Science Teacher by Day, Artist by Night

"Butterfly" won third place at the Saint Francis of Assisi Art competition.

NEW JERSEY- A local science teacher, Dr. Gill of Pequannock, New Jersey, has a secret talent…she loves art! She revealed that this "hobby" of hers has become something more than a pastime-- it has turned into a passion.

Dr. Gill has been teaching for three years at Pequannock Township High School. She also taught college courses for ten years. In 2019, a devastating pandemic broke out, causing the world to go into total lockdown. Dr. Gill spent that time with her daughter, watching videos and studying images to learn how to draw. As Dr. Gill spent more time perfecting this skill, it became clear she had a talent aside from science.

"I also had help from one of my former students," Dr. Gill said in an interview. “Her name is Taylor Cooper.” Taylor, a junior at PTHS, was a student of Dr. Gill's in 2024. She helped her with various projects and offered inspiration for many of Dr. Gills’ pieces. 

Ups and downs 

During Dr. Gill's journey, there were some ups and downs. According to Dr. Gill, however, "Don't give up; keep challenging yourself to do better, and most importantly, have fun." There were times she felt like it would be easier to abandon a project rather than completing it, but in the end, she realized that it is okay to ask for help. No matter the age, people can learn new things, and Dr. Gill’s talent is a persisting example of this.