James is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city about 2 hours north of Chicago. He studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Writing. James then completed a teaching certification program at the University of West Florida and acquired a Florida State Professional Teaching License for Elementary Education and ESOL. His experience in education began back in 2014 as a 4-K teacher at a private school in Wisconsin, where he discovered his passion for teaching and mentorship. Before coming to RAS, James taught ESL for four years in public elementary, middle, and high schools in Changwon, South Korea. He was also a guest lecturer at the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education Training Institute from 2016-2018.

James believes that enthusiasm and confidence are fundamental aspects of an effective educator, and his teaching practices are anchored to the goal of every student reaching their full potential. Outside of the classroom, James has a number of hobbies and interests that he enjoys, such as writing, film photography, intramural sports, travel, and exploring all things food-related!