Mark earned his BA in psychology at Wheaton College and his M.Ed. in special education from Vanderbilt University (1999). While at Vanderbilt, he worked in the Reading Clinic and was published for work on the Peer Buddy project. He has also taught at Hunters Bend Elementary School in Franklin, TN, where he worked as Lead Teacher of the Special Education Department and coordinated services with specialists and therapists for the students with special needs.