WHERE DIFFERENCE IS CELEBRATED AND POTENTIAL IS UNLOCKED.
“They’re truly meeting each child where they are, it is so customized and individualized. We have twin boys, both distinctly different, and to be able to see how their teachers are helping them learn based on each child’s need is impressive.” —Delaram Saidi, Parent
Our Mission: Teaching Every Child the Way They Learn
THE GAYNOR WAY
At Stephen Gaynor School, we believe that a child’s learning difference should never define their limits. For over 65 years, we have provided a specialized, individualized education for bright children with language-based learning differences. Here, we don’t just teach students; we teach them how they learn.
“At Gaynor, I learned everything. I learned how to read. I learned to do math. More importantly, I learned how I learn. Decades later, I’m still using those same tools. Everything goes back to Gaynor. This was my foundation.” —Shosha Spivack ‘01, Alumna
The Classroom Experience
SMALL GROUPS, BIG BREAKTHROUGHS With a low student-to-teacher ratio of 3:1, our classrooms are laboratories of discovery. Our educators use multisensory, evidence-based methodologies to tailor instruction to each student’s individual learning profile. We meet students exactly where they are, building the foundational skills they need to soar.
“Our kids were frustrated and sad and we were scared. But where others saw only obstacles, Gaynor saw opportunities.” —Richie Jackson, Alumni Parent
A 360 Degree Support System
EXPERTISE IN EVERY HALLWAY Our integrated team of educators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, reading, writing, math, science, and other specialists provides a comprehensive and targeted curriculum for every learner. This collaborative approach ensures that academic progress and social-emotional growth occur hand in hand.
“Before Gaynor, school felt intimidating. Reading out loud was one of my biggest fears, and I worried about keeping up. At Gaynor, I learned that being different didn’t mean falling behind. I found teachers and classmates who wanted to see me succeed, and I felt safe being myself. Everybody is rooting for you.” —Sarah Braverman ‘09, Alumna
Beyond the Basics: Arts, Athletics, and Innovation
DISCOVERING HIDDEN TALENTS
Every child is multi-faceted. Our students find their voices in our state-of-the-art Yvette Siegel-Herzog Performing Arts Center, express their creativity in the art, photography and music studios, deepen their understanding of the world in the SMART Lab and challenge themselves in the Field House—all while discovering talents and building confidence that extends far beyond these spaces. We provide the stage for students to shine in ways they never thought possible.
“Every child comes to us with strengths, challenges, and their own way of learning. Our job is to figure out what opens that door for them. Once they begin to experience success, you see them start to believe in themselves as learners.” —Donna Logue, Lower Division Director
Belonging at Gaynor
A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY STUDENT BELONGS At Stephen Gaynor School, belonging is at the core of our community. We cultivate an inclusive, warm, and supportive environment where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to express their authentic self. Through collaborative cluster activities and school-wide traditions, our students build lifelong friendships, practice empathy, and develop a deep sense of connection and pride.
“When we first started in this process, I remember thinking, as a physician and as a surgeon, I fix things. I was so helpless with Ethan because I couldn’t fix his challenges. But Gaynor taught me that I wasn’t here to fix my son, I was here to help him focus not on the things that he couldn’t do but on the things that he could do.” —Angela Kadenhe-Chiweshe, Parent
The Path Forward
GRADUATING WITH CONFIDENCE A Gaynor education is a bridge. Our graduates transition to high school and college, equipped with self-advocacy skills and a deep-seated belief in their own possibilities.
“No one had the vision to reach these children. They all said, ‘These children can’t learn,’ but we knew that they could learn— they just learn in a different way.” —Yvette Siegel-Herzog, Co-founder, Stephen Gaynor School
At Stephen Gaynor School, students with learning differences develop essential academic and critical thinking skills through individualized and evidence-based approaches, empowering them to reach their full potential. Students learn to advocate for themselves and others while actively building an inclusive community, a sense of belonging, and a belief in their own possibilities.
Please contact us to learn more about our application process and to schedule a tour: (212) 787-7070 www.stephengaynor.org
CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES. UNLOCKING POTENTIAL.
148 West 90th Street New York, NY 10024 www.stephengaynor.org
Accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). Accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. Member School of NYSAIS, NAIS (The National Association of Independent Schools), and ISAAGNY (The Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York).