James A. Beane es profesor del Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum, National College of Education, National Louis University. Ha sido profesor en centros de educación secundaria obligatoria y postobligatoria, y director de proyectos de los New York State Regional Education Planning Centers. Es autor de Affect in the Curriculum: Toward Democracy, Dignity and Diversity y A Middle School Curriculum: From Rethoric to Reality; coautor de Self-Concept, Self-Esteem and the Curriculum, Curriculum Planning and Development, The Middle School and Beyond y When the Kids Come First: Enhancing Self-Esteem at the Middle Level; cocompilador de Democratic Schools; y compilador del Anuario de la ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), Toward a Coherent Curriculum.