BASIS DC - New Head of School

[Anonymous]

Received an email this morning:

Dear BASIS DC Families,

It is with great honor and excitement that I write to you today as BASIS DC's next Head of School. For nearly a decade, I have devoted myself to education, first as a teacher and most recently as a college counselor. My career began in 2008 in New York City public schools, and in 2013, I serendipitously found my way to BASIS DC. I am proud to have been a part of BASIS DC's growth and achievements these last four years, and I hope to provide the stability and vision we need for our continued success.

In my various roles at this school, I have witnessed the transformative power of a BASIS education. Students here work harder than they ever thought possible, fall in love with challenge and with learning, and see opportunity in both their successes and their defeats. Tim Eyerman has been tirelessly committed to supporting students in their endeavors, and his efforts helped establish BASIS DC as the District's top-performing public charter school. His is a big bowtie to fill, and I intend to work as passionately and diligently as Mr. Eyerman on behalf of all students, families, and staff.

Please join Mr. Eyerman and me for a Coffee Chat at BASIS DC on Wednesday, May 10th, at 9 am. You can also contact me at any time should you have questions, concerns, or ideas.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to lead and serve this inspired and inspiring community. I look forward to working with each and every one of you as we reach for the stars--the Red Giants, to be exact!

Warm regards,

Jill Garrett

[Anonymous]

We've been discussing this over here.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/632770.page

[Anonymous]

5 Heads of School in as many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5 Heads of School in as many years.

Don't exaggerate. 5 in 6 years. She doesn't start til after this school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5 Heads of School in as many years.

Don't exaggerate. 5 in 6 years. She doesn't start til after this school year.

Mary Riner who brought BASIS to DC was the head of school until August 2012 until she was replaced by Paul Morissey. So technically it is 6.

Jill Fonda was a chemistry teacher who became a school counselor last year. We were surprised when she came to an IEP meeting even though she was not my student's teacher.

[Anonymous]

Yes, lots of turnover in HOS, but Ms Garrett is great. The teachers and students adore her and most importantly she has been a teacher and counselor at the BASIS DC for 4 years. No need for yet another Arizona transplant who will inevitably want to go home. As a mom of two kids at the school, we are thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'll repost "5 in as many years" in August if that makes a big difference to you. It's still this year and she is in training as the one now is effectively out. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of turnover in HOS, but Ms Garrett is great. The teachers and students adore her and most importantly she has been a teacher and counselor at the BASIS DC for 4 years. No need for yet another Arizona transplant who will inevitably want to go home. As a mom of two kids at the school, we are thrilled.

which teachers?
There is a huge turnover of teachers every year so most teachers barely know her.
As for students, she failed a brilliant student last year in chemistry which forced the poor girl to leave school in February. And by the way, the student ended up taking the AP exam and scored a "4". I saw both the report card and the AP results with my own eyes.

[Anonymous]

A student can be brilliant and fail to do the work needed to pass a class. You don't know why she failed any more than I do, unless you discussed it directly with the teacher.

Why on earth you'd come here and post a child's personal business on the internet is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of turnover in HOS, but Ms Garrett is great. The teachers and students adore her and most importantly she has been a teacher and counselor at the BASIS DC for 4 years. No need for yet another Arizona transplant who will inevitably want to go home. As a mom of two kids at the school, we are thrilled.

which teachers?
There is a huge turnover of teachers every year so most teachers barely know her.
As for students, she failed a brilliant student last year in chemistry which forced the poor girl to leave school in February. And by the way, the student ended up taking the AP exam and scored a "4". I saw both the report card and the AP results with my own eyes.

If the kid got a 4 on the AP, she wouldn't have failed unless she had something like a 15% iaverage n the class for the year, as the AP is half the grade and Final grades are weighted via AP exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of turnover in HOS, but Ms Garrett is great. The teachers and students adore her and most importantly she has been a teacher and counselor at the BASIS DC for 4 years. No need for yet another Arizona transplant who will inevitably want to go home. As a mom of two kids at the school, we are thrilled.

which teachers?
There is a huge turnover of teachers every year so most teachers barely know her.
As for students, she failed a brilliant student last year in chemistry which forced the poor girl to leave school in February. And by the way, the student ended up taking the AP exam and scored a "4". I saw both the report card and the AP results with my own eyes.

If the kid got a 4 on the AP, she wouldn't have failed unless she had something like a 15% iaverage n the class for the year, as the AP is half the grade and Final grades are weighted via AP exams.

+1 the grading process for AP classes is very clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of turnover in HOS, but Ms Garrett is great. The teachers and students adore her and most importantly she has been a teacher and counselor at the BASIS DC for 4 years. No need for yet another Arizona transplant who will inevitably want to go home. As a mom of two kids at the school, we are thrilled.

which teachers?
There is a huge turnover of teachers every year so most teachers barely know her.
As for students, she failed a brilliant student last year in chemistry which forced the poor girl to leave school in February. And by the way, the student ended up taking the AP exam and scored a "4". I saw both the report card and the AP results with my own eyes.

If the kid got a 4 on the AP, she wouldn't have failed unless she had something like a 15% iaverage n the class for the year, as the AP is half the grade and Final grades are weighted via AP exams.

+1 the grading process for AP classes is very clear.

This makes it sound like she failed her halfway though the year, since she left in Feb. So no AP score yet? Also, the fact that she then got a 4 on the AP 4 months later doesn't say much about whether she should have been failing a class in Feb. Maybe she pulled it together/studied super hard because she was failed earlier...

[Anonymous]

The magic continues. The HOS merry-go-round looks like it will continue. Rumors abound that both Garrett and the director of student interventions are on their way to the Basis version of next acts... “Curriculum improvement” or whatever... too bad, she was a great teacher but proved to be another flameout in the HOS spot. The DC curse continues...

[Anonymous]

Maybe just rumors, no? It's just April.