Joan Gillman

Joan Gillman: A 43-Year Legacy of Curiosity, Compassion, and Transformative Science Education

From the very beginning of her journey, Joan Gillman discovered that teaching was not just something she could do — it was something she was meant to do. Her passion for education first took root in high school, where a community service requirement led her into the lower school classrooms. What started as volunteering quickly became a calling. Whether she was teaching children how to play the recorder, tutoring small groups in math, organizing inclusive playground games, or helping young swimmers — including those with special needs — overcome their fears in the water, Joan found deep fulfillment in watching children learn, grow, and believe in themselves. Her early experiences instilled in her a lifelong philosophy: Every child deserves a chance to shine. She learned firsthand how compassion, dignity, and inclusion can transform a child’s confidence — lessons that would later become the heart of her teaching career. Even as a young girl experimenting with homemade “science labs,” building robots from shoeboxes, tracking snowfall with a yardstick, or constructing snow tunnels with her brother, Joan was unknowingly shaping the foundation of the educator she would one day become — curious, creative, hands-on, and endlessly passionate about nurturing the next generation.

Early Inspirations: A Calling Discovered in Youth

Joan’s story begins long before she stepped into a professional classroom. It started in high school, where a mandatory community service program allowed her to explore teaching in the lower school. What began as a requirement quickly became a passion.

She taught children how to play the recorder, tutored small groups in math, and organized inclusive playground games — ensuring every child, regardless of ability, felt involved and valued. The school’s head noticed her exceptional ability to uplift students, especially those who were often overlooked. This early validation planted the seed for a lifelong dedication to teaching.

Outside school, Joan continued nurturing her love for helping others — teaching swim lessons to children, including those with special needs, and even serving as a substitute ballet instructor. These experiences solidified her belief in inclusivity and empathy, values that continue to define her teaching philosophy today.

Even as a young child, Joan was naturally curious about the world. She experimented with homemade “science solutions,” measured snowfall in her yard, and built imaginative cities and robots with her older brother. These childhood explorations laid the foundation for a scientific curiosity that would eventually shape her life’s work.

The Path to Becoming an Educator: Where Passion Met Purpose

Joan’s formal journey into education took shape during her Master’s program, where she student-taught at P.S. 47 Junior High School for the Deaf. Working with profoundly deaf science students in grades 7 through 9 was a transformative experience.

Her cooperating teacher believed in hands-on learning — and Joan immediately understood its power. During an engineering unit, students created their own miniature amusement parks with functional rides, embedding scientific concepts into tangible, engaging projects. Watching these students learn through creation reinforced Joan’s belief in experiential education, a principle that remains at the core of her teaching today.

A Career Defined by Achievement, Innovation, and Educator-to-Educator Leadership

Joan’s contributions extend far beyond her classroom. She has become a guiding force for educators nationwide, sharing her methods, strategies, and passion through professional workshops and conferences.

Encouraged early in her career by a high school physics colleague, Joan began presenting science-themed workshops at professional conferences. What started as a tentative step soon blossomed into an annual tradition — and a defining part of her professional identity.

Her workshops have reached educators across major platforms, including:

• NSTA National Conferences
• NSTA STEM Conferences
• STANYS Conferences
• SCONYC Conferences
• NYSAIS Diversity Symposium
• Association of Independent Schools (ATIS)

She has presented sessions such as Equity and Diversity in the STEM Classroom, Straw Rockets Are Out of This World, Buildings, Bridges, and Structures, Oh My!, The Wonderful World of Weather, and many more. Her workshops are consistently praised for their clarity, creativity, and practicality.

In 2024, Joan expanded her leadership by helping organize the SCONYC Conference — her first experience planning a major educational event. Despite the challenges, she watched her efforts come together beautifully, giving educators a meaningful and enriching professional experience.

Living the Mission: Teaching With Integrity, Purpose, and Heart

At The Browning School, Joan lives and breathes the institution’s mission to “create men of intellect and integrity to contribute meaningfully to our world.”

The school’s four guiding values — Curiosity, Honesty, Dignity, and Purpose — are woven into everything she does. Whether she is delivering a science lesson, leading a project, or redirecting classroom behavior, she reinforces these values with consistency and sincerity.

Her belief is simple but profound: educators prepare the next generation for a world they will someday lead. Knowledge alone is not enough — students must learn empathy, respect, collaboration, and responsibility.

As a science teacher, Joan has always prioritized nurturing her students’ innate curiosity. She wants every child to feel empowered to question, explore, and act. Through her guidance, students understand that they are not passive observers of the world — they are participants who can create meaningful change.

Championing Environmental Awareness: Leading by Example

One of Joan’s most impactful contributions is her leadership in The Browning School’s Green Team, a student-led initiative focused on environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Under her guidance, students:

• Choose a “Green Action of the Week”
• Create posters and reminders throughout the school
• Teach environmental awareness during homeroom and assemblies
• Organize Central Park Cleanups
• Participate in community education and fundraising initiatives

One particularly inspiring story includes a former sixth-grade student who became deeply motivated by a lesson on water scarcity. His passion led to the team collaborating with Water.org and raising over $1,000 for clean water access — a testament to Joan’s ability to turn education into action.

Lifelong Learning: A Teacher Who Never Stops Being a Student

Joan is a living embodiment of lifelong learning. Throughout her 43-year career, she has continuously sought opportunities to expand her expertise.

Her professional development includes:

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Three advanced workshops, including witnessing the construction of the James Webb Telescope — a remarkable experience for an astronomy enthusiast.

American Museum of Natural History

Courses in paleontology, climate change, and animal science.

Cornell Ornithology Lab

Specialized studies in bird science.

GLOBE Weather Field Test Program

Selected as one of only 12 teachers for a national weather-curriculum pilot.

National Geographic Certified Educator

A rigorous, multi-step certification requiring a capstone project. Joan showcased her Oil Spill Cleanup simulation, a hands-on unit that teaches environmental impact through experiential learning.

Modern Classroom Project

Training to implement self-paced, mastery-based learning — now active in her classroom.

Through every workshop and certification, Joan brings back new ideas to share with colleagues, ensuring her growth becomes communal rather than isolated.

Awards, Honors, and Recognition: Celebrating Excellence

Joan’s dedication has earned her numerous accolades, including:

• Urhy Teacher of the Year (2017)
• Multiple recognitions from Marquis Who’s Who
  • Top Educators
  • Who’s Who of Professional Women
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Humanitarians & Philanthropists
• Featured in Forbes Magazine
• National Digest Magazine
• World’s Leaders Magazine
• Kappa Delta Pi “Legacy Member”
• CXO Time: Most Inspiring Educator in Science Education (2024)
• CXO Time: Visionaries of Success – Top 10 Leaders Shaping the Future (2024)
• CIO Views: Top 10 Empowering Women Leaders (2024)
• The Executive Lens: Top 5 Women to Know in 2025
• MSN – “Female Leaders Who Went from Vision to Victory”
• IAOTP: Top Educator of the Year 2025 — one of the highest distinctions of her career.

These honors reflect not only her longevity in the field but the profound impact she has had on students, colleagues, and the broader educational community.

Guiding Future Educators: Wisdom, Compassion, and Encouragement

Joan knows the challenges educators face today — evolving technologies, shifting curricula, and the responsibility to make learning meaningful in a changing world. Her advice to aspiring educators is rooted in decades of experience:

• Embrace lifelong learning. Continuous development keeps teaching exciting and relevant.
• Maintain a sense of humor. It makes challenging days easier and builds stronger relationships.
• Ask for help. Teaching is collaborative, and no one thrives in isolation.
• Be patient and compassionate. Students need guidance, understanding, and encouragement.
• Stay passionate and positive. The best moments are always ahead.

Her wisdom demonstrates the heart of a true educator — someone committed not only to teaching but to uplifting the profession as a whole.

Ongoing Projects and Contributions: Expanding Her Impact

Joan continues to lead and contribute to the educational community through:

• Her role as Subject Area Representative (SAR) for NYC under STANYS
• Organizing guest speakers and monthly professional activities
• Annual workshops at STANYS Conferences
• Writing widely used curriculum, including her notable “Straw Rocket” unit
• Being featured in educational books such as:
  • Bringing STEM to the Elementary Classroom
  • What Teachers Need to Know About Teaching Climate Change

Her contributions ensure that her influence extends far beyond her own students — reaching classrooms across the country.

A Legacy of Heart, Purpose, and Endless Possibility

Joan Gillman’s career stands as a shining example of what education can be when it is driven by passion, empathy, and constant growth. For 43 years, she has given her students not only knowledge, but confidence, compassion, and curiosity — gifts that will guide them throughout their lives.