Alicia Johal is the Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School in Oceanside, California, where she leads schoolwide academic programming, student support services, and equity-centered instructional practices for grades 6 through 8. In her role, Alicia oversees key aspects of school operations including staff evaluations, campus safety, curriculum implementation, restorative discipline, and community engagement. She works closely with educators, families, and students to create an inclusive and rigorous learning environment that prioritizes student voice, wellness, and achievement.

Before joining Lincoln Middle School’s leadership team, Alicia served as Associate Dean of Academics and Middle School Dean at the San Diego Jewish Academy. There, she led curriculum development, teacher coaching, and student support programs for grades 6–12, and played a pivotal role in aligning instructional practices with schoolwide learning outcomes and DEI goals. Alicia also worked as Assistant Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking, where she helped K–12 teachers navigate instructional shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded robotics and engineering curriculum design.

In higher education, Alicia teaches leadership and STEM pedagogy courses at the University of San Diego and San Diego State University, preparing the next generation of educators and school leaders. She has designed and facilitated professional development programs nationwide, and her work has been featured in Education Week, ASCD, Learning for Justice, and other national publications.

Alicia is a co-founder of the Inclusive STEM & CS Summit and serves on the Board of Directors for the Elementary Institute of Science, where she co-chairs the External Affairs Committee. She also serves as a Council Member for SeaPerch San Diego and has led regional underwater robotics programming that reaches hundreds of middle school students annually.

A passionate advocate for equity in STEM education, Alicia is a keynote speaker, writer, and mentor who centers student agency, culturally responsive teaching, and justice-focused leadership in all her work. Her contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the 2025 Co-Administrator of the Year award from the California Association of Asian and Pasifika Leaders in Education.