James Hicks is the son of two educators and has dedicated his career to advancing innovation in the K–12 space. He spent 15 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where he held various roles in IT management and project-based initiatives.

During his time at LAUSD, James led the development of a comprehensive esports' ecosystem—building support pathways from central IT services to individual school sites and helped launch the district’s first esports season and championship. He also served as the architect of the iDREAM mobile trailer program, designing its technical infrastructure and implementation strategy.

James currently works for the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), where he leads the Project Management Office and supports innovative project and initiatives across the organization. Most recently, he has been co-leading and supporting LACOE’s inaugural esports championship, taking place on May 30 alongside his fellow colleague at LACOE Alvaro Brito. James strives to bring innovation opportunities to student across LA County.