Behind the Gunn High School library front desk, librarian Daljeet Gill is a familiar face to students, often striking up conversations about anything from Air Jordans to the newest volume of “Demon Slayer.”
Gill is exceptionally active in school activities, playing in student versus staff basketball games and making regular appearances in Gunn’s annual homecoming theme reveal video. His popularity on campus can’t just be attributed to his avid participation in school events though — he also makes a tangible effort to connect with the many students he talks to.
“If you’re in the library after school or on a prep, [Gill will] come up to you and ask you questions about what you’re doing and what’s happening in your life,” senior Chris Lee said. “He breaks that barrier that [students] have when they try to talk to teachers casually.”
To become the teacher he is today, Gill has had to overcome his fair share of challenges in high school. Discrimination, in particular, led him to seek support from his teachers, who helped him establish a sense of belonging.
“There was lots of racism and things of that nature, and finding where I fit into that school environment was a challenge at times,” Gill said. “My teachers had my back, and the library was also a great place of comfort for me.”
Gill’s teachers, who supported him both inside and outside the classroom, played a critical role in his decision to pursue a career in education.
“I wanted to go into education because of what [my teachers] did for me, particularly when I went through some tough times,” Gill said. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’s really cool. I’d love to be able to do that for someone else.’”
Gill, motivated by his dream of becoming a teacher, finished his general education at Butte Community College in Oroville, California in one and a half years, making him the first person in his family to attend college. He then transferred to UC Berkeley, where he got his master’s degree in library sciences.
After working his way through the college system, Gill found his first job in education as an English teacher in Sacramento. Gill later relocated to the Bay Area and has been the teacher librarian at Gunn for the past nine years.
In 2020, when Gunn launched its Social Emotional Literacy and Functionality program, Gill took the opportunity to become a SELF mentor, which would allow him to have more consistent interactions with students.
Gill initially encountered difficulty with the SELF lessons, as he found most of them weren’t relevant to students and didn’t capture their attention. Despite the setback, Gill worked to create a positive SELF environment and ensure that, at the very least, students have a trusted adult on campus.
“He expresses his care for SELF, and he definitely wants to see students succeed in their social life,” junior Michael Wang said. “He’s been a very avid proponent of SELF and I think that’s very important to becoming a SELF mentor.”
Gill’s connection with students extends past the SELF curriculum. To list a few examples, Gill played Super Smash Bros against students and volunteered to be pied in the face to raise money for Gunn’s food drive.
“[Gill is] always willing to make himself look bad for students,” said junior Jack Lamis. “It’s nice to see a teacher who actually has fun with students outside of class.”
At the same time, Gill knows that his role entails more than keeping a positive demeanor with students. In a world where technology is ever-evolving, Gill actively adapts the library to fit students’ interests, acquiring audio and video equipment for the podcasting studios in the library.
Still, even with all the library upgrades and connections Gill has made, he feels his career at Gunn is only beginning.
“I don’t see myself pivoting or going back anywhere else,” Gill said. “I just really love my role and what I have here at Gunn.”
