James Dorsey, NBCT, is an artist and educator from the Maryland/DC area. He serves as an elementary vocal/general music teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), and, as a proud alumnus of UMBC, currently teaches music education classes at UMBC.
Dorsey engages students of varying ages to investigate life-based concepts (change, identity, social justice, etc.), through a creative process. His commitment to social justice is through helping students to respond critically to our world using the arts. His students’ products and processes include original music and accompanying videos, original stage productions combining student-created dance, drama, and media arts, and student portfolios that reveal their creative process: all of which empathetically express diverse perspectives.
He has supported schools as an arts integration lead teacher, helping homeroom teachers lead creative experiences for their students. He was awarded grants from Crayola, LLC and Bowie State University for arts integration implementation and action research.
Dorsey has served as a music curriculum writer, assessment teacher leader, and teaching mentor. Through his work with Maryland Centers for Creative Classrooms, he helps educators cultivate creativity in their personal and professional practice. He has facilitated similar learning as a teaching artist for courses with UMBC, Loyola University Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, and Towson University. He has also led collaborative curriculum/project planning with Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s Counties, and Baltimore City Schools.
Dorsey earned a B.A. in Music (UMBC, 2005), M.Ed. in Kodály Music Education (Loyola University Maryland, 2015), and National Board Certification (Music, 2013). A chapter member of the National Association for Music Education and the Organization of Kodály Educators, he was recently recognized as an Outstanding Music Educator by the Maryland Music Educators’ Association.
James believes everyone deserves opportunities to respond to the world creatively, and welcomes opportunities to share and learn with the UMBC community.
Contact
Teaching
Affiliate Artist
General Music Methods
Education
Masters of Education in Kodaly Music Education — Loyola University Maryland
Bachelor of Arts in Music (Vocal Performance & Music Technology) — University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)