FARMINGTON (WGME) -- A Maine teacher has been picked as one of the top educators in the country. He has a quirky sense of humor. He loves to have fun and to say he has lots of energy would be an understatement. But the bottom line is, Dan Ryder knows how to connect with his students. "He just has something about him that makes a kid want to learn more and everything. He's an awesome teacher,” student Martha Carter said. Ryder is the director of the Success and Innovation Center at Mt.