Beloved Montclair Teacher Is Retiring As ‘An Icon, Community Treasure’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — If you went to public school in Montclair, there’s a good chance you – or your child – has had Dan Gill as a teacher.

On Wednesday, district administrators announced the impending retirement of Gill, a beloved teacher known for his mastery in bringing civics and American democracy to life for three generations of Montclair students.

Want a glimpse into the local educator’s longevity? His 53-year career spans the tenures of 10 different U.S. presidents.

A retirement ceremony is planned for Saturday, June 17 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Glenfield School. Learn more here.

“Dan Gill is a Montclair icon and treasure for this community,” Superintendent Jonathan Ponds said. “He is the kind of teacher students remember for the rest of their lives.”

In addition to helping integrate the district, Gill is a “great champion of the values” — like diversity, academic excellence, public engagement, and community spirit — that make Montclair special, Ponds added.

“He may be retiring, but I hope and expect he will continue to contribute to a town he has served so well,” the superintendent said.

Alison Silverstein, president of the Montclair Board of Education, said that the stories of the lives that Gill has impacted are “countless.”

“The board is forever thankful for everything that Mr. Gill has done for the students and families of Montclair,” Silverstein said. “We are grateful for his many years of service and wish him all the best on his retirement.”

District administrators provided some background about Gill’s education and work history:

“Daniel Gill was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from Iona College, served in VISTA, the domestic peace corps, and earned a master’s degree from Columbia University in urban education and curriculum. He began teaching in Montclair in 1970. He wrote a book on the history of Glenfield School with his students in 2004, and served on the committee organizing Glenfield’s 125th Anniversary celebration. His honors include the Robert Merrill Scholar Award from Cornell University, the Euphemia Lofton Haynes Award from the Montclair NAACP, and two Weston Awards for Excellence in Teaching.”

But that’s not all, administrators said:

• He has received many awards as an educator and won national media coverage for his policy of leaving a chair empty in the classroom — a metaphor for acceptance that evokes the time a Black friend wasn’t allowed with him into a white classmate’s birthday party because, the mother said, “there weren’t enough chairs.”
• In addition to lessons about discrimination and racism, Gill, who will turn 76 this month, worked on the magnet plan that integrated Montclair’s schools in the 1970s after busing desegregation failed; it became a national model. He also helped the school develop its popular “House” system, in which students stay with the same group of core teachers throughout middle school. (He is the lead teacher of House Gill.)
• Gill also served 40 years in Seton Hall University’s Upward Bound Program, which helps students from families in lower-income areas in Newark and East Orange pursue higher education.
• A revered figure in Montclair, he was selected as Grand Marshal of the town’s Caravan of Heroes parade in 2020 (it took place in 2021 due to COVID) and gave Montclair High School’s commencement address in 2022. “All of you have a story,” he told the graduating class, whose last two years of school coincided with the COVID pandemic. “Share it.”

Other local educators and community members who had high praise for Gill included:

Latifah Jannah, former president of the Montclair Board of Education – “Thank You, Dan, for your many, many years of public service and educational enrichment to the Montclair School District and the families and students whose lives you touched. Glenfield was my first Montclair Public Schools job assignment. You were welcoming and reassuring to the newbie, and I will never forget that. You are appreciated. Congratulations on your retirement.”

Tessie Thomas, president of the Montclair PTA Council – “Mr. Gill is an amazing educator and an even more amazing human being. His stellar career in education has been truly transformative for the Montclair Public Schools and for the lives of so many. I know he will be missed dearly in the class, but knowing him his contributions to the community will keep coming.”

Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) – “Mr. Gill is one of those rare teachers who can meet all children where they are at. He has been toasted more than any other teacher in MFEE history and that speaks volumes about how beloved he is by students and families. His lifetime commitment to Montclair kids has changed countless lives. We look forward to continuing to tap into his wisdom to inform MFEE programming for students and staff.”

Cathy Kondreck, president of the Montclair Education Association – “Dan Gill has inspired countless students to reach their full potential, to explore new ideas, to challenge themselves, and to make a positive difference in the world. Mr. Gill has also mentored and guided generations of colleagues, sharing his expertise, wisdom, and kindness with all who have had the honor of working alongside him. He has touched the lives of countless others in the community with his time, compassion, and energy to make a difference in their lives. In short, he has been a shining example of what it means to be an extraordinary teacher, and after 50 years of dedication, a legend.”

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