Richard L. Curwin (1944–2018) was an author, trainer, speaker, and experienced education practitioner who worked with teachers, administrators, and parents throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

His works explored issues of student discipline, motivation, and behavior and classroom management. He served as a 7th grade educator, a teacher of emotionally disturbed children, and a college professor.

Curwin and his colleague, Allen N. Mendler, founded Discipline Associates and created the Discipline with Dignity program.

Allen Mendler, educator and school psychologist, works extensively with children in regular and special education settings. His emphasis is on developing effective frameworks and strategies for educators, youth professionals, and parents to help youth with learning and behavior problems succeed.

Mendler is highly acclaimed as a motivational speaker and trainer on topics pertaining to challenging students, and has given numerous workshops and seminars to professionals and parents. A frequent blogger for Edutopia, he is also the author or coauthor of many publications, including Discipline with Dignity: How to Build Responsibility, Relationships, and Respect in Your Classroom and When Teaching Gets Tough, Connecting with Students, and Motivating Students Who Don't Care.

Brian Mendler is a certified K–12 and special education teacher. He has extensive experience working with challenging students in general education, self-contained, and inclusion settings.   

As an adjunct professor at St. John Fisher College in New York, he teaches Behavior Management and Introduction to Special Education. In addition, he provides staff development training for K–12 educators and youth service workers throughout North America with the focus on how to be successful with even the most difficult students.