John L. Brown is an educational consultant for ASCD, where he works with product and professional development and serves as a member of the national training cadres for Understanding by Design and What Works in Schools. He is a former Director of Staff Development and Program Development in Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland, where he also served as Supervisor of the University High School Magnet Program. He has professional experience in the areas of gifted and talented education and English language arts.

Brown has published extensively, including such ASCD publications as Observing Dimensions of Learning in Classrooms and Schools (1995) and The Hero's Journey: How Educators Can Transform Schools and Improve Learning (1999) with Cerylle A. Moffett. He has written five ASCD Professional Development Online courses, including a three-part series on Understanding by Design. Brown received his Ph.D. from George Mason University and his M.A. and B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He can be reached at jbrown@ascd.org.