John P. Moglia was born in 1965 in Chelmsford, England. His family had relocated there for his father's job the previous year. His family returned to Michigan a year after his birth. After getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Michigan State University in 1989, he went into public school teaching after graduating from Lahser High School in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, in 1984. His undergraduate studies focused on studio art, specifically printing and ceramics.

He graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a teaching certificate that allowed him to teach art in schools K-12. He returned to Michigan State University to further his study, earning a Master of Arts in Educational Technology in 2000 after a decade of teaching experience.