Having taught second and fourth through sixth grade science, Joan A. Gillman currently teaches second, fourth and sixth grade science at the Browning School in New York as of 2018. She began her teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at the St. Angela Merici School in the Bronx, New York, in 1982, remaining in this role for one year before transferring to teach fourth and fifth grade at Joytown Kent Elementary School from 1983 to 1984. She then taught sixth grade language arts and social studies at the Bede School in Englewood, New Jersey, from 1984 to 1986; fourth and fifth grade for all academic subjects and sixth grade mathematics and science at the Professional Children’s School in New York from 1986 to 2006; and fourth and fifth grade science at Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia, New Jersey, from 2006 to 2007. Following this, Ms. Gillman was a fifth and sixth grade mathematics and science teacher at Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, New Jersey, for one year before joining the Calhoun School in New York as a fifth and sixth grade science teacher from 2008 to 2018.
Prior to the start of her professional career, Ms. Gillman pursued a formal education at Felician College in Lodi, New Jersey, now Felician University in Rutherford, New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Education, summa cum laude, in 1980. She then attended New York University, where she attained a Master of Education in 1982. Additionally, Ms. Gillman has been a certified elementary education educator for grades K-8 in the State of New Jersey and the hearing impaired in grades K-12 in New York. Likewise, she became a National Geographic certified educator in 2019. To receive this certification, there was a three-part certification process that involved designing lesson plans and making a capstone video. Ms. Gillman received exemplary grades for her submissions.
An ambassador for the Half-Earth Project of the American Museum of Natural History, as well as the NASA Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission Program, since 2016, Ms. Gillman has taught at various conferences such as those of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS), and the Science Council of New York City (SCONYC). For three years, she was part of the Pitsco Teachers Advisory Group (TAG). In addition, Ms. Gillman has been a subject area representative (SAR) for the elementary section of the New York City branch of the Science Teachers Association of New York State.
Ms. Gillman has been a contributor of numerous articles to such journals as Science and Children and the Science Teachers Bulletin, including her article “Straw Rockets Are Out of This World.” She has also been a violinist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the August Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Gillman further maintains involvement with the Science Teachers Association of New York State; the National Science Teaching Association; Science Educators for Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice (SEEDS); and Kappa Delta Pi.
In light of her accomplishments, Ms. Gillman was awarded the Young Teachers Incentive Award by the Professional Children’s School, listed in Who’s Who in American Universities in 1980, and named to the National Dean’s List. The recipient of the Urhy Thompson Teacher of the Year Award from the Calhoun School, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian Award. A Marquis Who’s Who Top Professional and presenter at national conferences, Ms. Gillman was selected for inclusion in several editions of Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Education.