Blake Jones covers education for POLITICO California. He previously covered education policy and politics in his home state for Idaho Education News and cut his teeth writing for local papers in the Boise area.

Blake holds degrees in creative writing and political economy from the College of Idaho, where he edited the student newspaper and competed on the Howlin' Yotes debate team. Despite a lack of athleticism that led him to break his wrist the first time he hit the slopes, Blake's an avid snowboarder. He lives in Sacramento where he grows succulents and doesn't miss Idaho winters.