Jess Piper is a born and bred southerner, having spent childhood and young adulthood in several southern states until she landed in Arkansas. She graduated with A BA in English and an MA in Education from the University of Arkansas.

Jess is a fierce advocate for rural communities and public schools. She was an American Literature teacher for 16 years and decided to run for a House seat in Missouri’s 1st district in 2022. Although she lost the race, she continues her activism and is Executive Director of Blue Missouri and hosts a weekly podcast called “Dirt Road Democrat.”