Tarik James has been at Cortez since 2001, where he began his career as a Life Skills Teacher teaching World History and Writing and as the Head Boy's Basketball Coach. Along with coaching basketball, he is an Asst. Coach for the Boy's and Girl's Track Team. In 2006 he became a Special Education Resource Teacher. Tarik is also a Cortez graduate class of 1992.
James has a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies Physical Education from Concordia University at Irvine and a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Phoenix.