On June 12, students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends of Stephen Gaynor School gathered at the W83 Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2026.
The ceremony honored 52 graduates as they marked the culmination of their Gaynor journeys and prepared to begin the next chapter of their educational careers. Together, they leave Gaynor with a stronger sense of who they are and confidence in what comes next.
The afternoon offered an opportunity to look back on the experiences that shaped the Class of 2026 and to celebrate how far they have come. Through personal reflections and shared memories, speakers honored the journey each student took to reach this milestone and the community that helped make it possible. Throughout the ceremony, a common theme emerged: success is not measured by following the same path as everyone else, but by embracing your strengths, overcoming challenges, and becoming the person you are meant to be.
Board Chair Megan Hogan welcomed graduates and guests by reflecting on the many accomplishments of the Class of 2026. In addition to their academic achievements, members of the class participated in athletics, affinity groups, learning difference awareness initiatives, community service projects, performances, student leadership opportunities, and countless other experiences that enriched the life of the school. She noted that members of the class had participated in more than 100 community service events and activities during their time at Gaynor, making an impact both within the school community and beyond.
“Your learning differences have not defined you,” Megan told the graduates. “They have shaped you into resourceful, determined, and deeply capable individuals.” She also acknowledged the parents, caregivers, teachers, and staff members whose support helped students reach this milestone, reminding those gathered that graduation represents not only the achievements of the students themselves, but also the collective efforts of a community that believed in them every step of the way.
The ceremony also featured remarks from student speakers Paul Murray and Cole Pally, whose speeches reflected the growth, perseverance, and sense of belonging that characterize so many Gaynor journeys.
Drawing on his experiences as a sailor, Paul used a lesson he learned on the water to illustrate the value of confronting challenges directly. The phrase “tiller towards danger” became the central metaphor of his speech as he reflected on his early struggles with reading and writing before arriving at Gaynor.
“When I was younger, reading and writing felt like my own versions of danger,” Paul said. “But then I came to Gaynor. Gaynor taught me to slow down, that reading and writing wasn’t a race, that everyone moves at their own pace.” He concluded by encouraging his classmates to carry that mindset with them as they move on to their next schools and future challenges. “One day, when you find yourself in rough oceans,” he said, “remember what sailing taught me: tiller towards danger.”
Cole’s speech offered a deeply personal reflection on his seven years at Gaynor and the transformation that occurred during that time. Looking back on his first days at the school, he recalled arriving as a nervous student unsure of where he fit in. Over time, however, the encouragement of teachers and classmates helped him discover strengths he had not yet recognized in himself. Reflecting on that journey, Cole shared, “Seven years ago, I walked into this place afraid of who I was. Today, I walk out proud of who I am becoming.”
He also spoke about the tendency many students have to measure themselves against others and the freedom that comes from recognizing that everyone grows at their own pace. “For years, many of us carried the weight of comparison,” he said. “Growth does not look the same for everyone.” His remarks resonated strongly with classmates and families alike, serving as both a celebration of the journey the class had shared and a reminder of how far they had come.
Parent speaker Beth Pristaw reflected on her family’s decade-long connection to the school, which began when her son Charles joined the Willow Room in 2016. Looking back on those early years, she described the uncertainty many families experience while searching for the right educational environment for their children and the sense of relief they felt after becoming part of the Gaynor community. Beth spoke about the partnership between families and educators that helps students thrive and reflected on the many experiences that shaped her family’s time at the school, from classroom milestones and school traditions to athletic events, performances, field trips, and book fairs.
“The warmth of the Gaynor community has no boundaries,” she said. Addressing the graduates directly, she encouraged them to continue pushing beyond the limitations they may place on themselves and to approach future opportunities with confidence and curiosity. Her remarks served as a powerful reminder of the important role families play in supporting students throughout their educational journeys and the lasting relationships that are formed along the way.
The alumni address was delivered by Sarah Braverman ’09, who returned to Gaynor nearly 17 years after graduating. Today, Sarah serves as a leader at Carbon Direct, where she helps organizations develop strategies to address some of the world’s most pressing climate and sustainability challenges. Her journey from Gaynor graduate to environmental policy leader offered students a powerful example of how the skills developed at Gaynor can open doors to meaningful and impactful careers.
Reflecting on her own journey, Sarah described how the skills she developed at Gaynor prepared her not only for high school and college, but also for a career dedicated to solving complex problems. She spoke about the importance of self-advocacy, confidence, and embracing the unique strengths that come with thinking differently.
“Stephen Gaynor School taught me that my unique way of learning and seeing the world is not only a gift but a superpower,” she said. Sarah also reminded graduates that the world increasingly needs creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and empathetic leaders who can approach challenges from new perspectives. Drawing from her own experiences as a student with dyslexia, she encouraged graduates to recognize that many of the qualities that once felt like obstacles can ultimately become some of their greatest strengths. She concluded with a message that captured both the spirit of the day and the optimism that accompanies graduation. “The world needs you,” she said. “Go show them what a Gaynor grad can accomplish.”
In his commencement address, Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor reflected on one of the most enduring aspects of the school experience: friendship. Sharing stories from his own childhood, Dr. Gaynor recalled gathering with friends around a middle school bike rack in the spring of 1980. Nearly 50 years later, he explained, those same friendships continue to shape his life. Drawing a parallel to the groups of students he regularly sees gathered outside Gaynor at the end of the school day, he reflected on the bonds that form during adolescence and the important role they play in helping young people discover who they are.
Referencing what former NBA player Jalen Rose calls the “math of friendship,” Dr. Gaynor described the different kinds of people who enter our lives. Some divide, some subtract, and some add. The most important friendships, however, are the ones that multiply our strengths and help us become better versions of ourselves. When he meets with students for mock interviews, Dr. Gaynor often asks them to describe how their friends would characterize them. The answers, he noted, frequently include words such as caring, reliable, inclusive, and funny—qualities that speak to the character of the graduating class.
“When you are inclusive, you multiply the size of the circle so no one is left out,” he told graduates. As he reflected on the years they had spent together, Dr. Gaynor reminded students that while Gaynor has provided them with the academic tools necessary for future success, the relationships they have built may ultimately prove just as valuable. “Gaynor has given you lots of tools to learn,” he said, “but these moments on the sidewalks have given you something just as valuable: your friends.”
Awards and Recognition
President’s Education Award — Cole Pally, Shalev Smokler
Yvette Siegel-Herzog Community Service Award — Avalon Rubenstein
Dr. Miriam Michael Award for Math and Science — Britt Pearson
Attorney General Triple C Award — Marcus Black
Gordon Gaynor Award — Chaia Schechter, Margaret Bowker
The Class of 2026 will be matriculating at the following schools this fall:
The High School of Art and Design
BASIS Independent Manhattan School
Bay Ridge Prep
The Birch Wathen Lenox School
The Browning School
Churchill School and Center
Dawson School
Dwight School
Eagle Hill School
Forman School
New York Harbor School
The Hewitt School
LREI
Rockport School
School of the Future
The Smith School
Trevor Day School
Winston Preparatory School (NY)
Winston Preparatory School (CT)
Woodstock Day School
York Prep School
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We are proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to seeing what comes next.
Once a Gator, always a Gator.
