On her way to the Kiwibank Local Hero Awards function in Dunedin recently, she still needed reassurance from her mother that there were good reasons why she had been nominated.
Not that she knows even now who nominated her. Her first thought, on being notified of the award, was that she was the target of a prank by colleagues.
Ms Bagley is a teacher at Mt Aspiring College and, in information supplied by those who nominated her, she is held in "incredibly high esteem by her community''.
"Her students say that she inspires and empowers them to achieve great things and always goes out of her way to help them learn.
"A skilled make-up artist, Gena gives her time and talents freely to help raise funds for school projects.
"Gena is making a positive difference in the lives of young people in the region and is a local hero to many.''
Ms Bagley said it was clear she had received the award for her teaching and also her make-up work, both of which often led her into community work such as helping with events and fundraising.
"I have felt really humbled by it, overwhelmed, at the same time quite shy of it because some of the people that were [at the awards function] were absolutely flippin' amazing.
"And I don't see myself in that light.
"One of the men said to me it's all about recognising that you play different roles in different people's lives, regardless of what you do. So I have obviously been a source of inspiration to somebody, and I may not be saving lives but I'm making an impact.''
Asked for an example of where she may have provided some guidance, Ms Bagley referred to her former pupils Casper Humphries and Ceilidh Johnson.
"They presented a spoken word piece a few years ago at prizegiving.
"Because we wrote that together, the three of us, they then were asked to present it for TEDxWanaka.
"And now Casper has gone on to do a lot of stuff in media. I'm not saying I was influential in that, but it was probably a good springboard in some ways.''
Ms Johnson told the Otago Daily Times Ms Bagley "was more than just my English teacher''.
"She was, and still is, a friend, a mentor and an inspiration. She's an incredible woman who empowers those around her and I am thrilled to hear she has won this award.
"I could not think of anyone more deserving than her.''
