“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” —William Butler Yeats.
When a student walks into a classroom, they enter a space where they can discover the world around them and the world within themselves. And in the guidance of an empowering teacher that the seeds of curiosity are sown, nourished, and grown into something far greater—an understanding of their own capabilities and the confidence to use them.
Joan Gillman, a Science Teacher and Educational Expert at The Browning School has been dedicated to empowering her students in profound ways. For over four decades, Joan has inspired a generation of young minds to believe in their ability to make a difference.
Joan’s classroom is a place where learning is an adventure, where questions are encouraged, and where mistakes are not seen as failures, but as opportunities to grow. She doesn’t just teach her students about science. She teaches them about life – how to think, how to question, and how to approach the world with both a critical mind and an open heart.
Shedding light on Joan’s journey, we’ll discover the principles that guide her work, the experience and values she has gained over the years, and her impact on her students and the larger educational community.
A Legacy of Excellence and Equity
Founded in 1888, The Browning School has long been a beacon of educational excellence. With 400+ students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the school is dedicated to nurturing the unique strengths of boys through evidence-based educational practices. It also provides professional development avenues for their teachers and staff so that they stay updated with the latest educational philosophies and practices.
The school’s mission is to ‘create men of intellect and integrity to contribute meaningfully to our world.’ The four guiding values—Curiosity, Honesty, Dignity, and Purpose—are stressed throughout the year. The school’s commitment to equitable practices and social impact is not a supplement to the curriculum. Rather, it permeates all aspects of the school’s curriculum.
The Browning School celebrates boys’ special unique strengths with research-based strategies designed to meet their developmental needs every step of the way. According to the Browning website, they stress that academic achievement blooms when boys feel respected, encouraged, and challenged as learners.
The faculty holds high standards for the boys and for themselves, which allows the boys to deepen their love of learning while growing in their understanding. The academic program offers boys both challenge and engagement, it invites them to think deeply and communicate clearly, and to take them on a transformative journey into the world of ideas.
At the Browning School, the staff intentionally cultivates deep relationships with each and every boy so that he can grow into an excellent student, dedicated friend, and decent man whose lives will influence others for the better.
Joan’s approach to education is deeply aligned with Browning’s values. She believes that academic achievement flourishes when students feel respected, encouraged, and challenged. Her influence in the school is evident in the way students are engaged with the curriculum, which is designed to meet their developmental needs at every step of their educational journey.
A Lifelong Commitment to Excellence
Beginning her 43rd year as a teacher, Joan’s passion for teaching began long before she joined The Browning School. “As an educator, you are preparing the next generation to carry on after you are gone. Students need to comprehend how the world works so that they can make wise decisions. Nothing brings me more pleasure than seeing my students become passionate about education and lifelong learners,” Joan expressed.
Her journey in education started in 1980, after she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, K-8 Summa Cum Laude from Felician College (now Felician University). Two years later, she completed her M.A in Education for the Hearing Impaired from New York University.
Joan’s career took off in the South Bronx, where she began her first full-time teaching job. Over the years, she has taught in a variety of settings, including independent schools, religious institutions, and public schools, each time striving to make a difference in the lives of her students.
Before joining The Browning School, Joan taught 5th and 6th grade science at The Calhoun School, where she also ran two 7th grade science electives and one 8th grade math elective. Joan’s diverse teaching experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of the educational landscape, allowing her to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her current role. Her career is a testament to the impact that a dedicated educator can have on the lives of young people.
Expanding Horizons at The Browning School
As a seasoned educator, Joan Gillman has a clear vision for the future of The Browning School. She is committed to continuing her work in the lower and middle school science departments, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Joan recognizes the importance of representation in education, particularly in fields like science, where women have historically been underrepresented. She aims to install a positive image of women in science, encouraging her students to remember that women can, and do, make significant contributions to the field.
Looking ahead, The Browning School is preparing for a period of growth and expansion. By the fall of 2025, a new building on 64th Street will house the high school, allowing the current location to accommodate additional sections for the middle school grades.
Joan is particularly excited about the school’s commitment to equity work, which is integrated into the curriculum through relevant assemblies, school events, and student organizations. The Browning School also encourages professional development and regular discussions on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), ensuring that the faculty remains at the forefront of best practices in education.
Back in 2022, Joan also gave a presentation at one of the Parent Equity Council meetings to show how equity and diversity themes are smoothly integrated into her science curriculum. This council, along with initiatives like the Panther Mentors, plays a pivotal role in encouraging an inclusive environment at the school, ensuring that all students feel valued and supported throughout their educational journey.
The Cornerstone of Success
For Joan, learning does not end in the classroom. She is a strong advocate for lifelong learning and continuously seeks opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. Joan has participated in several professional development courses throughout her career, each experience enriching her teaching practice and broadening her horizons.
One of the highlights of Joan’s professional development journey was her participation in three workshops at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. These workshops allowed her to indulge her passion for astronomy while exchanging ideas with fellow educators.
Joan’s love for science is also evident in the courses she has taken at the American Museum of Natural History, where she studied paleontology, climate change, and animal science. Additionally, she has attended workshops at the Cornell Ornithology Lab, further expanding her expertise in the natural sciences.
In 2017, Joan was selected as one of 12 teachers to participate in the GLOBE Weather Field Test Program in Colorado. This opportunity allowed her to test a new weather curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with her 6th grade science classes.
Joan’s commitment to providing her students with cutting-edge education is further demonstrated by her decision to become a National Geographic Certified Educator in 2018. This certification, which involved a rigorous evaluation process, equipped Joan with the skills to incorporate National Geographic’s storytelling, exploration, and science into her teaching.
One of Joan’s most memorable experiences was creating a capstone video for her National Geographic certification, showcasing her oil spill curriculum. This hands-on project not only taught her students about the challenges of cleaning up oil spills but also inspired them to think critically about their environmental impact.
In the summer of 2022, Joan decided to apply for the grant to become a Modern Classroom Project educator. This was a five-week online course that takes one through the steps to enable teachers to set up a classroom that is self-paced and meets the needs of all students. Joan found the course very worthwhile and has already begun applying some of the lessons she learned that summer to her own classroom.
Joan recalls that one of the happiest moments in her teaching career was when she received the Urhy Teacher of the Year award at the Calhoun School in 2017. “I felt that all of my years of dedication to my students’ education were recognized by my school and fellow teachers. The joy that I felt will always be remembered for the rest of my life,” she expressed.
Leadership in Action
Apart from being a science teacher at The Browning School, Joan wears several other hats. Her responsibilities include teaching four 2nd grade science classes, two 4th grade science classes, one 5th grade science section, and one 6th grade science section. Additionally, Joan serves as a 6th grade advisor, a role that she finds particularly fulfilling. She takes great joy in helping her students adjust to life in middle school, guiding them through the challenges of adolescence with compassion and understanding.
Joan’s dedication to her students extends beyond the classroom. She is one of the leaders of The Green Team, an all-school club focused on sustainability and environmental conservation. The Green Team organizes fundraisers, Central Park cleanups, and the annual Biodiversity Day, all of which aim to instill in students a deep respect for the planet. Joan believes that her work with The Green Team is critical in preparing the next generation to be responsible stewards of the environment.
For Joan, the happiest moments in her daily routine are those spent with her advisory group. She views this group as a family, where students are supported, encouraged, and empowered to succeed. The strong bonds she forms with her students are a testament to her commitment to their well-being and development.
As a leader in the education space, she believes that the most important traits to look for in a new educator are knowledge in the field and the ability to work well as part of a team. At The Browning School, collaboration among teachers is highly valued, and Joan is proud to be part of a department that shares ideas, strategies, and support.
Envisioning a Better Society
Joan Gillman is nothing short of a visionary, passionate about improving society. When asked about the things she’d like to improve in society, she identifies three key areas: compassion, climate change education, and personalized learning.
“Too often, people are ready to fight or accuse someone of wrongdoing before they know the complete story. If people would slow down, be compassionate, and listen, perhaps there would be less violence in this world,” she emphasized.
Secondly, Joan believes that no science education is complete without addressing the issues of climate change. Through her science classes and Green Team leadership, she hopes that this future generation can become fine stewards of our environment. “Planet Earth’s survival will depend on them,” she adds.
Thirdly, Joan has found that schools take a ‘one size fits all’ approach to teaching. This certainly doesn’t work for clothes, and it doesn’t work for education. She highlights that each child comes to class with unique needs. It is up to the teacher to find the right approach to help each student reach their academic goals. “I feel very strongly about making sure that each student under my care can feel comfortable and confident that they can learn the materials being covered in class,” she asserts.
Joan also strongly believes in a curriculum that is interdisciplinary. In her science classes, not only do the students learn science skills, but she also incorporates all the other academic subjects into the lessons. In this way, learning doesn’t take place in isolation and the students see the connection between all the disciplines. “Isn’t that the way the world works!” says Joan.
A Journey of Professional Growth
Throughout her career, Joan Gillman has never shied away from taking risks. One of the most significant risks she took was getting involved in teaching workshops at professional conferences.
Initially unsure of how her ideas would be received, Joan soon found that her creative approach to teaching was well received by her peers. She has since led workshops at numerous conferences, including the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) conferences, the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS) conferences, the Science Council of New York City (SCONYC) conferences, and the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) Diversity Symposium.
Joan’s willingness to step out of her comfort zone has also led to exciting opportunities in publishing. In 2013, she wrote an article titled “Straw Rockets are Out of This World” for the NSTA’s publication, ‘Science and Children.’ This article caught the attention of an author who was writing a book on bringing STEM to the elementary classroom, and Joan’s Straw Rocket Unit was included in the publication. This recognition was a significant milestone in Joan’s career, highlighting her contributions to science education.
A Legacy of Leadership and Learning
Joan’s career is a testament to the power of dedication, passion, and lifelong learning. As she continues to lead and inspire at The Browning School, her influence extends far beyond the classroom. Joan’s commitment to equity, her vision for the future of education, and her unwavering support for her students have made her a respected and beloved figure in the educational community. Her journey is far from over, and as she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in education, Joan Gillman remains a shining example of what it means to be a true leader and educator.
