Known as "The Guidance Guy," Dan Gartrell has studied and written about the topics of child guidance and liberation teaching for the past 50 years. He received his master's degree from Bemidji State University and his EdD from the University of North Dakota. For many years, he was the director of the child development training program and a professor of early childhood and foundations education at Bemidji State University, where he is now professor emeritus. Gartrell is the author of four books, including Guidance for Every Child and was the principal author of the "Guidance Matters" column in NAEYC's Young Children for many years.