Gillian Smith recently retired after an esteemed 34-year career with the New York City Department of Education, culminating in her role as Director of the Office of Youth Development (OSYD).
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Gillian Smith recently retired after an esteemed 34-year career with the New York City Department of Education, culminating in her role as Director of the Office of Youth Development (OSYD). Her journey through the educational system is a testament to dedication, perseverance, and leadership—beginning as a paraprofessional and rising through the ranks as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, network leader, and ultimately a citywide director. Throughout her career, Smith championed equity, student voice, and whole-child development, consistently advocating for programs that supported the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral well-being of New York City’s most vulnerable youth. As Director of OSYD, she oversaw initiatives including restorative practices, school climate improvement, attendance interventions, and youth leadership programs, impacting hundreds of thousands of students across the city.
