Dan Ryder is a nationally-recognized, award-winning educator and Director of Design & Innovation at Community Regional Charter School in rural Maine. He previously co-founded the Success & Innovation Center at Mt. Blue Campus, an empathy-fueled makerspace. Dan co-authored INTENTION: Critical Creativity in the Classroom with Amy Burvall and created the comic guide PANELS & PERSPECTIVES with Jacquie Gardy and Josh Alves. Additionally, Dan has performed and directed improv comedy for over 25 years, notably with his western Maine-based team, Teachers Lounge Mafia. He remains dedicated to transforming education through empathy, creativity, and collaborative design.