James Paul
James Paul served as the inaugural Executive Director of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board from 2022 to 2025, overseeing the successful launch of the state's charter school sector. During this time, he secured and directed the implementation of a $12 million federal Charter Schools Program grant. His career has spanned state government, nonprofit advocacy, and academic research in education policy. He currently serves as Director of State Education Policy at the America First Policy Institute.
Mr. Paul earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas in 2022, where his dissertation offered one of the first empirical analyses of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K–12 and higher education. His peer-reviewed research has appeared in Studies in Higher Education, the Journal of School Choice, and the Journal of Sports Economics. He holds a Master of Public Administration (2014) and a Bachelor of Arts (2011) from Syracuse University.
Mr. Paul lives in Charles Town, West Virginia with his wife and three children.
He was appointed by Governor Patrick Morrisey to the West Virginia Board of Education in February 2026 for a term ending in November 2034.