Meet the New Members of Gaynor’s Leadership Team Emily Barnes,

Director of Outreach and Innovation

This summer, Emily Barnes will become Gaynor’s first Director of Outreach and Innovation, following a thorough and competitive search.

Ms. Barnes has been an integral member of the Gaynor community since 2016 as the Assistant Director of Advancement, where she has been responsible for managing all aspects of the Annual Fund. Under her leadership, the Annual Fund has increased significantly both in dollars raised for the school as well as community participation. With her guidance, parent ambassadors have grown to play a fundamental role in educating the Gaynor community about its function as the fundraising priority of the school. Ms. Barnes also served as a key member of the steering committee for the 20222027 Strategic Plan.

Prior to her tenure at Gaynor, she served as the Director of Development & Community Relations at DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services) in Madison, Wisconsin. In her role, Ms. Barnes worked to strategically advance the organization’s mission through development, public relations, and outreach. During her tenure, she grew annual fundraising by 400 percent, introduced effective branding and messaging strategies, and was an integral part of the team that completed a $10.4 million capital campaign for a new shelter and facility to serve victims of domestic violence.

She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University.

The creation of the Director of Innovation and Outreach is a direct result of the 2022 – 2027 Strategic Plan. In her new role, Ms. Barnes will be focusing on finding opportunities to extend our faculty’s professional expertise as well as the school’s reputation as a leader in the field of special education. She will report to Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor, and will partner with school leaders, trustees, and external organizations to advance specific aspects of the school’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, including those associated with diversifying and expanding enrollment pipelines, developing mission-aligned auxiliary programs, and enhancing opportunities for external audiences to gain from Gaynor’s long-standing expertise and leadership.

Dr. Gaynor said, “I am excited for Emily Barnes to begin her tenure as our new Director of Outreach and Innovation. The creation of this position reflects a critical moment for Gaynor in which it can advance its mission in new and innovative ways, and Emily is uniquely positioned to succeed in this role.”