Joan Gillman

Joan A. Gillman’s journey is one of dedication, innovation, and passion for education. With more than four decades of experience in teaching, she has shaped young minds across multiple schools in New York and New Jersey, inspiring students through science, mathematics, language arts, and social studies. Since 2018, she has been teaching science at The Browning School in New York City, where she also leads The Green Team, one of the school’s K–12 clubs dedicated to environmental awareness, biodiversity, and community action. Her leadership in organizing cleanups, biodiversity events, and fundraising initiatives has helped students understand the importance of science beyond the classroom.

Joan began her teaching career in 1982 at St. Angela Merici School in the Bronx before moving on to Joytown Kent Elementary School, the Bede School, and the Professional Children’s School, where she taught for two decades. She later enriched learning at Anna C. Scott Elementary School and Yeshivat Noam before joining The Calhoun School in 2008, where she spent nearly 10 years teaching science and introducing innovative electives. Over the years, she has created engaging curricula that balance academic rigor with creativity, sparking curiosity among her students.

Her academic foundation is equally remarkable. Joan earned her Bachelor of Education, summa cum laude, from Felician University in 1980, followed by a Master of Education from New York University in 1982. A lifelong learner, she became a National Geographic Certified Educator in 2019, completing a rigorous program with exemplary results, and in 2022, she completed training as a Modern Classroom Project educator. These achievements underscore her commitment to blending traditional teaching with modern methodologies to keep education relevant and impactful.

Joan has also been active in professional communities, presenting workshops at conferences such as the ones from STANYS, NSTA, SCONYC’s Annual Conference and the NYSAIS Diversity Symposium, where she spoke on topics ranging from constellation stories to equity and diversity in STEM classrooms. Her work demonstrates her belief that science education must be inclusive, inspiring, and accessible to every student.

Her contributions to education have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of her lifelong impact and leadership, Joan Gillman was honored with the IAOTP Award for Top Educator of the Year 2025. Beyond her teaching career, she is also an accomplished violinist, performing with community orchestras in New Jersey, bringing the same discipline and creativity from music into her classroom.

From her first classroom in the Bronx to her current role at The Browning School, Joan Gillman’s story reflects perseverance, adaptability, and the drive to ignite a love of learning in every student she meets. Her journey redefines success not only through professional milestones but also through the countless lives she has touched, proving that true impact is measured in the minds and futures of those she inspires.