James P. Dawson has been a UFT Teacher Center coach for six years, the last four at 08X301, Paul L. Dunbar Middle School, specializing in literacy, social studies, and civics. He was a classroom teacher for eight years prior to that, and has experience teaching at the middle, high, and college level.
As member of the UFT Teacher Center, James presents professional learning sessions across the city, for target audiences ranging from a content area departments to national conferences. He is a member of the UFT Working Committee on Civics Education in NYS schools (funded by an AFT innovation grant) and as part of the working committee leads, he conducted workgroups of elementary, middle-, and high school teachers drafting recommendations for the revised NYS Civic Standards. These revisions shift the goals of civic education to instill skills and mindset that engender direct civic actions and experiences for students.
James is also a certified NYS interior firefighter and is pursuing his MFA at the City College of NY.
