The Community Learning Center (CLC) is a free, after school reading program for first and second graders in New York City public schools. Started in 2007 by Lower Division Director Donna Logue, the CLC is now co-directed by Gaynor’s OG Fellows-in-Training, Kristi Evans and Sloan Shapiro. Our local public school partners identify kindergarten students who are at risk of reading failure, and then refer them to Gaynor to begin the program as first graders.

During an academic year, students meet twice a week for one hour to gain valuable reading instruction from Gaynor staff. Lessons occur in small groups and teachers draw on their extensive experience with the evidence-based Orton-Gillingham approach which is based in the science of reading.

The CLC provides a boost to the students’ school-day program, which gets them back on grade level and simultaneously increases their self-esteem. Nearly 100% of the students in the CLC graduate the program reading at or above their grade level. Over its eighteen-year history, the CLC has put hundreds of public school students on the path to reading success.

Participating schools: PS 84, PS 166, PS 87

In the fall of 2023, Gaynor piloted a 15-week program to train NYC Public School elementary school teachers the same methods that their CLC students are learning. Now in its third year, the program has partnered with 4 schools in two NYC Public School districts. The training provides teachers with opportunities to learn evidence-based strategies and apply them weekly in their classrooms while complementing the new literacy curriculum. The goals of this professional development are to train teachers in both the science of reading and improve their phonics-based instruction. The program has also been open to pre-service undergraduate and graduate students.

Participating schools: PS 84, PS 166, PS 87, and PS 187.