BASIS Independent McLean ranked 15th on Niche?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

What exactly is her experience in supervising pre-K to 12 education functions and not just admin operations? Anything?

Yes, facts matter.

Well, she was the Head of Operations at the start of the year and for at least the year previous. That's about where she belongs, and she was the primary point person in shepherding BASIS through what was a pretty smooth transition to full DL and then back to hybrid at the beginning of this school year.

She's also responsible for some of the brutal admin issues that the school has had as well - so a bit of a double-edged sword. She's the acting HOS right now because the previous one bailed mid-year.

Providing needed resources is very different from hiring decisions, dealing with parents about their kids' issues, understanding curriculum needs and changes, building a school culture, etc.

It's like putting the chief accountant in charge of a tech company. Sure he has worked there and knows the terminology, but does he know coding, interfaces, and product development requirements?

Not so much. BIM really took the less responsible option making this person the HOS for even six months.

Do you know this person and her background or are you just assuming that she can't do those things because he held a front desk job at some point?

I do know her and many of the staff, students, and parents at BIM today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

What exactly is her experience in supervising pre-K to 12 education functions and not just admin operations? Anything?

Yes, facts matter.

Well, she was the Head of Operations at the start of the year and for at least the year previous. That's about where she belongs, and she was the primary point person in shepherding BASIS through what was a pretty smooth transition to full DL and then back to hybrid at the beginning of this school year.

She's also responsible for some of the brutal admin issues that the school has had as well - so a bit of a double-edged sword. She's the acting HOS right now because the previous one bailed mid-year.

Providing needed resources is very different from hiring decisions, dealing with parents about their kids' issues, understanding curriculum needs and changes, building a school culture, etc.

It's like putting the chief accountant in charge of a tech company. Sure he has worked there and knows the terminology, but does he know coding, interfaces, and product development requirements?

Not so much. BIM really took the less responsible option making this person the HOS for even six months.

+1 it is the BIM way, take the easiest/cheapest path forward and bury your head in the sand.

[Anonymous]

I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

BIM could have hired a respected retired HOS and offered him $100K to come in for six months and be a wise interim leader. But they don't have that kind of money to spare when the red ink is still bleeding all over the place.

So they make more bad decisions to save $$, worsen their battered reputation, lose more students, lose more money, etc.

The school peaked (such as it was) in early 2019 and has rolled downhill ever since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

Was it a part-time online program? Not exactly the kind of experience people pay $30k+fees for around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

Was it a part-time online program? Not exactly the kind of experience people pay $30k+fees for around here.

Her LinkedIn profile doesn't show that degree at all, just a BA. Her teaching background was about four years as a Kindergarten Assistant and Long-Term Substitute then unspecified Substitute Teacher in FCPS. She was also director for a pre-K - 6 summer camp.

Never taught a MS or HS subject to a class year-long ever. But now she supervises all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

This makes me so sad. My kids are at a BASIS charter, and they're thriving there. It's a fabulous system for smart, motivated kids who love learning. Our HOS has been there for over 10 years, and the school is very well organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

This makes me so sad. My kids are at a BASIS charter, and they're thriving there. It's a fabulous system for smart, motivated kids who love learning. Our HOS has been there for over 10 years, and the school is very well organized.

The former MS director at BIM left in 2019 to become HOS for a new BASIS charter in Texas. Saw the writing on the wall about their respective corporate futures, most likely.

The BASIS DC charter seems very popular apart from the cramped downtown facilities. BIM has tons of space and just can't make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

This makes me so sad. My kids are at a BASIS charter, and they're thriving there. It's a fabulous system for smart, motivated kids who love learning. Our HOS has been there for over 10 years, and the school is very well organized.

The former MS director at BIM left in 2019 to become HOS for a new BASIS charter in Texas. Saw the writing on the wall about their respective corporate futures, most likely.

The BASIS DC charter seems very popular apart from the cramped downtown facilities. BIM has tons of space and just can't make it work.

Do you remember when the ES kids walked off campus in the middle of the school day and a random person picked them up in their car and drove them to the Mosaic district?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am another poster answering- It is clear that this acting HOS is not qualified for the position. My reasoning is her track record and the way that her decisions have negatively impacted school morale and have just not made very much sense. The reputation of BASIS gets worse every year and there are so many current families that are so unhappy and want to find a way out. The school should get someone who is qualified NOW to be in the HOS position- not someone who recently got a master's degree , is power hungry and started as a receptionist- with NO OTHER administrative role in an independent school. COME ON- let's be real!

This makes me so sad. My kids are at a BASIS charter, and they're thriving there. It's a fabulous system for smart, motivated kids who love learning. Our HOS has been there for over 10 years, and the school is very well organized.

The former MS director at BIM left in 2019 to become HOS for a new BASIS charter in Texas. Saw the writing on the wall about their respective corporate futures, most likely.

The BASIS DC charter seems very popular apart from the cramped downtown facilities. BIM has tons of space and just can't make it work.

Do you remember when the ES kids walked off campus in the middle of the school day and a random person picked them up in their car and drove them to the Mosaic district?

Yes, this interim HOS was Head of Ops then, involved in the decision not to call the cops for several hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

Was it a part-time online program? Not exactly the kind of experience people pay $30k+fees for around here.

Her LinkedIn profile doesn't show that degree at all, just a BA. Her teaching background was about four years as a Kindergarten Assistant and Long-Term Substitute then unspecified Substitute Teacher in FCPS. She was also director for a pre-K - 6 summer camp.

Never taught a MS or HS subject to a class year-long ever. But now she supervises all of them.

The website includes her experience as a PTA President. Wow.

I suppose it’s not her fault that she kept sliding up into positions when people left abruptly. It’s unfortunate that being nasty gets some people ahead and the ones really in charge don’t seem to realize that it’s her cruelty that has caused staff and families to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

Was it a part-time online program? Not exactly the kind of experience people pay $30k+fees for around here.

Her LinkedIn profile doesn't show that degree at all, just a BA. Her teaching background was about four years as a Kindergarten Assistant and Long-Term Substitute then unspecified Substitute Teacher in FCPS. She was also director for a pre-K - 6 summer camp.

Never taught a MS or HS subject to a class year-long ever. But now she supervises all of them.

The website includes her experience as a PTA President. Wow.

I suppose it’s not her fault that she kept sliding up into positions when people left abruptly. It’s unfortunate that being nasty gets some people ahead and the ones really in charge don’t seem to realize that it’s her cruelty that has caused staff and families to leave.

That is a big leap. Lack of experience does not equal cruelty and I have never seen her be nasty. The problem is with the whole corporate structure and can not be blamed on any single individual. She seems to really be trying but without support no one person can turn things around. People should show some degree of compassion- if you don’t like it leave/don’t come but please don’t use an anonymous message board to vilify someone whom you may not even know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG the current HOS started as a front desk receptionist? That explains a lot.

The current interim HOS has a teaching background with a Masters in Independent Schools Administration. Got her foot on the door by taking a front desk position. Not that facts matter much in this forum. Interesting how the old Basis threads resurface every year at the same time as enrollment is happening.

Was it a part-time online program? Not exactly the kind of experience people pay $30k+fees for around here.

Her LinkedIn profile doesn't show that degree at all, just a BA. Her teaching background was about four years as a Kindergarten Assistant and Long-Term Substitute then unspecified Substitute Teacher in FCPS. She was also director for a pre-K - 6 summer camp.

Never taught a MS or HS subject to a class year-long ever. But now she supervises all of them.

The website includes her experience as a PTA President. Wow.

I suppose it’s not her fault that she kept sliding up into positions when people left abruptly. It’s unfortunate that being nasty gets some people ahead and the ones really in charge don’t seem to realize that it’s her cruelty that has caused staff and families to leave.

That is a big leap. Lack of experience does not equal cruelty and I have never seen her be nasty. The problem is with the whole corporate structure and can not be blamed on any single individual. She seems to really be trying but without support no one person can turn things around. People should show some degree of compassion- if you don’t like it leave/don’t come but please don’t use an anonymous message board to vilify someone whom you may not even know.

She gushes all over people much of the time, in fact, until she has to screw them over with no warning. Then it's zero compassion, concern, apology, or regret. Call that callous or call it cruel, it's part of an ugly corporate culture that she personifies.

[Anonymous]

Agree- there is some cruelty, but also it's due to a lack of qualities essential in an HOS. Decisions are made in a black and white way. There is no depth and ability to see subtleties- imo it's because of a lack of depth, knowledge and lack of capacity to see gray areas and complexities that come with people who have vision- capabilities that are essential in a HOS. It's all missing there now- just a very limited person making massive decisions.It's all wrong.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of two kids at Basis, I am angry that we have someone who is so unqualified at such a high position. I never knew this but this explains the terrible morale I have witnessed of the teachers and staff at Basis. I want OUT!