Joan Ava Gillman has dedicated her career to inspiring and guiding students to reach their full potential through education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education, summa cum laude, from Felician College in 1980 and a Master of Arts in Education from New York University’s Steinhardt School in 1982, establishing a strong foundation for her lifelong commitment to teaching.

Her early career included teaching roles at St. Angela Merici School, Joytown Kent Elementary School, and the Bede School in New Jersey. In 1986, she joined the Professional Children’s School in New York City, teaching multiple subjects for fourth through sixth grades and serving as teacher advisor for the Middle School Council, earning the Young Teachers Incentive Award. She also held positions at Anna C. Scott Elementary School, Yeshivat Noam, and the Calhoun School, where she received the Urhy Thompson Teacher of the Year Award.

Since 2018, Joan has been a science teacher at The Browning School, a college preparatory school for boys in New York City, where she also leads the school’s Green Team conservation club.

Her dedication to education has been recognized globally, culminating in her being named “Top Educator of the Year 2025” by the International Association of Top Professionals, reflecting her unwavering commitment to nurturing young learners and shaping the next generation of leaders.