Camelot Therapeutic Day School Opens in the Quad Cities
Operator of seven Chicago-area schools for special needs students brings excellent reputation to Moline
(Moline, Ill. – October 24, 2014)
An education organization that has gained a reputation in Illinois for maximizing the potential of students with special needs is opening its first school in the Quad Cities.
Camelot Education, operator of seven therapeutic day schools in the Chicago area (as well as alternative education schools in Chicago and five other states) spent the summer preparing the school building at the former site of Horace Mann Elementary, which closed nearly six years ago.
The school offers educational programs for students ages three through 21 with specific learning disabilities, emotional needs, developmental delay, speech and language impairments, other health impairments, Autism, traumatic brain disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
Camelot of Quad Cities fulfills a need identified by local school districts for many families as the first and only therapeutic day school in the region. Students from districts within a one-hour drive are eligible to attend.
“Our mission is to provide the highest quality environment to exceptional students. Students will learn new coping strategies, life skills, social skills and prepare for post-secondary opportunities in a school that is supportive and rich with teaching experiences,” said Camelot VP of Therapeutic Day Schools Theresa Mortl Smith. “We are so pleased to be able to serve families in the Quad Cities.”
Debra Singley, principal of the new campus, has a long background in helping children with special needs. Singley retired June 30 from the Moline School District where she served most recently as assistant superintendent for curriculum and assessment. She also has insight into special needs students having headed the Special Education Department at Moline High School in addition to having been a principal and teacher of both special and regular education.
“We could not have asked for anyone with a better background to oversee our first school in the Quad Cities,” said Rella Peeler, Head of New Therapeutic Day Schools for Camelot Education. “We are here to offer districts and parents an educational option that they have not had access to in the past, and Debra Singley is uniquely qualified to help families determine whether Camelot is the right option for their child.”
Students who are unable to succeed in main stream schools are referred by their districts to schools like Camelot that specialize in working with these children and adolescents.
The new school will serve up to 100 students from all of the Quad Cities area and surrounding communities. Because of the individual attention many of these students require class sizes are limited.
