Coach James Jacobs, candidate for Duval County School Board, District 4
Duval County School Board · District 4 · 2026

Put me in,
Coach.

Coach James Jacobsan educator since 2001, current Dean of Students, father, and community leader, is running for the Duval County School Board, District 4. A familiar face in our schools and on our fields, Coach Jacobs is ready to be a voice for our students, families, and teachers, advocating for the policies that best serve our kids by supporting our schools and championing our educators.

Get Involved → Meet Coach Jacobs
Portrait of Coach James Jacobs
Meet Coach Jacobs

Educator. Father.
Coach.

Coach James Jacobs has been dedicated to education since 2001, serving students across public, private, and charter schools. Today he serves as a Dean of Students, giving him daily insight into the direct needs of our students, and to the kids and families who know him, he’s simply “Coach, ” the one who shows up, listens, and pushes every student to reach their potential.

His preparation runs deep: an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor’s in Public Safety Management, and a Master’s in the Management and Administration of Educational Programs, and he is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership. He also holds EMT and First Responder certifications, because keeping our students safe isn’t a talking point for Coach Jacobs, it’s personal.

A proud father with strong family values and a deep faith in God, Coach Jacobs is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he co-founded a graduate chapter alongside 19 other brothers to serve the community. He’s committed to monthly community meetings and transparent partnerships with our faith-based and community organizations, bringing that same show-up-and-serve commitment to every school in District 4.

See the Playbook →
Why Coach

Coach Jacobs cares.

A school board member should be more than a name on a ballot. Coach Jacobs will be present, accessible, and accountable to the families of District 4.

Faith · Family · Country

No. 01, In our schools

Visible every week

Coach Jacobs will be present in District 4 schools every week, seeing what’s working, hearing what isn’t, and showing up long after Election Day.

No. 02, Open & accountable

Monthly community meetings

Coach Jacobs will hold monthly community meetings, a “State of the Schools” update to keep voters informed, and build transparent partnerships with our faith-based and community organizations.

No. 03, Kids first

Our kids come first

Every decision starts with one question: is this better for our children? That’s the standard Coach Jacobs will bring to the board.

The District 4 Playbook

Three top priorities. One team.

Coach Jacobs’s three top priorities for District 4, and the full game plan behind them.

1.

Teacher Pay

Our educators deserve to be paid like the professionals they are.
  • Making competitive teacher pay a district priority
  • Supporting a living wage for our teachers and staff
2.

Teacher Retention

Keeping great teachers in District 4 classrooms, and in the profession.
  • The support, training, and respect that keep educators in the classroom
  • Partnering with legislators and our community to invest in educators
3.

Student Achievement

Every decision measured by one standard: student success.
  • Academic excellence for every student, in every school
  • Renewing interest and investment in our public schools

Six more priorities.

i.

School Safety

Safe schools, done the right way, let trained security professionals do their jobs, and let our teachers teach.
  • Professional school-security solutions
  • Let security do their jobs, let teachers teach
ii.

Student Support

Meeting students’ basic needs so every child shows up ready to learn.
  • Protecting free breakfast & lunch for our students
  • Partnering with families to improve attendance
  • Improving pool safety with our City Council partners
iii.

Expanded Programming

Coach Jacobs will support more opportunities for our students, in and out of the classroom.
  • After-school & summer programs for students with Emotional Behavioral Disabilities (EBD)
  • Reinstating individual 7th- & 8th-grade sports teams
  • Creating new 6th-grade sports teams
iv.

Staff Advocacy

Standing up for the people who keep our schools running.
  • Higher stipends for part-time coaches
  • Supporting facilities & cafeteria employees
  • Supporting a living wage for our teachers and staff
v.

Mental Health

Caring for the whole student, and the whole staff.
  • More mental-health and educational training
  • Suicide-awareness education
vi.

Infrastructure

We should be building schools, not closing them.
  • Renovating older schools to create better learning environments
Join the team →
You will never have to worry about Coach making backroom deals with any special interest groups. Coach will fight for what’s right, every day.
James “Coach” Jacobs
Read Coach’s letter to District 4 →
In his words

Meet Coach Jacobs.

As seen on News4Jax
Full interview with Coach Jacobs · News4Jax / WJXT, July 2026
In our schools
On the trail
Award of Excellence
An endorsement
A lifelong mentor
Every Student · Every Family · Every Opportunity
Listen · 30 seconds
A message from Coach Jacobs
Your vote
Duval County · 2026 Election

Make your voice count.

Register, check your status, and get everything you need to be ready to vote in District 4.

Register to Vote → Check Your Voter Status Voting Information
Get involved

Join the team.

Volunteer, host a yard sign, or just say hello. This campaign is built one neighbor at a time, and we’d love to have you on the team for District 4’s kids.

District
Duval County · District 4

Send Coach a message

Questions, ideas, or want to help out? Drop a note and the campaign will get right back to you.