About Me

I have been an educator for over 40 years, and now an author.   After graduating from Washington State University (“Go Cougs!”), in counseling, I worked as a therapist for six years in a sheltered workshop and community mental health center.   During that time, while working with school-aged children, I discovered my passion for schools and teaching.

For 23 years I worked in Seattle Public Schools in various capacities, from teacher, to Special Education Administrator, to assistant principal, to elementary school principal.   I was later hired as a principal in Shoreline Schools, as an elementary school principal and also developed an alternative middle school option for the district.  During my last year in Shoreline, I was selected by the State of Washington School Principals’ Association as the outstanding principal for the North and West King County region (Bellevue, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts) and finalist for “principal of the year” in our state.

After retiring from being a principal, I spent over ten years supervising student teachers through Seattle Pacific University and teaching ProTeach courses at Seattle University for teachers and principals.  In addition, for four years I was a consultant for the School Improvement Program of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, providing assistance to struggling schools.

Recently, I became an author. The past three years I focused on researching and writing a book comparing American public education with other countries, especially Canada, Finland, Japan, and South Korea. My wife and I hosted over thirty students and educators from many countries.  Conversations with our guests stoked my curiosity about international comparisons.  Hence, the book.

I love schools, I love teachers, and I love children.  My passion is helping others.  A book is an extension of that passion to help make public schools the best they can be for our collective children.

Dan