James V. Shuls

James V. Shuls is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Educator Preparation and Leadership at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Education. He also serves as the graduate program director of educational leadership and policy studies. Dr. Shuls earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas and holds master's and bachelor's degrees in elementary education from Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University, respectively.

Dr. Shuls' research focuses primarily on teacher labor markets, school finance, and school choice. His expertise has led him to serve as an expert witness in the school finance case, Martinez/Yazzie v. New Mexico. His methodological approaches include longitudinal data analysis, ethnography, and various evaluation methods including randomized control studies and quasi-experimental design.

His scholarly work appears in journals such as Social Science Quarterly, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, Journal of Education Finance, and Journal of School Choice, where he serves on the editorial board. Recent publications address the four-day school week in Missouri, teacher pension systems, school finance equity, and the conservative appeal of private schools. His research often bridges academic rigor with practical policy implications.

Before joining UMSL, Dr. Shuls served as director of education policy for the Show-Me Institute, where he remains a distinguished fellow. His practical classroom experience teaching first and fifth grade in Republic, MO provides valuable context for his research and policy analysis. Dr. Shuls actively engages with broader audiences through popular media, talk radio, and television appearances on education policy matters.