Jon McGill was born in London, England, and raised in Toronto, Canada. He obtained a B.A. in English Literature (Honors) and an M.A. in History at the University of Waterloo. He began what would become a 52-year career as an educator in London and obtained further credentials in the form of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and an M.Ed., both at the University of London. His M.A. thesis focused on diversity and anti-racism in schools.

McGill moved to the U.S. in 1988 to take a position at a Quaker school in Delaware. Since then, he has served as a middle school principal and Head of School in two locations. The last fifteen years of his career were spent as Academic Director at the Baltimore Curriculum Project, which operates six public charter schools serving nearly 3,000 students and families in east, west, northwest, and northeast Baltimore. The BCP schools serve a majority of African American students and a significant number of students of Hispanic or Latino heritage.

McGill has studied and worked on issues of race and class for most of his career. Now retired, he continues to write poetry and volunteer for a nonprofit that serves women and children who live temporarily in city shelters.