Virginia Capitol Connections, 2025 Annual Magazine 22 Fresh Tracks in Capitol Square: Zach Jacobs By CHRIS BAILEY On a gray February morning, the marble corridors of Richmond’s Patrick Henry Building hum with the usual procession of suits and policy binders. Zach Jacobs strides in, an easy grin on his face, balancing a coffee in one hand and several folders in the other. He is Virginia’s youngest Deputy Secretary of Education in modern memory, and nothing about him suggests he intends to slow down long enough to be defined by precedent. From show rings to state rings Jacobs’ accent still carries the lilt of rural Augusta County, where he spent his days tending to his livestock and preparing for the next Future Farmers of America (FFA) contest. He took out his first business loan at 14 to supplement feed costs for the animals he worked with on the livestock circuit, opening up a world in which he could learn first-hand about spreadsheets, sales pitches, and the honesty of small-town commerce. That blue-corduroy FFA jacket soon became a passport. Elected state president, he paused college for a gap year on the road, talking ag policy with legislators, teaching workshops to students who shared his civic- and service-mindedness, and lending his time and leadership to help bolster FFA’s presence in Virginia. The experience rooted Jacobs in a servant-leader ethos, affirming one of his own guiding principles: if you have the ability to help and serve others, then you have the responsibility to do so. At Virginia Tech he juggled three jobs while also focusing on his studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Jacobs was the first member of his family tree to attend college, something that remains a source of both pride and humility. His education, his service on the CALS Alumni Board, and the mentorship he received throughout his gap year served as an invaluable springboard into public service. Washington, Richmond, and a pandemic pivot A stint at the U.S. Department of Agriculture after graduation deepened his awareness of the complexities of food security, its impact on national security, and the need for higher quality foods in our schools across the country. On Capitol Hill he studied legislative procedure working for two congressmen, granting him a new understanding of ‘fast-paced.’ Ultimately it was COVID-19 that put education front and center for Jacobs. Watching his twin brothers struggle through remote classes, he saw policy failures translated into student frustration in real time. He knew he had to get inside the education arena. The Governor’s hiring team was looking for someone experienced with both bills and bus routes, and who could equally speak with knowledge and relatability about both farming and FAFSA. Jacobs was an immediate standout. He is quick to call it, “being at the right place at the right time,” but his resume, while unconventional, speaks for itself: agriculture lobbyist, congressional aide, but no long pedigree in K-12 think-tanks. He contends that’s his edge. A strategic and whole-hearted approach to the early days of his career, during which he collected a diverse skill set, allowed Jacobs to build meaningful relationships and gain comfortability in any room. A lifelong learner, he’s devoted to expanding upon his competencies and furthering his reach with every steppingstone of his career trajectory. These tools are the compass with which Jacobs navigates the collaborative, multifaceted nature of state- level policy work. As policy drafts ping between Richmond desks and actual classrooms, Jacobs insists on feedback loops with teachers, administrators, CTE instructors, and school board members. He notes that the work he’s part of is only possible through intentional partnerships; when teams Official Photo by Austin Stevens, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin. Zach Jacobs visits the site of Hurricane Helene damage in Taylors Valley.
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