Jacob was born in Oklahoma City, and has lived in Norman for the better part of 30 years. Shortly after graduation from Norman High School, he decided that being a teacher was his goal. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2008, as a History major with a minor in
Classical Cultures. He became a teacher in 2012 and has been teaching at the high school and middle school levels in Oklahoma City Public Schools ever since. This experience gave Jacob a unique perspective into many of the issues and trauma facing children today and drove him to
take action. It is his passion to do all he can to help children through positive advocacy and common sense bipartisan legislation.
 

Jacob has been a loud activist for public education for years, with his main concerns being the lack of funding given to schools, low pay for teachers, and the harmful high-stakes tests that are unnecessarily forced upon students, especially in lower income schools. As an Oklahoma State Representative, he recently authored and passed the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act (HB 1569), which empowers early childhood educators to teach with play in their classrooms. To help students achieve better academic, mental health, and physical health outcomes, Jacob is currently working on a bill to require at least 40 minutes of recess for pre-K through 8th grade students in public schools.

 

Before becoming a Representative in 2017, Jacob taught 7th grade Geography at Roosevelt Middle School in Southwest Oklahoma City. He has a passion for public education, has the patience to listen to constituents, and has the strength and ability to help our communities to progress into the future.

 

He is the father of two children, Spencer and Jonah, and four dogs, all of whom he raises alongside his long-time partner, Robin. Both children attend Norman Public Schools.