Jim has been an educator for more than 31 years. He first started teaching in the Peace Corps in Kenya, East Africa. While primarily a high school science teacher,  Jim has taught classes in every grade level, K-12, and served as a high school administrator. His work through a previous company, Collaborative Learning, Inc. sent him across the country to support dozens of schools and districts as they worked to map their curriculum and align to standards.

Most recently, Jim served for nine years on the Board of Education for the Ashland School District in Ashland, OR. He holds both teaching and administrative licenses in Oregon and earned a masters degree in education administration. He also currently serves on the Fair Dismissals Appeal Board for the state of Oregon. Jim and his wife have three grown children and live in Ashland.