History
“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 and Director of Education
From a Vision to a Reality
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. Incorrectly labeled as “slow learners,” these students were often caught in a cycle of academic failure and low self-esteem. Thus, the pair 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 approximately 380 students and operates across a two-building campus totaling nearly 80,000 square feet. We’re known for attracting outstanding faculty and practitioners, and for training and mentoring undergraduate and graduate special education teachers of exceptional caliber.
We’re proud to say that after more than sixty years, Michael’s and Siegel-Herzog’s vision has grown from an idea about a school that could help children with learning differences to one that has touched thousands of children.
About Our Founders
Dr. Miriam Michael, known affectionately as Mimi, left an indelible influence on Stephen Gaynor School and on special education in general. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 100.
Yvette Siegel-Herzog has said, “Without Mimi by my side, our legacy to the future of children whose educational needs cried out for acknowledgement and understanding would not exist. When we realized that legions of bright and creative students were misunderstood educationally, emotionally, and socially, Mimi and I literally exploded onto the educational enclave, clamoring and insisting that our boys and girls had been neglected for far too long. Together, we developed our mission and dedicated our life’s work towards the creation of a community where the needs of children and their families were recognized, dignified, and above all, acknowledged and remediated. Mimi’s shouting was louder than anyone’s.”
At a celebration of Dr. Michael’s life in 2018, Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor said, “My grandmother’s legacy of fostering the joy of learning continues to impact the lives of children at Gaynor. Thank you Mimi, we will always remember what you have done for Stephen Gaynor School.”
Yvette Siegel-Herzog, visionary educator and Co-Founder of Stephen Gaynor School died on October 1, 2024, at the age of 100.
Yvette was a trailblazer in the field of education, whose vision and passion for helping children with learning differences forever shaped the mission of Stephen Gaynor School and changed the lives of thousands of children and their families. Alongside her lifelong friend and colleague, Dr. Miriam Michael, Yvette co-founded the school in 1962 with the belief that bright students who learned differently deserved a nurturing and individualized educational experience.
Yvette was known for her unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student received the personalized support they needed to thrive. Though the school has grown far beyond its humble beginnings in an East Side apartment, her influence has remained deeply ingrained in every aspect of Gaynor’s educational approach.
Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor said, “Yvette has been an unwavering source of inspiration for all of us at Gaynor, consistently reminding us to place the child at the heart of everything we do. Her clear yet profound vision has empowered thousands of students to believe in their potential and strive for their true greatness. Yvette’s deep passion for education, relentless dedication to the success of every child, and love of learning will continue to shape and guide our school for years to come.”
As the school expanded from a few dozen students in a brownstone on West 74th Street to the nearly 400 students who come through the doors of the North and South Buildings today, Yvette ensured that the values and practices she instilled were carried forward by an extraordinary team of educators. She often said, “The foundation is rock,” describing the school’s solid grounding in its mission while remaining open to innovation and growth. Today, more than 1,800 alumni have benefited from Yvette’s legacy, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.
Who Was Stephen Gaynor?
Stephen Gaynor, the school’s namesake, was the son of Co-Founder Dr. Miriam Michael. He was a first year student at Cornell University in 1961 when he passed away in a car accident. When Mimi and Yvette started the school in 1962, they named it in Stephen’s honor.