James grew up in Arizona and has spent his career committed to making his home state a place where every student has access to a great education. He believes the quality of public education is the defining social justice issue of our time.

Most recently, James served as Principal of Camelback High School, a large Title I school in Phoenix serving nearly 2,000 students. Under his leadership, Camelback became a national demonstration school for 9th grade success, improving the on-track rate by more than 40 percentage points in just three years. He also played a critical role in expanding early college access, launching the first ASU dual enrollment program open to every senior regardless of academic history, with 600 or more students earning college credit for three consecutive years. Together, these efforts helped students earn more than $23 million in scholarships in his final year alone.

In his role at the Center for High School Success, James will work alongside school leaders across Arizona to build the conditions where freshmen thrive and systems work for every kid.

James is married to Lauren, also an educational leader, and they are raising two children who attend their neighborhood public school. When he’s not in schools, you’ll find him on a trail somewhere in Arizona, backpacking or camping in the state he loves.