If there's one message that Joan Hillsman wants to get across to music directors, it's this: Teaching is a lifetime commitment. Hillsman is a longtime music educator, African-American music historian, author, consultant, music producer, clinician, radio show host, and current member of the Academic Board of the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America. She says that she always tried to instill the value of hard work. Hillsman--who began her distinguished career as a classroom teacher and worked her way up to become supervising director of the District of Columbia Public Schools in the 1990s--went on to teach music education at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland, where she also directed the school's gospel choir. Although she has since retired from teaching, through her various roles today she continues to emphasize the importance of students finding their place in the rich music arena. Noted for training and developing fledgling talents in music and other areas, Hillsman has consistently helped to nurture programs through which students could find such resources.