Gallagher named new Islander Middle School principal
Published 8:30 am Friday, April 3, 2026
During an Islander Middle School (IMS) staff meeting on March 31, Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle announced the selection of Katie Gallagher as the new IMS principal for the next school year.
Gallagher, who joined IMS in the 2024-25 school year as an associate principal, said she is truly honored and excited to serve in her new role.
“IMS is already home for me. I’ve had the privilege of learning alongside students, partnering with families, and working closely with an incredible staff, and I care deeply about this community,” she said. “My goal is to ensure every student feels known, supported, and challenged while building the skills and confidence they need for what comes next.”
Rundle said that Gallagher’s ability to align her current IMS knowledge with a vision of the future and action steps to get there set her apart from other candidates.
“This is not a rebuild given the storied success over 20 years with Mary Jo Budzius and Aaron Miller. Instead, IMS is poised for Katie to take a very solid foundation and established direction to lead the evolution of IMS. I am confident the school will neither stand still nor slide backward under her leadership,” Rundle said. Gallagher will replace current IMS Principal Budzius, who is moving to the district office as the director of teaching and learning.
Gallagher started her teaching career in 2017-18 as a kindergarten instructor at James Sales Elementary School in Tacoma and began her MI career as a first-grade teacher at West Mercer Elementary School in 2018-2019.
In her letter to the IMS community, Gallagher said, in part: “I am genuinely excited for what’s ahead. IMS is an incredible place, and I feel lucky to be part of it in this new way. I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with all of you and to doing this work together.”
In her education realm at Seattle University, Gallagher graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 2016 and received her K-12 Principal Certification in 2024. At the University of Puget Sound, she received her master of arts degree in teaching in 2017.
Gallagher added in her IMS letter: “Thank you for trusting me to lead and care for your middle schoolers, this is work that means so much to me, and I don’t take that trust lightly.”
