Founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1986 by Jim and Lillian Grant, SDE's original goal was to provide New England teachers the opportunity to learn the best techniques from the best teachers in the region. It was clear from the very first meeting—held in a school lunchroom in a tiny rural New Hampshire town—that Jim and Lillian's idea that “teachers learn best from other teachers” was not only revolutionary, it was right.