Beverly Moore discusses her experience with behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children, and her connection with the open school program in Charlotte. While Ms. Moore began her career in the Columbia, South Carolina school district, she eventually taught at Irwin Elementary school where she pioneered their first Behaviorally and Emotionally Disturbed (BEH) program. Ms. Moore describes the evolution of the BEH program at Irwin Elementary, and discusses some of the goals and challenges of the program. The transition of the program to Irwin Open Elementary in 1974 is seen by Ms. Moore as significant, since the philosophical underpinnings of open education helped to foster the success of the BEH program, which eventually grew to nine classrooms. Ms. Moore reflects on the characteristics of the open program at Irwin Elementary under principal Deane Crowell, and concludes by discussing the current challenges for BEH programs.