Joan Ava Gillman has been named the Top Educator of the Decade 2026 by The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). Ms. Gillman will receive recognition for her award at the IAOTP Award Gala in December 2026 at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City. This honor follows her achievement of being named the IAOTP Top Educator of 2025.
Ms. Gillman has served as an educator in various roles since 1983, with 2026 marking her 44th year in the field. Currently operating as a science teacher at The Browning School in New York City, Ms. Gillman’s passion for raising lifelong learners is continually reflected in her own career. As she persists in her work, she is certain to make a lasting difference in the lives of the students she teaches.
A Calling Toward Teaching
Ms. Gillman has always recognized teaching as her calling, an early dedication that guided her to higher education. She first earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching at Felician University in 1980, followed by a master’s degree in education at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development in 1982.
Building from these foundational experiences, Ms. Gillman began her career in education as a teacher at St. Angela Merici School. She became a teacher at Joytown Kent Elementary School within the year, then joined Bede School in New Jersey as a sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher in 1984. By 1986, Ms. Gillman returned to New York City as a teacher at Professional Children’s School.
Ms. Gillman remained at Professional Children’s School for the next two decades, teaching science to sixth-grade students. She found significant satisfaction in this role, but eventually accepted a position at Anna C. Scott Elementary School in New Jersey, where she worked as a fourth- and fifth-grade science teacher. By 2007, Ms. Gillman was recruited as a mathematics and science teacher at Yeshivat Noam.
After a year at Yeshivat Noam, Ms. Gillman returned once more to New York City as a science teacher at Calhoun School Middle School. She would remain in this role for the next decade before entering her current position at The Browning School. Today, Ms. Gillman is proud to continue in her vitally important position as an educator, preparing the next generation of leaders and stewards for success.
Creative Involvement and Accolades
Throughout her career, Ms. Gillman has also been involved in several creative areas. She has presented and led workshops on several occasions and contributed as an author. Ms. Gillman considers her article “Straw Rockets Are Out of This World,” published in NSTA Science and Children and later selected for inclusion in the book “Bringing STEM to the Elementary Classroom,” to be a highlight.
For her numerous contributions as an educator, Ms. Gillman has received several awards and accolades. Most recently, she was named one of the “Top 25 Global Impact Leaders” by the International Association of Top Professionals in 2025 and 2026, and was featured in “The Most Inspiring Businesswomen to Follow in 2024” by Enterprise Magazine, among many other achievements.
Four Decades of Dedication
As Ms. Gillman celebrates an extensive career in education, she remains wholly dedicated to her career. She is constantly searching for ways to improve her craft, attending conferences and staying up to date with the latest methods in science education. She started with a blackboard and chalk, and she now communicates new ideas via a smartboard. Through constant engagement, Ms. Gillman encourages lifelong learning in others.
About Joan Gillman
Joan Gillman has been an educator for 44 years. She is a published author and has presented workshops at both the state and national levels. She was recently named Top Educator of the Decade 2026 by the International Association of Top Professionals. Ms. Gillman has been featured by Apple News, The Associated Press, Glamour, USA Today, The New Yorker and Fortune Magazine. She currently teaches science at The Browning School.
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Media Contact
Joan Gillman
joanschooloffish@hotmail.com