Her Story
About Susan
Susan Gilleran is an online mathematics educator based in Canton, Michigan, and the founder and instructor of AP Calculus Learning Center LLC. Her career began in the classroom as a high school math teacher at Grosse Pointe North High School, and it later moved into the corporate world, where she spent three decades at Ford Motor Company and rose to become an IT Technical Planning and Support Manager. After retiring from Ford, she returned to education, teaching online with PA Homeschoolers for many years before building her own independent program and subcontracting to schools.
Gilleran holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a secondary teaching certificate from Wayne State University, an MBA in Management and eCommerce from Lawrence Technological University, and a certificate in information systems from the Honeywell Institute of Information Sciences. She has also completed AP Summer Institute courses. Through the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the College Board community of teachers, she stays current with developments in her field. Her students achieve notable results on AP exams, with 70 to 80 percent earning a 5 and an average score of 4.4 to 4.5 in AP Calculus BC.
Guided by compassion and a belief that teaching is a calling, Gilleran blends rigorous instruction with personal attention, helping students understand why the mathematics works rather than simply memorizing procedures. She credits her bipolar disorder and ADHD with giving her distinctive strengths, and she encourages aspiring educators to embrace technology, including AI, and to keep learning. Outside of teaching, she enjoys journaling, drawing, and creating art, and she supports Save the Children, the ASPCA, and AARP.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Susan
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute part of my success to living with bipolar disorder and ADHD. Both have given me distinctive talents, and I have learned to channel them in productive ways throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received was never to back down. I can be as assertive as I choose, as long as I know my business and am confident in what I am talking about.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to learn technology, or to use AI to their advantage. I would also urge them to stay in touch with professional organizations and keep educating themselves so they remain current with developments in the field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Online teaching is booming, and it offers tremendous opportunities to build a successful career and earn a very good living.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion and helping others matter most to me. I value sharing my talents with my students and giving back in gratitude for everything I have been given.
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