BASIS DC - New Head of School

[Anonymous]

I have no dog in this fight, but a head of school who has been a counselor and a chemistry teacher implies no administrative experience, right? I understand wanting to be supportive, but shouldn't that be a part of the conversation?

[Anonymous]

Basis.ed never keeps admins in one place for very long and they never hire seasoned administrators. The pattern is the same.

I haven’t heard she is leaving — and am pretty plugged in. I think she’s done a good job in all the roles she has had. But the churn is constant no matter what.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on her ability to pull strings and get university placements (1st choice) with maximum merit scholarship for the children of BASIS movers and shakers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It all depends on her ability to pull strings and get university placements (1st choice) with maximum merit scholarship for the children of BASIS movers and shakers

The notion of 'movers and shakers' at BASIS DC is laughable. And there is NO WAY that anyone at any public school can pull strings to get anyone into a first-choice college, including BASIS, much less with a merit scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Basis parent here, haven't heard anything about this but not be surprised, the HOS position has no stability whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

I just want to speak up as a Basis DC parent that my kid had Mrs Garrett as a teacher and found her a stickler but as a HOS loves her. As a parent the communications from the school and my interactions with it have all been reliable and consistent under Mrs Garrett's leadership. She seems to be doing very well by Basis kids and families (hopefully staff too).
I also want to confirm the kids at Basis DC do not hail from the families of the "movers and the shakers". Their kids attend the numerous privates.
I am a fan of the rigor offered at Basis (verus the other public school options we explored) and while my kid will likely have a tough time being admitted to any selective college with their dismal GPA and decent SAT score I am sure they will leave any college with a degree because Basis DC has prepared them for the independent work in college classes.

[Anonymous]

PP, if your child indeed has a dismal GPA and decent SAT, then you are clearly oblivious about what goes on at BASIS DC.

[Anonymous]

PP, please fill me in

[Anonymous]

FTR - this is SO not normal for any school. In DCPS it's the crisis schools that churn principals. Stability anyone or is there just cultish devotion to AZ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FTR - this is SO not normal for any school. In DCPS it's the crisis schools that churn principals. Stability anyone or is there just cultish devotion to AZ?

I think Basis sees staff as interchangeable within its network. Most of these people went to another Basis school.

But I also do NOT think the current HOS is leaving based on a conversation I had with her yesterday (4/10)

[Anonymous]

The de facto head of school mom will do everything in her power to keep Mrs. Garrett as the head of school for another couple years until her 3rd kid is off to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The de facto head of school mom will do everything in her power to keep Mrs. Garrett as the head of school for another couple years until her 3rd kid is off to college.

Meow . . .

[Anonymous]

BASIS as a network does not understand the importance of stability and continuity in relationships. How can faculty and staff work well together when it's a revolving door at the HOS office? Students and families try to build relationships only for people to leave or be fired (often unclear). They love data, but don't use it properly. They don't understand what students need to learn, and are completely missing the human component of what makes a school successful.

[Anonymous]

17:43 "if your child indeed has a dismal GPA and decent SAT, then you are clearly oblivious about what goes on at BASIS DC" please advise what goes on at BASIS DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS as a network does not understand the importance of stability and continuity in relationships. How can faculty and staff work well together when it's a revolving door at the HOS office? Students and families try to build relationships only for people to leave or be fired (often unclear). They love data, but don't use it properly. They don't understand what students need to learn, and are completely missing the human component of what makes a school successful.

+100. Creepy undertones to BASIS, though the school has a few things to recommend it, too.