Education Faculty Profiles

Connie Lorthridge has spent over 36 years in public education and now teaches various humanities and education courses for University of Phoenix. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the Teacher's College of Columbia University and has been teaching with University of Phoenix for over seven years.

Her career in public education has spanned from administrative roles to teaching in regular and special education classrooms. She's a former New York state public school superintendent, assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction, elementary principal, middle school vice principal and master teacher.

Currently a Regional Assistant Dean for the College of Education, Connie has also served as a Campus College Chair, facilitator for New Faculty Certification training, member of the College of Education Faculty Council and a Subject Matter Expert on curriculum writing projects. She has presented at Regional Academic Affairs Conferences and the University of Phoenix Assessment Expo.

Connie has a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the School Administrators Association of New York State. She's a member of the American Association of School Superintendents and was appointed to the Orange County Public Schools Education Foundation Board. Her areas of expertise include leadership, coaching, teamwork, curriculum design and strategic planning.

James Huber brings more than 11 years of experience in education to the classroom for the College of Humanities and the College of Education at the Sacramento Valley Campus. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and cultural anthropology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in cross-cultural teaching.

James earned his administrative credential from the Urban Leadership Program at Sacramento State, a program that focuses on the unique challenges of urban educators and children who come from demanding situations. He’s interested in the roles culture, religion, gender and economic standing play in a student’s educational success.

Currently a vice principal at Cordova High School in California, James loves working in public education and can think of no other career that provides as many challenges, frustrations and rewards as that of a teacher or school administrator. He previously served as School Improvement Facilitator for Luther Burbank High School, where he facilitated the school’s conversion over the course of four years from a comprehensive high school to a campus of eight, theme-based Small Learning Communities.

As a member of the Folsom Cordova Leadership Association, James provides Response to Intervention, Secondary Literacy, Formative Assessment and other professional development training in the district. He is also a member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), for whom he is Co-Administrator Representative of Region Three.

James was honored as 2005 Instructor of the Year in the College of Education at the University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley Campus, 2007-2008 Administrator of the Year at Cordova High School and 2010 Co-Administrator of the Year for ACSA Region Three.

The information in this profile was provided by the subject.