Meet our team of special education professionals that are here to support our children through their challenges and to be a pivotal part in helping them achieve their goals to the best of their abilities.
Kevin Jones - Principal of The Gateway School, Carteret, NJ
Kevin Jones is the Principal at the Gateway School. Kevin received his undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh, his certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities from Georgian Court University, and his Master’s Degree in Education Administration at the University of Scranton.
Mr. Jones joins the Gateway School family after 15 years of teaching special education in both private and public schools. He also has 4 years’ school administrative experience as a Vice Principal at the Manchester Township School District.
Mary Beth Crowe - Supervisor of Instruction
Mary Beth Crowe is the Supervisor of Instruction at the Gateway School, bringing a wealth of experience from her roles as a speech therapist, special education teacher, and administrative assistant. With a career dedicated entirely to the Gateway School, Mary Beth is committed to advancing the Gateway School’s mission. In her current role, Mary Beth will be focused on supporting teachers through effective instructional strategies, comprehensive curriculum development, and targeted professional development. Under her guidance, the Gateway School will continue to enhance its teaching methods to best serve its students. for parents and families.
Christine Maiers - Speech Pathologist/Related Services Coordinator
Christine Maiers joined the Gateway School in 1999, following several years providing therapeutic services within a rehabilitation setting. She received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Kean University. Ms. Maiers manages the related services department and works directly with Gateway School students to expand functional communication skills. She has extensive experience developing social language skills and providing training in the use of augmentative/alternative supports.
Sara Ward - Occupational Therapist
Sara Ward graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2020 and received her Master of Occupational Therapy Degree in 2022. She also has a Minor in Psychology. During her Undergraduate and Graduate School Fieldwork, Sara was exposed to multiple OT settings, including hand therapy, school-based therapy, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and sensory gyms. Sara's Graduate Capstone Project was focused on tracking data and research for children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Prior to working at the Gateway School, Sara was an OT at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange. She specialized in inpatient neuro rehabilitation, working with patients who had a variety of diagnoses, most of which included Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury, Stroke, and Amputation. Sara has always had a passion for pediatrics, specifically those with special needs and neurological differences. She is thrilled to be a part of the Gateway School team, helping students with special needs access their education through functional and skill-based therapy!
Shanice Burgos, MSW - Counselor
Hello, my name is Shanice Burgos, and I am the school social worker here at Gateway! I provide both individual and group counseling for our students. I utilize talk and play therapy during our sessions, as well as skill-building and grounding techniques. I also provide social skills activities as well as mindfulness and meditation in the classrooms outside of counseling.
While some of our students come in with IEP’s outlined with goals and objectives, what we truly value the most is getting to know them beyond what’s written on paper. That’s what makes Gateway so special – we meet our students where they are and focus on their unique needs. We really accomplish that by collaborating as a team with our other therapists and teachers to ensure their success.
We take pride in building strong relationships with our students and creating a space built on trust where they feel safe to grow and succeed. Gateway is extraordinary in the way that you get to witness our students really open up. They enjoy coming to school, they become confident in themselves, and the skills they build here.
Harpreet Mann, MSN, RN CSN - School Nurse
I have been a nurse for 15 years and worked at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health. I worked as a medical-surgical nurse for 5 years and a Critical Care nurse for the past 10 years. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck and have just completed my Master of Science in Nursing with my School Nurse Certification from Monmouth University in Long Branch, NJ. I joined The Gateway School in July 2023 and provide medical and supportive care for students and staff.
