real estate investment firm. He is also a committed church elder and serves on multiple boards and commissions.

Gallagher is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. His passion for faith, education, and community continues to shape the next generation of leaders at Legacy Academy and beyond.