Beautiful Gate Center welcomes new Director of Operations & Training

Today, Beautiful Gate Center, a private, non-profit Developmental learning center for children and youth with developmental disabilities and autism, announced Jean Castelli as Director of Operations & Training. In her new role, Castelli will oversee Center operations, Human Resources and Community Outreach for the organization’s Charleston-based location.

Beautiful Gate Center (BGC) serves individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Autism spectrum disorders who are inadequately served in existing public and private special education programs due to the individual’s need for a broader range of intensive learning supports than traditional environments offer.

“I look forward to building on Beautiful Gate Center’s Mission and helping lead our team to expand the center’s identity as Charleston’s most unique and enriching learning environment, where children with Developmental Disabilities and Autism are able to gain the skills and support they need to realize their full potential and best quality of life”, said Castelli.

An experienced educator, Castelli has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions, having previously been responsible for the special education programs and services for a large suburban New York public school district. Prior to joining the Beautiful Gate Center, she served as a classroom teacher, principal, special education administrator and assistant superintendent.

Following her retirement from public education in 2018, Castelli transitioned to the private sector where she served as Community Outreach Manager for an Autism treatment and therapeutic services agency on Long Island, New York.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the selection of Jean Castelli as Beautiful Gate Center’s Director of Operations and Training.  Jean brings a high level of knowledge and expertise to the role and we are thrilled to welcome her to our growing team of dedicated professionals, clinicians and educators”, said Angela Muirhead, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Beautiful Gate Center.

As the first-of-its-kind, non-profit, Center in South Carolina, BGC will operate a diverse therapy clinic providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) services with an emphasis on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technology accepting private insurance and state Medicaid.  In addition, to its clinical services, BGC also offers a year-round, private pay, Center-Based day treatment program for individuals who require more intensive learning supports.

Castelli received her undergraduate degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from The Pennsylvania State University and a graduate degree in elementary education from Queens College. Castelli also holds a professional diploma in school district administration from Long Island University.  A native of Massapequa, New York, Castelli now calls Charleston her home where she enjoys exploring the beautiful beaches and serving as a volunteer to a number of non-profit organizations in the Charleston area.

For admissions information, please visit: https://www.beautifulgatecenter.org/admissions/

About Beautiful Gate Center

The Beautiful Gate Center (BGC) is a developmental learning center and therapeutic group practice for children with autism and developmental disorders.  Located in North Charleston, SC, BGC offers a group therapy practice providing individual speech, ABA and occupational therapies in addition to operating a center-based, full-day, year-round, inter-disciplinary program for families seeking an intensive developmental program for their child. BGC serves children with cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, delays with life skills, and who are non-verbal or have significant communication delays. BGC emphasizes the application of Augmentative and Alternative Communication technologies to support each child and give them a voice to speak.  For many, this means having a way to speak to their mother or father for the first time in life.  For more information, visit: https://www.beautifulgatecenter.org/