We also had Ross students attend alongside Mary's. Her son was a frustrated child whom she forced the school to advance by a grade, along with her own appointed classmates of her son so he wouldn't be all alone.

holy shit

Anonymous wrote:To all of you who don't think Mary Siddall will make a good principal:

All parents want their kids to succeed. I met Mary Siddall many years ago when her son was my son's classmate at Ross ES. I did not go often to the school, but it was obvious there was this thing about "important parents". Apparently, Mary was the most coveted parent of all (told by involved parents) and teachers considered her son someone having superior intellectual capacities. Apparently things are quite different at Washington Latin (yet again reported by the same group of parents). Whatever the reasons may be, Mary felt the need of a really good Middle-High school adequate for her kid. So she took matters in her hands, researched good schools and went to see BASIS in action. She has a personal stake, and I do believe the school will be sucessful!

Mary most coveted? Ae you kidding? We also had Ross students attend alongside Mary's. Her son was a frustrated child whom she forced the school to advance by a grade, along with her own appointed classmates of her son so he wouldn't be all alone. Mary decided who was not being challenged at Ross, and she undermined teachers, principals and anyone else who disagreed with her. The principals (since there were many at Ross especially since the time Mary entered that school) just got out of her way, after all Ross wasn't the popular wait listed school it is today. At the time Ross was happy to keep enrollment up to prevent school closure, even if it meant shutting up nutters like her.

Mary may count among her successes the ruining of careers she provoked, among teachers and principals. She also can't count many of the old Ross community parents among her friends these days either.

I wanted to like this school, but the more I read the more turned off I am.

Tucson poster sounds completely clueless. Only an idiot would believe the charter schools in DC are about the Marriott-sponsored H.S.

Worse, every subsequent poster sounds like a Scientologist. Keep it up, and you'll convince us that Mary is the second coming of L. Ron Hubbard.

(That's not a compliment, just so you know.)

BASIS is not so much about Mary, it's about Craig Barrett, former Intel CEO who is the Basis president and chairman.

This guy led one of the strongest and most nimble organizations the planet has ever seen (aside from the Michael Jordan led Bulls).

BASIS is a deadly serious organization with a great good track record.

One can debate whether or not they will succeed in DC given its demographic challenges, but to dismiss them out of hand is foolish.

Their Tuscon school is ranked #2 by US News & World Report for Math and Science High Schools. See link:

http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-high-schools/rankings/math-science

Anonymous wrote:To all of you who don't think Mary Siddall will make a good principal:

All parents want their kids to succeed. I met Mary Siddall many years ago when her son was my son's classmate at Ross ES. I did not go often to the school, but it was obvious there was this thing about "important parents". Apparently, Mary was the most coveted parent of all (told by involved parents) and teachers considered her son someone having superior intellectual capacities. Apparently things are quite different at Washington Latin (yet again reported by the same group of parents). Whatever the reasons may be, Mary felt the need of a really good Middle-High school adequate for her kid. So she took matters in her hands, researched good schools and went to see BASIS in action. She has a personal stake, and I do believe the school will be sucessful!

wanting a successful school is not the predictor of a good principal; a good principal has to
be a positive communicator, with faculty/parents/students
have decent management skills and educational insight
be immune to brownnosers who pretend to be effective teachers when they are really goof-offs
be able to identify good teachers and curricula
be fair/not intervene in favor of her child when she would have a different process for another child
be committed for the longterm, vs until her/his kid moves to the next level...

To all of you who don't think Mary Siddall will make a good principal:

All parents want their kids to succeed. I met Mary Siddall many years ago when her son was my son's classmate at Ross ES. I did not go often to the school, but it was obvious there was this thing about "important parents". Apparently, Mary was the most coveted parent of all (told by involved parents) and teachers considered her son someone having superior intellectual capacities. Apparently things are quite different at Washington Latin (yet again reported by the same group of parents). Whatever the reasons may be, Mary felt the need of a really good Middle-High school adequate for her kid. So she took matters in her hands, researched good schools and went to see BASIS in action. She has a personal stake, and I do believe the school will be sucessful!

This is an interesting discussion - I live in Tucson, my son has attended Basis since he was in 6th grade. I've seen how they DO actually bring kids up to speed. It works but some kids (and some parents) discover it's not what they want for their kids. It's just an option - like a charter school for hotels and hospitality is an option. The education kids get at Basis is phenomenal. Unlike schools that do have a selection process, it is open to all and there is a lot of diversity to the student body. Probably what the students do all have in common is a parent who values and takes an active interest in the student's education.

For gifted kids who would be bored silly and wasting away in most public schools, it is a godsend. It is a dream-come-true for those kids.

Personally, I think as BASIS moves forward into new locations, they should have as their motto: You will be amazed. ... because you WILL be amazed.


(and no - they don't require parents to drink any kool-aid to become true believers like this.)

PP, you only make out the crazies to seem crazier.

When there's no sense of reality people usually grasp for anything that's moving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary convinced them.

That quote is just unsettling. What is with the worship?

Ask the charter school board members and the staff who were both against and for basis. They will tell you what happened: Mary convinced them. No worship here just a hard fact we now face in DC.

Hmmm. The force is strong in this one. Shocked we will be. Only charter Jedis can the Dark Side resist.

Come on crypto-poster, enough already.

Serious question, where is the documentation of the Basis updated plan or any approved school? If they get public funds, we should be able to see what they've been approved for, right? The meeting minutes on charter school board website didn't say anything.

Is it too much to ask for a school with such a track record for a little more detail? I'm not bashing the school or Siddall. I wouldn't care if she's the Easter Bunny if it truly is a viable school for DC.

I am sorry I must be under her spell. I meant to say who's this weird Mary?

Who's is this weird Mary?

I'm less interested in BASIS the longer this weird "Mary" stuff goes on. Sounds like a cult.

Elaborate, please? What hard fact do we now face in dc? Your cryptic notes are most annoying.