JAMES DURHAM

Cell Number: 570-994-5935 A passionate middle school educator and

Email: jamesjamesjames570@gmail.com lifelong learner dedicated to student
james.durham@palsprograms.org empowerment, advocacy, social justice, and
inclusion for all.
E duc a ti on :

 B.S. Ed. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, PA | May 2020

o Major: Middle Level Education (Grades 4-8)
- Content Foci: English/Language Arts and Social Studies
- Certified to teach English/language arts; certification for social studies can be obtained if required
o Minor: Literature
GPA: 3.82
- Spent one year at Northampton Community College—fall 2015 to spring 2016—before transferring to
Kutztown University | 3.5 GPA
 Undergraduate Research Experience
- “Gender Bias in the Middle Level Classroom: The Intersection of Data, Teacher Self-Perceptions, and
Student Perceptions” | Durham, J.; Plump, J.; Watson, C. E.
- “Investigating the Disproportionate Representation of Ethnic Minorities Choosing Education Majors” |
Durham, J.; Watson, C. E.
 Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid via Mental Health First Aid USA
 QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program Certified

Te a c hi ng E x pe ri e nc e :

 Northwest Middle School, Reading School District | Student Teaching

o 7th Grade English-Language Arts | Spring, 2020
- Increased exposure to/emphasis on restorative circles/practices and trauma-informed teaching
strategies and techniques.
- Restorative Circle Experience
- Led (with guidance) a restorative justice program for 15 male students called Guys Group,
which focused on restorative discipline, machismo/masculinity,
racial/gender/socioeconomic oppression, peer mediation training, mock
interviewing/job prep., and many other relevant topics—this advisory program occurred
twice a day (30 minutes in the morning; 45 minutes in the afternoon) for six weeks.
 Northwest Middle School, Reading School District | Professional Semester
o 5th Grade Math and Science | October 21-December 6, 2019
- Part of the “ELL team,” with 24 of the 50 students on the team identified as needing English acquisition
assistance (ranging from level three to level one). I have extensive practice in writing accommodations
and differentiated activities for students who are ELLs.

V ol u nt e e r E x p e r i e nc e :

 PALS Programs — Diversity and Inclusion Director, Head Counselor, Counselor, and Ambassador |
2017 - current
o PALS is a non-profit which provides experiences for teens and young adults with Down Syndrome and
their peers (i.e. me!) dedicated to inclusion and genuine acceptance of all.
 Alaska Distance Intervention Tutoring Program — Tutor | 2017 - 2019
o Tutored students twice a week via webcam at one of the schools in the Lake and Peninsula School
District.
 Fleetwood Middle School Assignment Center — Tutor | 2017 - 2019
o Tutored students in Fleetwood Middle School’s after-school assignment center program.
A w a r ds & Ho no rs :

 Silver Medal Recipient of the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award – for undergraduate research
 2019 Professional Semester “Katherine D. Christ Award” recipient
 2020 recipient of the Clinical Experience Award for Student Teaching
 Chosen as a member of Kutztown University’s Undergraduate Research Advisory board
 Graduated Summa Cum Laude, May 2020

E m pl oy me nt Hi s to ry :

 Rohrbach Library, Kutztown University — Information Desk Employee | August 2018 - May 2020
Rohrbach Library: 15200 Kutztown Rd, Kutztown, PA 19530 | (610) 683-4480
Dawn Boody: 484-646-4177 | dboody@kutztown.edu
 Kutztown University Disabled Services Office — Note taker | Fall 2017
Note taker for Physics 20, Astronomy 20, and World History 14

C on fe re nc e P re s e n ta ti on s :

 PA National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, 2020: “Investigating the Disproportionate
Representation of Ethnic Minorities Choosing Education Majors” | Durham, J.; Watson, C. E.
 Eastern Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 2020: “Gender Bias in the Middle Level
Classroom: The Intersection of Data, Teacher Self-Perceptions, and Student Perceptions” | Durham, J.; Plump, J.;
Watson, C. E.
 PAMLE Conference, 2020 & 2019: “Gender Bias in the Middle Level Classroom: The Intersection of Data,
Teacher Self-Perceptions, and Student Perceptions” | Durham, J.; Plump, J.; Watson, C. E.
 Eastern Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 2019 via webcam: “Gender Bias in the
Middle Level Classroom: The Intersection of Data, Teacher Self-Perceptions, and Student Perceptions” | Durham,
J.; Plump, J.; Watson, C. E.
 PA National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, 2018: “Gender Bias in the Middle Level
Classroom: The Intersection of Data, Teacher Self-Perceptions, and Student Perceptions” | Durham, J.; Plump, J.;
Watson, C. E.
 Middle Level Best Practices Conference at Kutztown University, 2018: “Gender Bias in the Middle Level
Classroom: The Intersection of Data, Teacher Self-Perceptions, and Student Perceptions” | Durham, J.; Plump, J.;
Watson, C. E.
 PAMLE Conference, 2018: “Supporting the Community through CMLA” | Durham, J.; Parks, A.; Plump, J.;
Reitnauer, Z.; Schuster, C.
 Middle Level Best Practices Conference at Kutztown University, 2017: “Supporting the Community through
CMLA” | Durham, J.; Parks, A.; Plump, J.; Reitnauer, Z.; Schuster, C.

M i d dl e Le v e l R e l a te d A c t i v i ti e s & Ac a de mi c / N on - Ac a de m i c I nt e re s ts :

 Lobbied multiple times in Harrisburg against a bill proposed to eliminate the 4-8 grade band, which would
reintroduce the K-6 grade band (an act which has been repudiated by middle level/young adolescent related
research).
 Two-time executive board member of Kutztown’s branch of the Association of Middle Level Education
 Member of the collegiate, state, and national branch of the Association of Middle Level Education
 Member of the Challenge Book book club at Kutztown University. An extracurricular, informal book club
comprised of English professors, graduate students, and myself.
 Former Vice President of Kutztown’s Ultimate Frisbee Team—member for four years.
 Member of the 50 state Highpointer’s Club (currently at 24 of 50 state highpoints). This is about more than just
hiking; it is about experiencing other cultures and sharing in their environment.
 References:

 Miss Valerie Chamberlain — Mentor Teacher, Northwest Middle School (7th Grade E/la)
- chamberlainv@readingsd.org

 Dr. Darlene Schoenly — Professor, Kutztown Department of Education

- schoenly@kutztown.edu

 Dr. Christopher Weiler — Professor, Kutztown Department of Education

- cweiler@kutztown.edu

 Dr. Carol Watson — Professor, Kutztown Department of Education

- watson@kutztown.edu