Mrs. James graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education in 1979, achieving the academic ranking of Magna Cum Laude. She began her education career in Gaston County as a second grade teacher working at Forest Heights Elementary School. During her early years of teaching in Gaston County, she returned to Appalachian State University where she then graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1981.

During her 24 years in education, Mrs. James has taught at schools in both North Carolina and South Carolina. She has served as her school's Battle of the Books coach, as a Mentor and Support Coach for Initially Licensed Teachers, as a member of several School Leadership Teams, and as a Computer Coordinator and Testing Coordinator for her school. In addition, she has scored writing and math assessments at the state level, written a number of mini-grants for various projects, and worked as a Math consultant and workshop clinician.

As a teacher, she was named to Who's Who Among American Educators in 1989, 1992, and 1993. In 1997, Mrs. James was awarded the prestigious North Carolina Principal Fellows Scholarship. She attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she graduated with a Masters degree in School Administration in 1999. Mrs. James served as the Assistant Principal at Gardner Park Elementary School for 3 years before becoming the Principal of Bessemer
City Central Elementary.

She is a graduate of several Principals' Executive Programs including the Leadership Program for Assistant Principals and the Principals as Technology Leaders program. She is currently licensed in the areas of Elementary Education, Academically Gifted Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and as a Principal.

Mrs. James is a member of several professional organizations including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, the Phi Kappa Phi Educational Honor Society, and the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society. In addition, she serves as a winter guard adjudicator for the Florida Federated Judges Association. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing poetry, listening to music, and being with her family.