Allison Drake was born and raised just outside of St. Louis, MO, attending a small Catholic school for most of her education. She now works at Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School in St. Louis County, supporting our small community of learners in unique ways. From their bee yard to their garden (complete with chickens) to the expeditions to Cahokia to explore the connections with the Indigenous communities to Jekyll Island, Georgia, to examine coastal geology, ecology, and biodiversity. Allison is constantly looking for ways to connect social studies to real-world experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Teaching Certification in Elementary & Secondary Social Studies, and a Master's in Secondary Education.