The Gow School

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    Our Head of School

    We are grateful for the steadfast leadership and commitment to Gow of our Head of School and those who came before.

    Luke Salerno speaks to a room of students in Gow blazers

    Letter from Luke

    Dear Friends,

    Welcome to The Gow School. Whether you are a prospective family exploring your options or a longtime member of our community, I am glad you are here. Over my 26 years at Gow, I have served in many roles across our academic program and understand what makes this school special: our students. They are bright and capable young people, they are original thinkers, and they are poised for extraordinary outcomes. Most of our students arrive seeking a better way to learn, and we have the right environment and tools for them to thrive. Our community takes great pride in their curiosity, their creativity, and the confidence they build here each day.

    What sets Gow apart is our own structured language program. The Gow Method of Reconstructive Language is woven into every part of our curriculum, as is our executive function coaching. These are not add-ons or support services; they are the foundation of how we teach. Through our research-driven, multisensory approach, students learn to decode language, organize their thinking, and manage their work with growing independence. Alongside this academic work, we are intentional about developing self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and self-advocacy, so that our students leave Gow prepared to navigate challenges and advocate for themselves in college and beyond.

    I have had the privilege of watching this approach succeed for students year after year, and I can say with confidence that Gow transforms lives. If you are considering whether Gow may be the right fit for your family, I encourage you to contact our Office of Enrollment Management at [email protected] or 716.687.2001 to explore how Gow can support you. We would be honored to welcome you to campus.

    Thank you for taking the time to learn about our school and our mission. I hope to see you soon!

    With appreciation,
    Luke D. Salerno
    Interim Head of School

    Meet Luke Salerno

    • Title: Interim Head of School
    • Education: B.S. Social Studies Education, SUNY Buffalo State 1999; M.S. Ed. Social Studies Education, SUNY Buffalo State 2015
    • Joined Gow: 2000
    • Hometown: Youngstown, NY
    • Hobbies: Golf, reading, traveling, spy movies
    • Favorite Spot on Campus: Gow creek and trail
    • Fun Fact: I am a racing and motorsports fanatic! Formula One is my favorite.

    Ask Luke

    Parents, students, alumni, and friends: if you have a question about Gow, ask me directly. I read every message.

    Prefer your own email? Write to [email protected].

    Send Luke a Question

    Our Heads of School

    Through the years.

    1. Peter Gow, Jr.

      Peter Gow, Jr.

      1926–1958

    2. Norman Howard

      Norman Howard

      1958–1977

    3. David Gow

      David Gow

      1977–1990

    4. Bill Adams

      Bill Adams

      1990–1997

    5. Bill Patterson

      Bill Patterson

      1997–2004

    6. Brad Rogers

      Brad Rogers

      2004–2023

    7. John Munro

      John Munro

      2023–2026

    8. Luke Salerno

      Luke Salerno

      2026–Present

      Appointed Interim Head of School as of August 2026.

    Privacy Policy

    Use of Personal Information

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    Consent

    Where consent for the use and disclosure of personal information is required, the school will seek consent from the appropriate person. In the case of a student’s personal information, the school will seek the consent from the student and/ or parent depending on the circumstances and the student’s mental ability and maturity to understand the consequences of the proposed use and disclosure.

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    Security

    This website takes every precaution to protect our users' personal information. Whenever users submit personal information (such as contact info or credit card info) via online forms, registration, or online purchase, upon submission that information is encrypted via the highest level of SSL (Secured Sockets Layer) available. Servers that store personally identifiable information are in a secure environment. Under no circumstances are credit card numbers permanently stored on our website servers.

    Non-Secured Communications

    Posts to discussion forums, discussion boards, comments to blogs, and Alumni Class Notes are viewable by other users. When these areas are not in a password protected area, they may be viewable by the general public. Please be aware of this when posting personal information in these areas.

    Contact Information

    If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us.

    Non-Discrimination Policy

    The Gow School admits students of any race/color, ancestry/national origin, religion/creed, and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race/color, ancestry/national origin, religion/creed, and sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic, and other school-administered programs.

    The Gow School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race/color, ancestry/national origin, religion/creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, or disability. The Gow School complies with Federal and State Laws regarding nondiscrimination and preference.

    Land Acknowledgement Statement

    The Gow School acknowledges that our campus is situated on the land once belonging to the Haudenosaunee people and we pledge to honor their enduring presence.