First Miss UDC continues legacy of teaching, service and pageantry

Gail Jones is a nationally recognized teacher, nutrition expert and community leader. Crowned the first Miss University of the District of Columbia in 1977, she went on to win numerous pageants, as well as awards for teaching and community service. Jones (’80) spent two years at Federal City College as a home economics education major before it became part of the merger to establish the University of the District of Columbia in 1976.

Since her reign as the first Miss UDC, she has received many other accolades including All-American Homecoming Queen at the Orange Bowl Festival in Miami, Florida and Miss Firebird Alumni 2017.

Jones served as captain of UDC’s first majorette team. She was inducted as a National Dean’s List scholar for her academic achievements and was named in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

She also received the UDC Biological Science Alumni award and the UDC National Alumni Society (UDCNAS) Georgia J. Herron Spirit award.

Jones has had a 35-year teaching career that has included teaching home economics at the Academy of Notre Dame and Howard D. Woodson High School. She also worked at Anne Beers Elementary, where she is credited with bringing a highly successful nutrition program to the school. Her work included a grant that coordinated with NASA and brought astronauts and Congress members to the school. She wrote the curriculum, which garnered news coverage and a school grant allowed students to experience a replica of a space shuttle in the building and participate in an experiment that was launched into space.

She became certified in special education and ended her career returning to her alma mater, Woodson High School, where she taught life skills to students with special needs. Known for going the extra mile, Jones took students on field trips to explore museums and art galleries and helped them learn about their city.

“Over the years, I’ve had wonderful principals,” said Jones, who was known to work until 10 p.m. and return early the next morning. “Every holiday, we had breakfasts for students and parents. I was fortunate to have principals that weren’t telling me ‘no.’ It makes you want to go out of your way to help.”

An impactful teacher, she received 15 DC Teacher of the Year awards related to home economics, the H.D. Woodson Award of Excellence, two National Top 10 Teacher of the Year awards, a Citation Award from the DC Board of Education, and the Outstanding American Teachers award among others. In recognition of her exemplary teaching career, Jones was inducted into Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

“The University of the District of Columbia prepared me for almost everything that I did in my life,” Jones said. “You enter college not always being sure about yourself and what you are doing. I was able to gain confidence there. A lot of my awards for teaching were for things that I learned at UDC. I had fabulous teachers.”

Other accolades include the National Nutrition Advisory Council of the Year winner; Family, Careers, and Community Leaders of America Leadership Hall of Fame; Maryland Senate Resolution award; Special Maryland Congressional Recognition award; and the Outstanding Young Women of America title.

Jones has been featured in Ebony magazine, Good Housekeeping magazine, Metro magazine, and on the cover of Washington Living magazine.

She has dedicated her life to service including working as a volunteer with the Cherry Blossom Intimates Breast Cancer Medical Center. She also volunteers with various breast cancer awareness groups.

Jones also worked with the Greater Washington Urban League during the MLK Day of Service, where she collected and distributed socks and soap for homeless people. She also teaches Sunday School at her church.

Now retired, her travels have taken her to Dubai and Milan as well as the Bahamas. But what she is most proud of is being a wife and mother to three daughters—including a Metropolitan police, Miss DC USA and Miss Maryland Teen—as well as sister to former UDC Trustee Hortense Brent.