James V. Shuls is an associate professor and the Department Chair of Educator Preparation and Leadership at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is also the graduate program director of educational leadership and policy studies. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and a Master’s degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to joining UMSL, he served as the director of education policy for the Show-Me Institute, where he is currently a distinguished fellow of education policy. Previously, he taught first grade and fifth grade in the Republic, MO R-III School District. 

Dr. Shuls’ research focuses primarily on teacher labor markets, school finance, and school choice. He has served as an expert witness in the school finance case, Martinez/Yazzie v. New Mexico. His research has been published in various scholarly journals such as the Social Science Quarterly, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Journal of Education Finance, and the Journal of School Choice, International Research and Reform, the last where he serves on the editorial board. Additionally, he has been featured in numerous popular print publications and has made many appearances on talk radio programs and television news.