Dan Effland is the Senior Director of Innovation at Summit Public Schools. In this role, he is leading a multi-year initiative to redesign Summit's school model for an AI-driven future. His work spans vision, strategic partnership development, pilot coordination across Summit's network of schools, and building the systems, processes, and culture that drive organizational innovation.

Dan joined Summit in 2017 as a Special Education teacher and later served as Dean of Culture & Instruction at Summit Sierra. From 2020 to 2025, he served as Executive Director of Summit Atlas High School in West Seattle.

Originally from West Virginia, Dan is an alumnus of West Virginia University. After college, he spent over a decade as a professional musician in Chicago, where experiences working with students in Chicago Public Schools inspired his transition into education. Through Teach for America, he earned a Master's in Special Education from Dominican University and taught special education for grades 6-12 in both Chicago and Seattle. He also holds a Master's in Public School Building Administration from Columbia University, Teachers College.

Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington State Charter Schools Association. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the League of Education Voters Foundation and as a Trustee for Three Tree Montessori School. His work reflects his mission: to transform PK-12 education to build a world where all people are academically literate, think critically, and actively contribute to the welfare and happiness of others.

Dan lives in Burien, WA with his partner and two beautiful children.