Courtney is the founding director for the Kummer Center for STEM Education. Jones previously served as a district curriculum coordinator and science specialist for the Jefferson City School District in Jefferson City, Missouri. Prior to that, she was the high school principal for Lincoln Consolidated School in Lincoln, Arkansas, for seven years. She has also served as a statewide facilitator for the Northwest Arkansas Education Co-op. Her previous educational roles have included high school teacher, adjunct faculty member at Arkansas State University-Newport, and middle school assistant principal.

Jones earned a specialist in education degree (Ed.S.) in educational administration and supervision from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2013. She also earned a master’s degree in integrated science and mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree in botany from Arkansas State University in 1997.