J. M. Beach has been a teacher and educational administrator in K-12 and postsecondary education for over fifteen years. He has variously been a Lecturer at Oregon State University and the University of California, an Instructor at several community colleges in Southern California and Texas, and a Research Associate at the California Community College Collaborative, focusing on promising practices in community colleges and vocational education. Beach is currently a Lecturer at the University of Texas, San Antonio. Outside of higher education, Beach has been a teacher and school administrator.