About Gardner and Wheat

Drew Gardner and Al Wheat are career educators, with a combined twenty years in classroom and museum education. They have a passion for education and strive to provide quality opportunities and resources for teachers and students. The duo have had lesson plans published by the American Battlefield Monuments Commission, National History Day, the Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi project and more. With more and more museums and cultural institutions facing dwindling or nonexistent education staffs, Al and Drew seek to ensure that students and educators don't miss out on quality learning opportunities from cultural institutions and museums they trust.

Meet the Team

Co-Founder

Drew Gardner

Drew has worked in formal and informal learning spaces for nine years. He experience stretches from elementary classroom to higher education. He currently serves as a Deputy Director and the Manager of Family and Community Learning at the Two Mississippi Museums (Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History). Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Belhaven University and a Master of Arts in History from Jackson State University.

Co-Founder

Al Wheat

Al is a career educator, having spent thirteen years in classroom, museum, and archival education, creating educational resources and developing and hosting professional development opportunities. He currently serves as the Director of Education at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Prior to joining MDAH, he was a classroom educator throughout Mississippi. Al holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Arts in History from Jackson State University.