C.W. Gardenhire

Dr. C.W. Gardenhire is an ALE Program Advisor with the Arkansas Department of Education where he monitors and coordinates program development according to best practices, state/federal regulations, and law. He organizes and presents specialized training for teachers,  and parents. Dr. Gardenhire joined the military straight out of high school.  He is a Persian Gulf Veteran having served as an 82^nd Airborne Paratrooper before being honorably discharged to start his collegiate career. Upon graduating with his bachelors, he began professionally working with at-risk students and has spent his whole career since working with at-risk students in various capacities. Dr. Gardenhire has been an , dean, teacher, and case manager.  He has held positions in a variety of settings to include behavioral hospitals, day schools, juvenile correctional facilities, and alternative learning environments in the public schools. Dr. Gardenhire has been an instructional coach trainer, youth suicide prevention trainer of trainers, Crisis Prevention Intervention Trainer and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Dr. Gardenhire holds B.A. degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology, M.Ed. in Secondary Education, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Specific areas of research interest and presentation include: ALE leadership at the school, district, and state level, ALE organizational structure/culture development, and organizational evaluation. Dr. Gardenhire has been Secretary and Vice President of the National Alternative Education Association and an advisor to the Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators. Dr. Gardenhire is a member of the Arkansas State Teachers Association and has served on the Arkansas Parent Advisory Council for Children’s Medical Services, Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Arkansas Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Government Relations Committee.