BASIS McLean HOS resigned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that they will give Shorbe (who will be the 7th HoS) a year or two to see if he can turn it around - if that’s convenient with the lease term. The market is there, the brand is there (outside of McLean), many teachers are strong. The problem as others have stated is the horrific management and the broken promises (or flat out lies for the more cynical) combined with the lack of strong community/culture have led to massive student and faculty/staff turnover.

The wording of the press release suggests that Shorbe will be the HoS "for the 2021-22 school year". BINS is always extremely careful with their wording on things like this, which tells me that the mutual agreement is for him to attempt to stabilize the situation for one year while they (again) look for a permanent solution.

If you were a parent at the school and attended a meeting with Mr. Shorbe you would know that your assumptions are incorrect. As a parent at the school, I have been in several meeting with Mr. Shrobe and he has very plainly explained that one of the reasons he's taking this job is because he has children that he has been moving around with as he has been taking on schools inside the Basis network and he is looking to provide some long term stability for his family. Every current parent that I have talked to has been very pleased with what we have learned about him in the meetings this school year and we are all very excited for him to join us soon. Keep your negativity to yourself to take it to your current school, please.

This is the classic BIM "rite of spring" as yet another new HOS appears on the horizon to promise they will finally get it right this time for the long term.

Place your bets and take your chances. The form on this horse is not great.

[Anonymous]

Probably more cost effective for me to put my money in C2. At least I know what I’m getting. Good AP & SAT scores. That’s about all BASIS produces. Everything else is mediocre, especially writing, history and literature. And don’t get me started on Latin!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that they will give Shorbe (who will be the 7th HoS) a year or two to see if he can turn it around - if that’s convenient with the lease term. The market is there, the brand is there (outside of McLean), many teachers are strong. The problem as others have stated is the horrific management and the broken promises (or flat out lies for the more cynical) combined with the lack of strong community/culture have led to massive student and faculty/staff turnover.

The wording of the press release suggests that Shorbe will be the HoS "for the 2021-22 school year". BINS is always extremely careful with their wording on things like this, which tells me that the mutual agreement is for him to attempt to stabilize the situation for one year while they (again) look for a permanent solution.

If you were a parent at the school and attended a meeting with Mr. Shorbe you would know that your assumptions are incorrect. As a parent at the school, I have been in several meeting with Mr. Shrobe and he has very plainly explained that one of the reasons he's taking this job is because he has children that he has been moving around with as he has been taking on schools inside the Basis network and he is looking to provide some long term stability for his family. Every current parent that I have talked to has been very pleased with what we have learned about him in the meetings this school year and we are all very excited for him to join us soon. Keep your negativity to yourself to take it to your current school, please.

You must be new. They all say why they plan to stay or meet their term. Until they don’t.

PP and no, not new at all.

[Anonymous]

The school is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that they will give Shorbe (who will be the 7th HoS) a year or two to see if he can turn it around - if that’s convenient with the lease term. The market is there, the brand is there (outside of McLean), many teachers are strong. The problem as others have stated is the horrific management and the broken promises (or flat out lies for the more cynical) combined with the lack of strong community/culture have led to massive student and faculty/staff turnover.

The wording of the press release suggests that Shorbe will be the HoS "for the 2021-22 school year". BINS is always extremely careful with their wording on things like this, which tells me that the mutual agreement is for him to attempt to stabilize the situation for one year while they (again) look for a permanent solution.

If you were a parent at the school and attended a meeting with Mr. Shorbe you would know that your assumptions are incorrect. As a parent at the school, I have been in several meeting with Mr. Shrobe and he has very plainly explained that one of the reasons he's taking this job is because he has children that he has been moving around with as he has been taking on schools inside the Basis network and he is looking to provide some long term stability for his family. Every current parent that I have talked to has been very pleased with what we have learned about him in the meetings this school year and we are all very excited for him to join us soon. Keep your negativity to yourself to take it to your current school, please.

You must be new. They all say why they plan to stay or meet their term. Until they don’t.

PP and no, not new at all.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice,well.....

[Anonymous]

Agreed. This school is a complete disaster. There are some good teachers, but bottom line- the admin. is horrendous- starting with the ridiculously under qualified secretary turned acting HOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. This school is a complete disaster. There are some good teachers, but bottom line- the admin. is horrendous- starting with the ridiculously under qualified secretary turned acting HOS.

This is clearly a personal attack. Reads like an obnoxious teen that didn't get her way. I truly hope people don't actually take these comments seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. This school is a complete disaster. There are some good teachers, but bottom line- the admin. is horrendous- starting with the ridiculously under qualified secretary turned acting HOS.

This is clearly a personal attack. Reads like an obnoxious teen that didn't get her way. I truly hope people don't actually take these comments seriously.

These comments come from grownups who have dealt with this school in one capacity or another. Your choosing to put on blinders and believe everything you are told against experience and the record is your business.

Other people considering spending $$$ and years of their kids' lives at this school need to know how it is run. Period.

The good teachers who have stuck it out are the only asset there. With the growing number of openings BIM has advertised for next year, it's very iffy how many will stick it out for the fifth HOS in six years.

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that they will give Shorbe (who will be the 7th HoS) a year or two to see if he can turn it around - if that’s convenient with the lease term. The market is there, the brand is there (outside of McLean), many teachers are strong. The problem as others have stated is the horrific management and the broken promises (or flat out lies for the more cynical) combined with the lack of strong community/culture have led to massive student and faculty/staff turnover.

The wording of the press release suggests that Shorbe will be the HoS "for the 2021-22 school year". BINS is always extremely careful with their wording on things like this, which tells me that the mutual agreement is for him to attempt to stabilize the situation for one year while they (again) look for a permanent solution.

If you were a parent at the school and attended a meeting with Mr. Shorbe you would know that your assumptions are incorrect. As a parent at the school, I have been in several meeting with Mr. Shrobe and he has very plainly explained that one of the reasons he's taking this job is because he has children that he has been moving around with as he has been taking on schools inside the Basis network and he is looking to provide some long term stability for his family. Every current parent that I have talked to has been very pleased with what we have learned about him in the meetings this school year and we are all very excited for him to join us soon. Keep your negativity to yourself to take it to your current school, please.

You must be new. They all say why they plan to stay or meet their term. Until they don’t.

PP and no, not new at all.

Sounds a bit naive. Or purposely burying head in the sand. I think they all initially have good intentions, then something happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - You forgot the engineering teacher who was also let go in October. Plus the English teacher who quit in March, only to be allowed to take time off and then teach remotely (even when the students are in school) because the school is more desperate for a “band aid” solution than to ensure strong education for the students. Today you can add the lower school Director abruptly quitting because she was denied use of her saved PTO to care for her newborn at the end of maternity leave. What a mess.

...... If this is true, that's a death blow.

In case there was any doubt - she's been removed from the website. She was there when I first read this earlier today, and she's not now.

The good news is that the two deans at her grade levels are very strong, some of the strongest folks in the building. But my goodness.

Agreed that the two deans under the director who was pushed out after her maternity leave are some of the strongest in the building, but am concerned to see that both of their jobs have been posted...are they leaving, too?

[Anonymous]

good thing

[Anonymous]

Agreed that the two deans under the director who was pushed out after her maternity leave are some of the strongest in the building, but am concerned to see that both of their jobs have been posted...are they leaving, too?

I used to work at BIM. I adored most of my students, but working there was a nightmare. I started making a get-out plan after a few months. I eventually learned that many of my colleagues were feeling the same way, and were making plans to leave. I don't know the particulars behind these two deans, but if I had to bet I would say they are either (a) being shuffled to a new position at BIM or elsewhere in the network, or (b) are leaving the school altogether.

I am still friends with a few of the teachers that work there, and they regularly send me updates. The news is never good, usually enraging, and I am crossing my fingers that they'll get out soon.

More broadly, I think the Basis education model is one of the worst things that's happened to education in the States in the last few decades. The number one priority is test scores and prestige (this is especially for the schools that have made rankings; the situation for the schools that have not made the rankings is different, but that's another story). My students were great, but they were so strung out on getting good grades, which they saw as the only avenue to getting into an Ivy school (and going to any school that wasn't ranked highly was viewed as a failure), that it really had a bad effect on them. One of the most brilliant students I've ever taught said to me one day: "It's ok if I'm miserable during my teenage years, b/c I need have a good career when I'm an adult." We were having a more philosophical conversation about grades and tests during class, and most of the students agreed. It still makes me sad when I remember that conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed that the two deans under the director who was pushed out after her maternity leave are some of the strongest in the building, but am concerned to see that both of their jobs have been posted...are they leaving, too?

I used to work at BIM. I adored most of my students, but working there was a nightmare. I started making a get-out plan after a few months. I eventually learned that many of my colleagues were feeling the same way, and were making plans to leave. I don't know the particulars behind these two deans, but if I had to bet I would say they are either (a) being shuffled to a new position at BIM or elsewhere in the network, or (b) are leaving the school altogether.

I am still friends with a few of the teachers that work there, and they regularly send me updates. The news is never good, usually enraging, and I am crossing my fingers that they'll get out soon.

More broadly, I think the Basis education model is one of the worst things that's happened to education in the States in the last few decades. The number one priority is test scores and prestige (this is especially for the schools that have made rankings; the situation for the schools that have not made the rankings is different, but that's another story). My students were great, but they were so strung out on getting good grades, which they saw as the only avenue to getting into an Ivy school (and going to any school that wasn't ranked highly was viewed as a failure), that it really had a bad effect on them. One of the most brilliant students I've ever taught said to me one day: "It's ok if I'm miserable during my teenage years, b/c I need have a good career when I'm an adult." We were having a more philosophical conversation about grades and tests during class, and most of the students agreed. It still makes me sad when I remember that conversation.

Curious - you say many of your colleagues were making plans to leave. Have they? If not, what is stopping them? Do you think BIM turnover will be higher this year given the greater number of openings at other schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed that the two deans under the director who was pushed out after her maternity leave are some of the strongest in the building, but am concerned to see that both of their jobs have been posted...are they leaving, too?

I used to work at BIM. I adored most of my students, but working there was a nightmare. I started making a get-out plan after a few months. I eventually learned that many of my colleagues were feeling the same way, and were making plans to leave. I don't know the particulars behind these two deans, but if I had to bet I would say they are either (a) being shuffled to a new position at BIM or elsewhere in the network, or (b) are leaving the school altogether.

I am still friends with a few of the teachers that work there, and they regularly send me updates. The news is never good, usually enraging, and I am crossing my fingers that they'll get out soon.

More broadly, I think the Basis education model is one of the worst things that's happened to education in the States in the last few decades. The number one priority is test scores and prestige (this is especially for the schools that have made rankings; the situation for the schools that have not made the rankings is different, but that's another story). My students were great, but they were so strung out on getting good grades, which they saw as the only avenue to getting into an Ivy school (and going to any school that wasn't ranked highly was viewed as a failure), that it really had a bad effect on them. One of the most brilliant students I've ever taught said to me one day: "It's ok if I'm miserable during my teenage years, b/c I need have a good career when I'm an adult." We were having a more philosophical conversation about grades and tests during class, and most of the students agreed. It still makes me sad when I remember that conversation.

Curious - you say many of your colleagues were making plans to leave. Have they? If not, what is stopping them? Do you think BIM turnover will be higher this year given the greater number of openings at other schools?

Just look at the job listings, 8-10 openings for faculty and academic managers in a staff that must be under 80 after all the other cuts. And that's only the teachers that have announced so far. This is still interview season for fall jobs, so parents have no way of knowing how many other staff may be job hunting quietly.