After serving a four-year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, John Allison spent the next 11 years self-employed, first as a truck driver, then raising chickens in northern Arkansas.

In 2006, he and his wife sold their farm and he began a career as a public high school math teacher. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics at Lyon College in 2006 and his master's degree in mathematical sciences from University of Arkansas Little Rock in 2009.

In 2012, he earned his national board certification and in 2019 was designated a master professional educator by the Arkansas Department of Education.