New Basis DC Head of School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leadership matters and this is not simply a BASIS DC issue, but a BASIS wide issue. It is not bashing to question the frequent changes in leadership, and to wonder about its effects on staff and students.

With that said, he sounds like a solid choice and hopefully will break the cycle of revolving door leadership.

Impossible, BASIS DC is addicted to new heads. Only a dyed in the wool booster could fail to appreciate the funny side of this. A fabulous, wildly popular charter that no head can stand for more than around 18 months. Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers anyone?

Ha ha. There were only seven Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers in the Harry Potter Books.

Alex Rose is an excellent choice, and we are looking forward to his tenure as HOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he's #9.

True

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leadership matters and this is not simply a BASIS DC issue, but a BASIS wide issue. It is not bashing to question the frequent changes in leadership, and to wonder about its effects on staff and students.

With that said, he sounds like a solid choice and hopefully will break the cycle of revolving door leadership.

Impossible, BASIS DC is addicted to new heads. Only a dyed in the wool booster could fail to appreciate the funny side of this. A fabulous, wildly popular charter that no head can stand for more than around 18 months. Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers anyone?

[Anonymous]

I was really pleased with the choice. And obviously we needed a HOS, so this isn't really the time to debate that.

[Anonymous]

It's never time to debate any troubling aspect of how BASIS runs, is it? Not since they outlasted the early lawsuits over SpEd issues. Anybody who criticizes BASIS for any reason on these boards is a "troll," a "hater" or a "basher." The fact is, parents leave primarily for the banal reason that there are too many inexperienced teachers in classrooms, often with poor classroom management skills. High teacher turnover is largely responsible for driving families out, vs. other problems. I wish that this new HOS would get a handle on that particular problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's never time to debate any troubling aspect of how BASIS runs, is it? Not since they outlasted the early lawsuits over SpEd issues. Anybody who criticizes BASIS for any reason on these boards is a "troll," a "hater" or a "basher." The fact is, parents leave primarily for the banal reason that there are too many inexperienced teachers in classrooms, often with poor classroom management skills. High teacher turnover is largely responsible for driving families out, vs. other problems. I wish that this new HOS would get a handle on that particular problem.

I hope the new head of school will allow teachers to give students the deserved grade. Teachers have left or terminated for standing up for students and grades being completely distorted Things might change now as the 3rd child of the de facto principal is graduating. Good riddance.

[Anonymous]

There's far too much emphasis on grade-granting in the BASIS franchise, along with cookie cutter college prep, particularly in 7th and 8th grades. Not enough stress on joy of learning and Eureka moments.

The problem starts and ends in Arizona, so can't be fixed by any particular HOS in DC.

[Anonymous]

It is a uniquely BASIS issue. The McLean independent school campus is searching for their 5th HOS and the school opened in 2016 with Sean Aiken as founding HOS.

[Anonymous]

I'm just not buying that BASIS is a well-run school, no matter where graduates might end up for college (yes, we know about the two BASIS seniors heading to MIT). A school simply doesn't shed its principal almost every school year if a program is a happy place. Sounds more like a survival course for students, staff and admins.

[Anonymous]

The school just opened in 2012, as the first BASIS charter school outside of Arizona, so obviously it had some transition issues and growing pains. Some of the HOS were interim. As HOS, I count Mary Riner Siddall, Paul Morrisey, Tim Eyerman, Jill Garrett, John Hillis, and now Alex Rose-Henig. What three am I missing?

USNWR ranks BASIS DC #3 for DC high schools, after SWW (founded 1971) and Kipp (founded 1994). All the BASIS schools have the same curriculum, and there are 9 BASIS schools in the top 100 charter high schools nationally (with BASIS DC high school listed as number 227 nationally). By way of comparison, Wilson (1935) is listed as #10 in DC and #5173 nationally for high schools. This year, only 32 people were accepted to Yale from DC and PG County (both public and private schools); BASIS DC had 3. So, BASIS DC doesn’t seem to be doing too badly given that they have only been around for 8 years and had a different HOS every year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school just opened in 2012, as the first BASIS charter school outside of Arizona, so obviously it had some transition issues and growing pains. Some of the HOS were interim. As HOS, I count Mary Riner Siddall, Paul Morrisey, Tim Eyerman, Jill Garrett, John Hillis, and now Alex Rose-Henig. What three am I missing?

USNWR ranks BASIS DC #3 for DC high schools, after SWW (founded 1971) and Kipp (founded 1994). All the BASIS schools have the same curriculum, and there are 9 BASIS schools in the top 100 charter high schools nationally (with BASIS DC high school listed as number 227 nationally). By way of comparison, Wilson (1935) is listed as #10 in DC and #5173 nationally for high schools. This year, only 32 people were accepted to Yale from DC and PG County (both public and private schools); BASIS DC had 3. So, BASIS DC doesn’t seem to be doing too badly given that they have only been around for 8 years and had a different HOS every year or two.[/quote

No kids at Basis but good point about it being relatively new and in growing stages. Posters here threatened by charters just don’t get it It’s also like this with DCI too who just graduated their first class. There is going to be growing and learning stages with every new school.

Both relatively new schools and DCUM expects both to be up to their perfection standards. At least neither schools have regressed like honors for all at Wilson where many parents who can because of that will opt out.

[Anonymous]

Much love to the Basis DC community!
Much joy to Mr Rose’s wedding and marriage (may he deserve his wonderful partner)!
Much sympathy to the staff if Mr Rose remains someone who is difficult to trust as he demonstrates a lack of integrity. May that be something he improves with awareness and effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
USNWR ranks BASIS DC #3 for DC high schools, after SWW (founded 1971) and Kipp (founded 1994).

Correction: Banneker is #3. (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia/rankings) Pretty impressive, given that the student body is 25% at risk, about 3 times as high as Basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
USNWR ranks BASIS DC #3 for DC high schools, after SWW (founded 1971) and Kipp (founded 1994).

Correction: Banneker is #3. (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia/rankings) Pretty impressive, given that the student body is 25% at risk, about 3 times as high as Basis.

And to correct my correction: Banneker is #2, not KIPP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school just opened in 2012, as the first BASIS charter school outside of Arizona, so obviously it had some transition issues and growing pains. Some of the HOS were interim. As HOS, I count Mary Riner Siddall, Paul Morrisey, Tim Eyerman, Jill Garrett, John Hillis, and now Alex Rose-Henig. What three am I missing?

USNWR ranks BASIS DC #3 for DC high schools, after SWW (founded 1971) and Kipp (founded 1994). All the BASIS schools have the same curriculum, and there are 9 BASIS schools in the top 100 charter high schools nationally (with BASIS DC high school listed as number 227 nationally). By way of comparison, Wilson (1935) is listed as #10 in DC and #5173 nationally for high schools. This year, only 32 people were accepted to Yale from DC and PG County (both public and private schools); BASIS DC had 3. So, BASIS DC doesn’t seem to be doing too badly given that they have only been around for 8 years and had a different HOS every year or two.

Yes, BASIS DC's nascent college admissions track record seems very impressive, despite the revolving door policy for heads, I'll grant you that.

I attended a small public HS ranked in the bottom third in my state, where most of my teachers were terrific. I went on to an Ivy on fil aid. I've given BASIS a hard look, after winning a 5th grade spot this spring, and don't like the spirit of the place. I see far too much emphasis on grades, playing it safe academically and weeding out students who need extra support. What I don't see is much emphasis on promoting intellectual curiosity, love of learning and esprit de corps. Science instruction looks like their strong suit, but facilities are below par all around (at least from what I saw when I visited). I also don't like narrow, crowded hallways during this pandemic. Pass.