Stephen Gaynor School

Specialties

Stephen Gaynor School is an independent, nonprofit Pre-​K, Lower, and Middle School for bright students with learning differences. Nearly 330 students ages three to 14 attend our school with a range of learning differences, from Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to speech, language, and reading delays. With more than 50 years of experience in special education and a dedication to continuous improvement, Gaynor has the expertise to help children break down barriers to learning, build self-​esteem, and realize academic success.

Our expert staff provides an unparalleled level of personal attention in a nurturing environment allowing students to be academically challenged, yet supported every step of the way.

History

Established in 1962.

Founded in 1962, Stephen Gaynor School grew out of a friendship between two visionaries — Dr. Miriam Michael, a psychologist, and Yvette Siegel-​Herzog, an educator — who met as students at New York University. Though the field of Special Education was in its infancy at the time, the friends saw the need to establish a school for bright students with learning challenges. They created a school where the students could thrive, pioneering the individualized, multi-​sensory teaching approach used today. In 1962, they enrolled their first class with five students, housed in a two-​room Upper East Side apartment, and the school has flourished ever since. Today, the school enrolls nearly 330 students and operates across a two-​building campus totaling nearly 80,000 square feet.