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A native of Ashe County, North Carolina, James currently serves as the Arts Education and a Digital Learning Specialist for the Davidson County (NC) Schools and is the Director of Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University. Prior to these appointments in 2015, he served for twenty-one years as band director and instructor of music theory at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, NC, assisting daily with the band instruction at Central Davidson Middle School. In 2021 he completed his thirty-first on the faculty/staff of Cannon Music Camp where he had served as the Dean of Men for twenty years. While at Central Davidson his bands consistently earned ratings of excellent and superior at regional, state and national music festivals. In 1996 and 2013, he was named "Teacher of the Year" at Central Davidson High School and in 1997 for Davidson County Schools, a top three finalist for DCS “Teacher of the Year” again in 2013. In January 1998 he received the distinguished "Outstanding Young Educator" from the Lexington Jaycees and in April 2006 was nominated for a "Young Alumnus Award" from Appalachian. This past July, Mr. Daugherty was indicted into the prestigious Rhododendron Society in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. As the highest honor given by the college, the award honors alumni for their exemplary service to education and to their communities. The society recognizes graduates whose service as teachers, librarians, human service professionals or administrators has reflected credit on themselves, the field of education, and the university. His educational background includes a bachelor’s and master’s in music education from Appalachian State University with additional certification in Education Leadership/School Administration from High Point University. Mr. Daugherty holds professional memberships in the American School Band Director’s Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association, North Carolina Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, Florida Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Eta Sigma. In February 2020, Daugherty was elected President-Elect for the Southern Division of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). From 2015-2017 he served as President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, a federated state association of NAfME. He is also a Past-President of the NC Bandmasters Association (2012-2014). He was featured in the February 2009 edition of Teaching Music in an article entitled “Accentuate the Positive” and was also listed in December 2009 as one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” in School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He has adjudicated bands and served as guest conductor across the Southeast. Active in the Lexington community, Mr. Daugherty is the proud “Dog Dad” of Tippy, his two year old Bichon Frise and is member of Coggins Memorial Baptist Church, singing in the sanctuary choir as well as volunteering as the assistant music director.