CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2023

Members of the Class of 2023 are now officially Gaynor alumni, after a Graduate Breakfast and Graduation Ceremony celebrating their accomplishments and their time at Gaynor.

On June 15, graduating Gaynor students were celebrated at the traditional Graduate Breakfast in the Yvette Siegel-Herzog Performing Arts Center. Graduates and their parents mingled with Gaynor faculty and staff for a morning of reminiscing and looking forward. Among the speakers was Sirena Beard-Galati ’15, who told the assembled guests, “I can’t tell you how many people I have met who are conventional learners that wished they had a Stephen Gaynor School education! We are all so fortunate to be standing in this institution that supports and encourages our learning differences and recognizes us as any other person. Our differences make us unique and irreplaceable, and that is the fabric of humanity.”

On June 16, the Class of 2023 and their guests gathered at the W83 Ministry Center on the Upper West Side for their formal graduation ceremony. Each speaker touched on the importance of community, and how being able to rely on others shaped their experience at Gaynor and helped them feel at home with those who they knew understood their struggles.

Board of Trustees Chair Megan Hogan, mother to Jackson in the Silver Cluster, welcomed the graduates, families, friends, and faculty members to the ceremony. She spoke about how much Gaynor means to her as a parent, and the importance of the support that the graduates have received not only from the faculty and staff, but also from their parents and family members. Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor introduced student speaker Khair Parris, who shared that his speech was centered around what many students struggled with before they came to Gaynor: spelling. He created an acrostic poem of “GAYNOR” by assigning a word he felt represented the school and the community to each letter.

G - gratitude

A - authenticity

Y - saying yes

N - nobility

O - opportunity

R - resilience

Khair’s final message to the graduating class was one of inspiration and looking toward the future. “Even though leaving Gaynor is a bittersweet moment, I am overwhelmingly proud to look back on our achievements and see how we have all progressed and become better people. As we take our next steps, I hope what you have learned at Gaynor will always stay with you. Congratulations Class of 2023! Cras Es Noster. The future is ours!”

Katya Duenas, parent of Gaynor alum Lucia ’15 and graduating student Juan Diego, reflected on the community that she has found as a Gaynor parent. Her family started their journey at Gaynor in a state of fear and anxiety, but soon found a place of safety. She said, “With four kids you can imagine how many different schools and communities we have been a part of. I can honestly say that out of all the schools my children have attended, Gaynor has provided the warmest and safest home for my family for the past ten years.”

Alumni speaker Adam Schaffer is a member of the Class of 1996, attended Dwight School, and went on to study Economics at New York University. Today, he works at JPMorgan Chase in Corporate Development and leads Business Development and Strategic Partnerships in the Small Business Space.

Adam spoke to the graduates about the importance of finding their own path when they encounter roadblocks and academic “traffic jams” as students with learning differences. He said that before coming to Gaynor, “I didn’t want to participate in class and could see myself becoming an outsider as I was not keeping up with my classmates. I was in need of a better option that would equip me with the right skills and tools, but we were not sure what those were. Fortunately, [my parents and I] found Gaynor at the exact right time, providing a path of individualized study and multi-sensory learning.” He attributed his success in the business field to the tools and skills he learned and refined during his time at Gaynor.

Adam had a few final words of advice for the graduating class: “You have been given a gift — the ability to weave through traffic and find the destination faster and smarter than everyone else. Be confident and be strong and push the limits — nothing good comes easy.”

As he invited the graduates to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, Dr. Gaynor reflected on how difficult it can be for students to advocate for themselves to receive the support and tools they need to be successful. He shared that he had joined Blue Cluster students for an activity as they practiced advocating for themselves in their next school, and how impressed he was by their confidence in asking for their accommodations.

Dr. Gaynor also spoke about the rise of technology in education, particularly access to artificial intelligence, and how he sees this as an additional tool for Gaynor students. “When used appropriately, it can remove some of the barriers that can hold back a student with learning differences," he said. "Just like a calculator or spell check is a tool we regularly use today, AI technology can allow our students to focus on the essential question of an assignment and use their critical thinking to show off their true potential.”

Dr. Gaynor finished his speech with encouraging words for the graduates, saying, “Technology may change our schools and workplace, but advocacy is a life skill that sets our graduates apart. Graduates, these accommodations do not define you, they just enable you to be the best you."

As the Class of 2023 bids farewell to Gaynor, they carry with them their unique educational journey and the unbreakable bonds they formed with their classmates and teachers.