Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2011 Gloria Malooly Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2011

Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as a teacher/sponsor of Central High School

Biography Gloria Malooly is a graduate of Calamus High School and held a variety of jobs before being hired at Central Community Schools.  A part time HS English, part time district Art instructor, Gloria become the first art teacher in the county outside of Clinton High School.  Gloria has worked on several local art projects and boards during her teaching career as well as in retirement.

Article from the Observer Gloria Malooly’s appreciation for and dedication to art education has continued far beyond the walls of the classroom. Although she has been retired from teaching for 20 years, Malooly continues to support art education and to share her vast knowledge and tremendous appreciation for the fine arts with the community. When the long-time art teacher at Central Community High School first applied for a job with the district, it was to teach English. However, Clarence Ekstrand, who was the superintendent of the district at the time, had other plans for Malooly — plans that officially would establish and continually enhance art education at Central Community Schools. After graduating from Calamus High School, Malooly worked for one year for Western Union as a teletype operator in Denver, Colo., and Seattle, Wash. She then returned to Iowa, enrolled at Drake University and a year later transferred to the University of Iowa where she obtained a degree in art. Malooly then worked in Chicago at the University of Illinois medical campus for two years and Shaw Walker Office Equipment Co. for one year. She married and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked for a temp agency for a short period of time.

The Observer (cont.) Malooly’s husband was then transferred to Milwaukee, Wis., and after a brief illness died leaving behind Malooly and their two small children, Michael and Susan. Wanting to be near her family, Malooly moved to DeWitt and completed postgraduate work and received her teaching certification at Marycrest College in Davenport. “Since I had a minor in English, I applied for an opening at Central,” Malooly relates. “(Ekstrand) noted I had a strong art major and asked if I would be willing to start an art program at Central. He gave me half they day to start the program at the three schools (elementary, junior and high schools) and half the day to teach English at the high school.” After a few years, the art program finally was established in all the schools with art teachers in the elementary, junior high and high schools. Central was the first district in Clinton County — other than Clinton — to establish an art program. At one point in her career, Malooly was teaching six art classes in a seven-period day at the high school. While at Central, she also was heavily involved in local and area education organizations as well as Art Educators of Iowa. Malooly also took several post-graduate art courses at the University of Iowa.