Stephen Gaynor School's Community Learning Center Turns 10
The free afterschool reading program has been serving children in New York City since 2007
NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen Gaynor School, a New York City-based independent Pre-K, Lower and Middle School for bright students with learning differences, announced its Community Learning Center is now in its tenth year. The Community Learning Center has offered free reading programs to students in neighborhood schools, PS 166 and PS 84, since its inception in 2007. On average, 10-15 students graduate from the program each year, with significant reading improvements.
"The Community Learning Center has been a tremendous asset to both Gaynor and the greater area," says Scott Gaynor, head of Stephen Gaynor School. "We are proud to offer it as a resource and give back to the students in our community by making learning more accessible."
For one hour, twice a week, first and second-grade students from neighborhood schools receive tutoring lessons from Gaynor staff, with assistance from alumni volunteers and current students. Led by Kate Adlin and Kristi Evans, teachers in the program draw on their experience with the Orton-Gillingham method and supplement the instruction students receive in their regular classroom. Through the CLC, students gain a chance to stay on track with their studies, while Stephen Gaynor School students have an opportunity to perfect the skills they've been taught every day, helping to build self-confidence.
"Each year in May I am so moved when I see our second-grade CLC graduates, heads held high as they accept their diplomas and leave Gaynor knowing they can read," says Kate Adlin, co-director of the Community Learning Center. "These are children who would likely otherwise slip through the cracks, many of them failing or being retained with no means of support. To think that for a decade now we have helped children in our community avoid these circumstances is extraordinary."
"Working with the first and second graders from the CLC program is so rewarding both professionally and personally," says Kristi Evans, co-director of the Community Learning Center. "It is humbling to have the opportunity to play a part in their reading success."
The CLC is offered free to students in the community, thanks to financial assistance including grants, donations, and fundraising events. To help subsidize snacks, supplies, and a new book each student receives at the end of the year, several fundraisers are held annually. For more information on Stephen Gaynor School, visit stephengaynor.org
About Stephen Gaynor School
A pioneer in special education, Stephen Gaynor School is an independent, nonprofit Pre-K, Lower, and Middle School for bright students with learning differences. Founded in 1962, Stephen Gaynor School provides a highly individualized educational program in a rich, rigorous, and nurturing environment in which students gain the skills and confidence necessary to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Approximately 375 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 such as dyslexia. 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. For more information about Stephen Gaynor School, visit stephengaynor.org
SOURCE Stephen Gaynor School
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