A graduate of the University of Kentucky (UK), and Vanderbilt University Medical School, Jones first pursued a career in medicine, but during his medical internship, he decided to change directions. After earning honors as an undergraduate at UK, Jones said he "went into medical school burned out." "During my third year [of medical school] I ran into a particularly difficult situation," he said. But Jones decided to stick it out, finishing his degree and beginning his internship at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, La. "Once I got into the practice of it, I decided, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’" he said.

From there, Jones enrolled at the University of Louisville, this time earning his teacher certification. For the past seven years he has been teaching high school science at Eastern High School in Middletown, where he was awarded the designation of Jefferson County Teacher of the Year 2000.

James Sexton is the principal of Eastern High School. He described Jones as "very inspiring" to kids—especially those interested in medical professions. "They liked him and admired him for not staying in the medical practice, but coming to teach," he said. Sexton said Jones had high academic standards for his students. "You don’t go around him unless you want to work," but Jones was also, "a good mentor to kids, always available to sponsor things. He was in charge of our very large F.C.A. [Fellowship of Christian Athletes]," Sexton said.

A native of Jefferson County, Jones’ own early school days had been difficult. Describing himself as "bookish," small for his age, and "lacking a lot of self-confidence and some social skills," Jones said he was an easy target for bullying by black students and racial prejudice by white students. Growing up in the era of school desegregation, he was bused to a white school, where he was the only African American in his accelerated classes

"I hated school just about all my life, then I became a cheerleader and I joined the high school choir. I also began to lift weights,"—a practice he continues today. As his biceps and self-esteem grew, Jones said it was "amazing—the correlation of how people left me alone." Jones said during those years he "dealt with the use of the ‘N’ word," but managed to "win the respect of those same individuals before I graduated from high school."

"I think it served to strengthen my character," Jones said of his school struggles, but he also said he believes a stable home environment helped him overcome those early obstacles. During those tough times, Jones said, "My mom always provided a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on." The son of a Louisville pastor, Jones said he was never tempted to become the stereotypical rebellious "P-K" (pastor’s kid). Instead, he found his greatest challenge to be "finding his own pathway" alongside a man he greatly respected. "He’s the wisest man I know," Jones said of his father.

Jones says that spiritual training and family values have always provided the foundation of his career pursuits, but recently, he "began to be interested in the application of my Christian values, particularly to the scientific world."

"I began to be even more interested in the expansion of [these issues] to a wide range of common concerns impacting everyday peoples’ lives in daily affairs," he said. Along with science-related issues such as stem cell research, cloning, and sex education, Jones said he’s interested in issues such as the promotion of special rights for homosexuals and gambling, which he said are "destructive to the general fabric of society."

Kent Ostrander, executive director of The Family Foundation said Jones "brings unique experience and perspective that will strengthen the foundation’s numerous areas of influence—especially those that have to do with medicine or education. We’re very pleased with his joining our staff," he said.