James Jay

Background

About James Jay

My name is James Jay, and I am a public school administrator in Hanford, California. I live here with my wife of 25 years Charmaine and our three children Asher (19) Haddon (16) Lincoln (13). I was a classroom teacher for eleven years, the final nine at the middle school level. Presently I am in my seventh year as an administrator. I have watched pro-wrestling for 40+ years, love 80s alternative music, and am a CrossFit athlete. It is my experience that all people are uniquely gifted with talents and abilities and likewise uniquely burdened with specific issues and traumas. I believe that as I move through this world, I have a moral imperative to consider and address the gifts and the burdens. I have not had success every day, certainly not with every individual I have encountered. But what I know I do well, where I excel, is building relationships. Whether with family, friends, students, parents, or colleagues, I strive to walk daily in my purpose and find a way to serve others. Four years ago I began a journey of recovery and sobriety after a decade of addiction to prescription opiates. It has been challenging to say the least. A very slow, and often difficult process of peeling back the layers I had put on to mask what was really going on inside. I am finally ready to widen my circle and offer up what I have learned so far. I have long felt that my journey, pain, trauma, whatever, must have a bigger purpose than just me and my life. I am fully aware that that idea in and of itself may have roots that need to be explored with my therapist. But as a redeemed follower of Jesus, I think there is divinity in shining a light for others.