James Shuls is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is also a distinguished fellow of education policy for the Show-Me Institute.  Prior to pursuing his doctorate, James taught first grade and fifth grade in southwest Missouri. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including: Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  

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James earned his PhD in education policy from the University of Arkansas, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education.