Gillian Smith

Gillian Smith is a Supervised Fieldwork Advisor at Bank Street College of Education and currently serves as Executive Director for the Office of Safety and Youth Development Counseling Support in New York City's Central Office. She holds an MAEd in Secondary Education Administration from Capella University and has prior roles including Network Leader for 36 NYC schools and Director of Student Services overseeing 163 K-12 schools. Her professional journey spans school leadership, district administration, and advocacy for marginalized students and families.

Education:

• BMCC (Associate's degree)
• CUNY City College (Bachelor's degree)
• Capella University (MAEd in Secondary Education Administration)

Research & Advocacy Focus: Gillian specializes in building inclusive educational systems through professional learning communities, fostering student voice, and addressing systemic inequities in urban education. Her work emphasizes social-emotional growth and creating safe spaces for disenfranchised youth. She has pioneered initiatives like The Facing History High School, which integrates historical consciousness into curricula.

Teaching Experience: Adjunct professor at NYU and Antioch University, focusing on educational leadership and policy.

Advocacy & Grants: Champions resource allocation for underrepresented students, supervises teams supporting academic/social-emotional development across NYC schools, and collaborates with community organizations to enhance youth development programs.