Teacher turnover at BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

The Dean of Students would fall into this category as well. Amateurish and unprofessional is what I have experienced so far.

We have experienced the opposite with this person, and if you look at his schooling/experience prior to Basis, his promotion into that particular role made a LOT of sense, especially considering what his predecessor was like!

[Anonymous]

First year BASIS parent.

My DC had to switch all her classes after math placement. I was very upset about it (it happened during the school day so I didn't know about it until the evening). I had told DC that I would talk to Admin and switch her back immediately since I was unhappy. DC, however, was thrilled -- prior math class had been boring & new math class is a much better fit. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly she transitioned to an entire new schedule after finally figuring out the first schedule. It's not the same as losing a teacher, but it did make me realize that some of these "upsetting" transitions are not at all upsetting (and actually wonderful) for the students.

I did notice that the English teacher is pregnant and thus will be transitioning out. I was very impressed with the way the substitute is present at the classes, familiar with the students, and already copied to every email and available separate from the pregnant teacher. It is the best preparation for a transition that I have ever experienced. So far, I couldn't be happier as a BASIS parent. It's a top of the line.

I also have to defend the DOS -- "amateurish" seems to be a fun act he does to connect better with the students -- all the students adore him. When I have had multiple serious issues dealing with our child's special needs, DOS has been more professional, mature, and responsive than any other prior school. It gave me a new perspective than the goofy one he gives off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

The Dean of Students would fall into this category as well. Amateurish and unprofessional is what I have experienced so far.

We have experienced the opposite with this person, and if you look at his schooling/experience prior to Basis, his promotion into that particular role made a LOT of sense, especially considering what his predecessor was like!

+1. Great experience with BASIS DOS. His promotion was well-deserved. He works hard to impress students, but he impresses the parents too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

When do BASIS students get access to a college counselor? Hearing great things about BASIS from parent after parent -- none who know each other & all just coincidence (in fact, one friend is in Arizona). But, my major concern is that there doesn't seem to be many families from the 16th Street Heights area -- everyone I know is coming from SE. I am leaning toward a school that attracts more local families so that my child will have friends nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

When do BASIS students get access to a college counselor? Hearing great things about BASIS from parent after parent -- none who know each other & all just coincidence (in fact, one friend is in Arizona). But, my major concern is that there doesn't seem to be many families from the 16th Street Heights area -- everyone I know is coming from SE. I am leaning toward a school that attracts more local families so that my child will have friends nearby.

Freshman year the college counselor starts working with the 9th graders, mostly as a group but 1:1 appointments are available. Access to Naviance for students and families starts then too. This year there are 30 workshops and information sessions re college planning scheduled. Some are for all students and parents, some just students, some geared toward one grade level or another (topics include financing college, standarized testing, financial aid, scholarships, finding internships, managing one's social media presence). By junior year students meet 1:1 with the counselor biweekly, and weekly for senior year.

I think about 70 colleges are coming to campus this fall, and the school will be administering the Pre-ACT to 10th graders (this is a new test) as well as the customary PSAT/NMSQT to 10th and 11th graders.
The approach to college counseling is detailed for 8th grade families too as it is an important factor in deciding what to do for high school.

Here's the 2015 map of where students at each charter are coming from. Students from all wards / ZIP codes at BASIS but, as might be expected, fewer from areas that are IB for Deal. http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/Binder3.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former BASIS parent, promoting teachers to administration without them possessing the requisite qualifications to do the new job or without considering the impact on the impact on the students in the classroom, is SOP at Basis. Promotions there seem to be run like a high school popularity contest.

Another former parent. I knew two former teachers well enough that they confided that their departures were prompted by what they felt was fundamental unfairness with the way the administration treated students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former BASIS parent, promoting teachers to administration without them possessing the requisite qualifications to do the new job or without considering the impact on the impact on the students in the classroom, is SOP at Basis. Promotions there seem to be run like a high school popularity contest.

Another former parent. I knew two former teachers well enough that they confided that their departures were prompted by what they felt was fundamental unfairness with the way the administration treated students.

This concerns me. Please expand. DC and I have visited the campus (niece attends) and we both liked it. I was planning on it being the first choice on the lottery next Spring, as we had only heard good things from niece and SIL.

[Anonymous]

not pp but another former parent.
BASIS uses the survival of the fittest model, with the fittest not necessarily being the smartest or most hard working. A student can get really good grades all year long; however 2 exams January precomp and June comp/final test) count for 60% of the entire year. So when admin wants to get rid of a student, they just give an F for the final exam and The A's becomes a C- and the B's becomes a D. And there have been several cases of large discrepancies in the grades given by teachers and marks in the report cards. I understand grade manipulation happens in many schools, but not to this extend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

She's very smart and pleasant but not experienced or trained, no National Association of College Counselors certification in her background. Good luck to her and you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:not pp but another former parent.
BASIS uses the survival of the fittest model, with the fittest not necessarily being the smartest or most hard working. A student can get really good grades all year long; however 2 exams January precomp and June comp/final test) count for 60% of the entire year. So when admin wants to get rid of a student, they just give an F for the final exam and The A's becomes a C- and the B's becomes a D. And there have been several cases of large discrepancies in the grades given by teachers and marks in the report cards. I understand grade manipulation happens in many schools, but not to this extend.

This is BS. Any parent and student can request a meeting to review actual comprehensive tests per their policy which would make grade manipulation impossible.

Also, the comprehensive exams I saw were rather easy IMO and you only need 60% to pass which is a low bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

She's very smart and pleasant but not experienced or trained, no National Association of College Counselors certification in her background. Good luck to her and you.

I think you mean NACAC. Their $99 online, 50-hour training certification doesn't impress me as much as you.

She will be successful, as will the kids, for several reasons. First, BASIS already has a reputation / brand among college admissions counselors of producing very prepared high school graduates. Second, she knows the students deeply having taught most of them for 2-3 years.

The only downside of putting her in that role, was that it removed her from the classroom, where she was highly effective. But I'm not sure she was ever going to be a lifelong chemistry teacher regardless. I'm grateful she still has an important role and close relationship with my DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

She's very smart and pleasant but not experienced or trained, no National Association of College Counselors certification in her background. Good luck to her and you.

I think you mean NACAC. Their $99 online, 50-hour training certification doesn't impress me as much as you.

She will be successful, as will the kids, for several reasons. First, BASIS already has a reputation / brand among college admissions counselors of producing very prepared high school graduates. Second, she knows the students deeply having taught most of them for 2-3 years.

The only downside of putting her in that role, was that it removed her from the classroom, where she was highly effective. But I'm not sure she was ever going to be a lifelong chemistry teacher regardless. I'm grateful she still has an important role and close relationship with my DC.

What an odd transition.

[Anonymous]

Terrific chemistry teacher and extremely smart, decent and personable person. But there are various certifications in counseling she could have completed but hasn't, e.g. a popular 8-course certificate offered by UCLA Extension. She also hasn't graduated from blue chip schools (Ivies, high octane STEM programs). You think that BASIS would hire an experienced college counselor who really knows the ropes, rather than a 20-something eager beaver who really knows the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, like the fantastic chemistry teacher who suddenly became college counselor without having done course work in advising, or ever working as a college counselor.

She is a great asset for BASIS as a college counselor and I am happy to see her in that role.

When do BASIS students get access to a college counselor? Hearing great things about BASIS from parent after parent -- none who know each other & all just coincidence (in fact, one friend is in Arizona). But, my major concern is that there doesn't seem to be many families from the 16th Street Heights area -- everyone I know is coming from SE. I am leaning toward a school that attracts more local families so that my child will have friends nearby.

You need to understand that Basis (and Latin and now DCI) are the preferred middle schools for the Hill, so you're going to see a lot of addresses in NE & SE. There are a lot of wealthy families with multiple degrees and high academic expectations in that neighborhood, and DCPS is simply uninterested in serving their needs. They are actively choosing charters over DCPS, and Basis is the most physically convenient of the attractive charters.

The dynamic is different along the 16th St. corridor, where many families have access to Deal; looking at alternatives is less of a concern. Personally, I think Deal is too large, but that's my opinion, and it's obviously the most solid offering DCPS has in their MS portfolio. Hardy appears to be growing in popularity, particularly since Eaton got funnelled in that direction.

Maybe you'll get lucky with either Latin or DCI, both of which are more convenient to 16th St. Heights. Bear in mind that any of the highly-regarded charters are going to draw from all over the city. Some neighborhoods will be better represented than others: the gentrifiers in Ward 5 have high expectations and no solid neighborhood option, so you can expect to see them en masse in certain schools.

If you're not IB for Deal, then you're probably zoned for MacFarland. Considering how long it has taken for Hardy to be taken seriously, I don't have good feelings about MacFarland, and knowing that it feeds Roosevelt is actively discouraging.