James Ford taught world history at Garinger High, was named an N.C. Teacher of the Year, worked at the N.C. Justice Center, launched the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED), served on the N.C. State Board of Education for five years, and is now Dr. James E. Ford, Ph.D. in Urban Education from UNCC.

In a 2016 visit to the Forum, Ford was asked whether more effort should be put into improving conditions at home for underperforming students, and maybe less into improving the school learning environment.