Saralyn Lawn
Glen Cove,USA
Summary
Dynamic school administrator with a proven track record in high-impact instruction, the science of reading, and curriculum alignment, specializing in preK-8 literacy. Committed to fostering collaboration among parents, students, and teachers to ensure optimal academic and social-emotional growth for every student. Skilled in balancing daily administrative responsibilities with long-term strategic planning while driving staff development and training initiatives tailored to diverse learning needs. A strong communicator dedicated to nurturing the whole child, preserving childhood, and empowering all students to thrive.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lower School Division Head
Portledge School
07.2015 - Current
- Orchestrate high-level institutional change to align curriculum and instructional practices with school mission, tenants of high quality instruction and thoroughly researched curricular implementation
- Directly manage a team of 35 faculty and staff, including senior divisional leaders, while fostering a culture of collaboration, and cross curricular planning and innovation
- Lead school-wide strategic planning and policy development, serving as a Goal Captain and Board liaison to ensure cross-divisional for “Faculty” Goal alignment and operational efficiency
- Established a permanent, school-wide hiring process and committee, currently in its ninth year, to ensure high-quality, mission-aligned faculty recruitment
- Championed the "Science of Reading" initiative by hiring and coaching specialized literacy staff and implementing research and science based curriculum, assessment and intervention decisions
- Pioneered student support and admissions systems, including a multidisciplinary Child Study process and a relationship-centered disciplinary model
- Direct professional growth through a structured evaluation system and the integration of continuous, best-practice training into bi-weekly faculty meetings
- Cultivate an inclusive and supportive school environment by leading DEI initiatives and ensuring all programs reflect and support diverse student voices
- Manage Lower School operations, including budgets and human resources, to optimize the use of financial assets in support of the school’s strategic plan
Experience
Teaching
1992 - 2001
- Special Education - Rochester City School District, Rochester, NY
- Elementary and Special Education - Pontiac, MI
- Elementary and Special Education - Berkley, MI
- High School English - Eton Academy, Birmingham, MI
Head of Lower School
Manlius Pebble Hill School
07.2012 - 06.2015
- Led faculty through intense, high-level change to bring curriculum and instructional practices into alignment with twenty-first century learning and a complete preparatory/middle school mission.
- Planned and delivered major curriculum overhaul in two years including faculty and staff development in guided reading, tenets of Singapore Math, phonics, phonemic awareness, National Reading Panel and reading assessment, DRA2.
- Implemented Singapore Math in the Lower School. Coordinated faculty training and coaching, acquisition of curricular materials and ongoing refinement of scope and sequence to vertically align the curriculum.
- Re-designed Lower School narrative report cards and implemented quarterly report cards.
- Moved the Lower School strategically forward by working with faculty to change grade level teaching assignments and classroom spaces.
- Analyzed Lower School schedules to evaluate use of instructional time within the school day and reworked schedules to maintain value of “encore” classes while increasing core instructional time.
- Presented parent workshop, “Literacy in the Lower School,” to help parents understand the new approach to literacy instruction at Manlius Pebble Hill.
- Coordinated major renovations and relocations of classrooms.
- Worked with faculty to develop a cohesive team from one that had experienced significant fracture over several years.
- Secured two significant parent donations to offset costs of professional development and curricular investments.
- Purchased and cataloged 3600-volume instructional library for guided reading, leveled A-Z.
- Rewrote website curriculum information to reflect curricular changes.
- Ignited parental support and involvement by keeping parents abreast of curricular changes to enhance their children’s educational program and instituting community-building events such as special guest lunches.
Lower School Division Head
Eton Academy
08.1997 - 06.2012
- Implemented a strategic plan that involved a complete three-year restructuring and re-development of curriculum, methods of student achievement tracking/assessment and reporting, culminating in the branding of “The Eton Approach™
- Presented “The Eton Approach™ program and philosophy within the school community and in the metro-Detroit area
- Built collaborative environment, led curriculum and shaped instructional practices and professional growth for teachers – provided direct, systematic feedback for teachers to continuously improve instructional methods
- Read and interpreted student psycho-educational, neuropsychological and school records to determine appropriateness of candidacy for admission.
- Used neuro-developmental approach to learning to develop student learning goals and strategies.
- Worked with private psychologists, psychiatrists, tutors, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech and language pathologists to coordinate services.
- Partnered with families to reach a deeper understanding of their child’s unique profile and educational needs.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Education/English
SUNY Potsdam College
Masters - Education
Nazareth College of Rochester
Rochester, New YorkSkills
- Curriculum Design and Alignment
- Professional Development
- Understanding Neuro-developmental Profiles
- Science of Reading
- Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities
- Faculty Evaluation and Instructional Coaching
- Parent Communication
- Organization
- Strategic Planning
- Systems Thinker
- Problem Solver
Accomplishments
- Science of Reading
- Singapore Math Strategies, Math In Focus, Mathodology™
- Visible Learning™
- Wilson Language Training, Orton Gillingham, Phonics First, Language!™
Affiliations
- Literacy Development in the Lower School - parent workshop
- Phonics/Phonemic Awareness and the Importance to Early Reading and Writing - 2 day professional development for teachers
- The Impact of Media on Children - parent workshop
- Understanding Educational and Psychoeducational Tests and Measures - Training for Teachers
- Learning Disabilities - Legally, Clinically, Educationally - Family Workshop
- The Impact of Learning Disabilities on the Family - Family Workshop
- Five Ways to Help Your Different Learner - Family Workshop
- Understanding Dyslexia - Teachers and Families, Full Day Workshop
- Visible Learning Workshop (All Faculty, PN-12) Full Day Workshop
- The Development Literacy skills in the Lower School (Parents), Portledge, Manlius Pebble Hill
- Singaporean Based Mathematics Instruction (Faculty); Also created parent workshop
- Understanding Learning Differences, Strategies in the Classroom (Gen. Ed. Faculty)
- The Science of Reading (Teachers)
- Phonics and Morphology Core Knowledge for Teachers
Certification
- Special Education Grades K-12
- Secondary Education, English, Grades 7-12
Timeline
Lower School Division Head
Portledge School
07.2015 - Current
Head of Lower School
Manlius Pebble Hill School
07.2012 - 06.2015
Lower School Division Head
Eton Academy
08.1997 - 06.2012
Masters - Education
Nazareth College of Rochester
Experience
Teaching
1992 - 2001
Bachelor of Arts - Education/English
SUNY Potsdam College
Personal
I am a proud mom of two children, Amy (23) and Grant (19). My husband, John, and I have been married 31 years this year. In addition to loving all things education-related and having a passion for literacy and reading, I also enjoy reading historical fiction and writing, professionally and for pleasure. My favorite book is Pillars of the Earth and my favorite television programs,are Downton Abby with Homeland as a close runner-up. (One episode of Homeland was filmed at my home on Long Island.) I am a dog fanatic and currently have two rescues, Bailey and Lexie. I enjoy spending as much time as possible near the water, especially Lake Ontario.
Additional Training/Expertise
- Visible Learning
- Science of Reading
- National Reading Panel
- Wilson Language Training, Orton Gillingham, Phonics First, Language!
- Singapore Math Strategies, Math In Focus, Methodology