The Speakers

Archana Jain

Archana Jain is a retired math and engineering educator with 20 years of experience in the Irvine Unified School District. She also has 10 years of experience in private and government defense sectors. Archana earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Mathematics teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton as well as a Career Technical Education teaching credential.

Archana Jain founded the Irvine Technology and Engineering Center at Irvine High School to encompass the four engineering classes she taught and the multitude of extracurricular STEM activities she mentored. She strived to inspire her students to pursue STEM careers, especially women and underrepresented populations.

Archana was named Irvine Unified School’s 2018 High School Teacher of Year and was one of the Orange County 2019 Teachers of the Year. She was also recognized as one of The Orange County Register’s 100 Most Influential Game Changers.

James Lincoln

James Lincoln is an award-winning physics educator, science communicator, and curriculum developer whose work has inspired countless students and teachers across the country. With over two decades of classroom experience, he has become known for transforming complex physics concepts into accessible, engaging demonstrations that spark curiosity and wonder.

He serves as the Education Director of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Films Project, creating widely viewed instructional videos that have reached millions of learners worldwide. His passion for science outreach extends beyond the classroom, he is a staff-writer written for The Physics Teacher journal, has presented at national conferences, and has trained other educators in bringing creativity and clarity to STEM education.

Whether in the classroom, on stage, or through media, his mission is simple: to make physics not only understandable, but unforgettable.

Kimberly Sagulian

Dr. Kimberly Saguilan is an instructional leader, author, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience transforming schools and advancing equity in education. She holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California and serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s Rossier School of Education, where she mentors future educators.

As the founder of Komir Minds, Dr. Saguilan leads an innovative consulting firm that partners with districts and schools nationwide. Her work focuses on designing and delivering culturally responsive, standards-aligned professional development, leadership coaching, curriculum design, and system-wide tools such as multilingual learner frameworks and school snapshot reports.

A passionate advocate for multilingual learners, she is expanding into publishing to amplify educator voices and create culturally sustaining resources. Whether coaching leaders, facilitating PD, or writing, Dr. Saguilan’s mission remains clear: to equip educators with the tools, strategies, and mindset to transform teaching and learning for every student.

Shilby Sims

Dr. Shilby Sims is a California native and proud of her education from Los Angeles Unified School District from kindergarten to 12th grade in South Central Los Angeles. Currently, as the principal in LAUSD, her school leads the way in innovation and school culture. She emphasizes the importance of technology in high needs community unapologetically raising attention to disparities for students of color and the digital divide.

Part of the 1 to 1 student:tech initiative, at the elementary level, Dr. Sims has created ways to inspire students using technology increasing attendance, decreasing suspensions, developing functional ways for administrators to streamline workload and creating parent workshops supporting edTech at home. Her collaborative work with businesses support students in a better understanding of their place, purpose and promise of success in the tech world. Earning her doctorate from USC, she also is an Ed Tech professional developer, motivational speaker and Educational consultant.

Tim Twombly

Tim Twombly is the son and grandson of ever-struggling citrus ranchers who both graduated from Stanford. At age sixteen, he was placed under contract with Capitol Records, who identified him as a rock-and-roll prodigy. Turns out, the label’s management was overly optimistic.He went to college on a scholarship bestowed by the ultra-conservative Daughters of the American Revolution, though he ended up working with the family of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers.

Tim has been a chiropractor for forty-six years. To this day, people still ask him, “Does that stuff really work?” He’s married to the beautiful and talented Jacquie who still doesn’t realize what she’s gotten herself into. In recent years, Tim has released three singer-songwriter albums and several music videos. He’s also authored two novels – A Bonafide Detective and most recently, Road to Eden, which are both available on Amazon Books.