Week 3 Open the Gate Honoree: Kim Jones
9/19/2023 11:58:00 AM | Football
The Wake Forest graduate was named the 2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Kim Jones, an English teacher at Chapel Hill High School and Wake Forest graduate, will lead the Demon Deacon football team onto the field this Saturday, Sept. 23, against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The game is set for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Jones, who was recently named the 2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, joined Chapel Hill High School in 2006 after earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wake Forest.
The Harnett County native also serves as co-coordinator of Chapel Hill High's AVID program. According to the press release from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the program helps integrate its equity-focused values into the overall school culture by collaborating with faculty and keeping in touch with students and parents.
She also serves as an equity team leader for her school and on the district's instructional planning team. She previously was lead teacher for the school's English 10 professional learning community, focusing on best practices and student performance, and beyond Chapel Hill High, she was an area coordinator for Governor's School West, where she also taught for 12 years.
As Teacher of the Year, she will spend the next school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession as supported by Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Jones also will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years and as a board member for the NC Public School Forum for one year.
Open the Gate Information & 2023 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Jones, who was recently named the 2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, joined Chapel Hill High School in 2006 after earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wake Forest.
The Harnett County native also serves as co-coordinator of Chapel Hill High's AVID program. According to the press release from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the program helps integrate its equity-focused values into the overall school culture by collaborating with faculty and keeping in touch with students and parents.
She also serves as an equity team leader for her school and on the district's instructional planning team. She previously was lead teacher for the school's English 10 professional learning community, focusing on best practices and student performance, and beyond Chapel Hill High, she was an area coordinator for Governor's School West, where she also taught for 12 years.
As Teacher of the Year, she will spend the next school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession as supported by Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Jones also will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years and as a board member for the NC Public School Forum for one year.
Open the Gate Information & 2023 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
- Week 1 vs. Elon: Cathy Pace
- Week 2 vs. Vanderbilt: Jen Averill
- Week 3 vs. Georgia Tech: Kim Jones
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
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Thursday, September 11
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10