Mr. Garey was born in Norton, Kansas, and raised on a farm outside of Beaver City, Nebraska.  A 1985 graduate of Beaver City Public Schools, he then graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska.  This was followed by a 1998 Master of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska--Kearney.

Upon graduation from Chadron State, Mr. Garey taught and coached in the Loup County Public School system in Taylor, Nebraska, for eight years (1990-1998).  During those eight years, he taught Business Education, Technology and Physical Education courses.  Also during that period of time with the Loup County Schools, he served as Activities Director, Head Football Coach (six man), Head Boy's Basketball Coach, and Head Girl's Track Coach.

The next three years (1998-2001), he served as 6-12 Principal/A.D., Junior High Football Coach, Junior High Girls Basketball Coach, and Junior High Boys Track Coach for the Wheatland Public School system in Madrid, Nebraska.  Starting in the fall of 2001, he moved to be the K-12 Principal at the Hitchcock County School system in Culbertson, Nebraska, until the spring of 2004.

Mr. Garey is married to the former Kristene Phillips also of Beaver City.  Kristene is employed by the McCook Public School system at the Central Elementary site.  Kristene and Alan have four kids: Kelcey, Riley, Regan, and Kellan.