Courtesy of GSU Communications
For Austin Small-Jones, a rising junior majoring in elementary education, the journey to Washington, D.C., began in a classroom—with a teacher who believed before he did.
“I could not understand why she cared more about my life than I did,” Austin said. “I kept asking, why does this person believe in me when I don’t even believe in myself?”
That teacher was Ms. Sherika Clay, his high school JAG specialist. Through consistent presence and coaching, she helped Austin find his voice. “She didn’t just say she believed in me,” he said. “She showed up. She put work behind it. And that gave me the fire to care about my future.”
That belief carried Austin through Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)—and all the way to its highest student office. What began as participation in the program in high school grew into leadership at every level: Austin rose to State President of JAG Louisiana, then National President-Elect, and ultimately National President. In that role, he became the first male and the first Louisianan to lead the organization, representing nearly 90,000 students across 37 states and two U.S. territories.
“JAG is the vehicle,” Austin said. “It helps students get to their destination—but you have to be willing to open the door and get in.”
That leadership—and the relationships it cultivated—opened doors on Capitol Hill. While in Washington, D.C., for a national JAG conference, Austin’s conversations with policymakers and committee staff quickly turned into interviews and an offer to intern with Speaker Mike Johnson.
“It happened really fast,” Austin said. “I didn’t even leave D.C. before someone emailed me asking to meet. Not even a day after my interview, they called and said, you got it—when can you start?”
Austin credits Grambling State University with preparing him to recognize—and seize—that moment. “Grambling State helped ground me in who I am,” he said. “It’s an environment where you learn how to navigate different rooms while staying rooted in yourself. That matters when you’re stepping into spaces like Capitol Hill.”
A proud member of Grambling State’s Call Me MiSTER Program, Austin says the university sharpened both his purpose and his readiness. “Being at an HBCU gave me confidence,” he said. “It helped me build my voice, my professionalism, and my sense of responsibility—not just to succeed for myself, but to represent something bigger.”
That preparation is evident as Austin balances coursework online while interning in Washington. “My professors, my department, and the administration worked with me to make sure I could stay on track,” he said. “That kind of support lets you focus on the opportunity without losing momentum.”
During the internship, Austin will assist with drafting federal legislation, preparing hearings and testimonies, giving Capitol tours, and observing how bills move from committee to the House floor.
“I’ve always been passionate about what happens in the classroom,” he explained, “but also about how federal policy affects what happens in the classroom. Now I get to see the full process. That changes how you think as an educator.”
That insight will directly inform his future classroom practice. “When my students ask why systems exist—or don’t—I’ll be able to explain it,” Austin said. “And I’ll be able to show them how they can be part of changing it.”
A first-generation college student, Austin’s commitment to education is grounded in lived experience and trauma-informed mentorship. “If I can do for even one student what Ms. Clay did for me,” he said, “then I’ve done my good in the world.”
He will serve in Washington through May 15 and has already been offered the opportunity to continue as a staff assistant—an early step in a career he hopes will one day influence education systems at scale.
“I tell people all the time,” he said. “There are so many Austins out there. They’re just waiting on someone to believe in them and give them an opportunity.”
