Anonymous
Post 03/28/2017 09:58     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Back to the present hOS-I say good riddance to him-he has no interest in the students and was in D.C. solely to secure an education policy position, which did not pan out.

The teachers at Basis DC are truly exceptional, no one (administration) or nothing (building) else is worth attending the school (I cannot speak for the college counselor, though I hear great things about her as well).


Parent of 7th and 11th grade Basis student. Add the college counselor to the plus/positive column.

Agree with the rest of your post.


I am really glad to hear that about the college counselor! I only wish we could take Basis DC teachers with us elsewhere, they really are amazing, inspire curiosity and drive in their students and love the kids enough to work extra long hours for less pay in a dank building with less teacher autonomy than you would find at most charter schools. We have had one "bad" teacher and one or two less-than -perfect fitting teachers (through n o fault of their own, and they were still excellent teachers), all the rest rank among the best any of my children have had in their time in school.


I'm 13:31. Actually the middle school teachers we've gotten to know say they have a lot more automony than at other schools. Yes there are the comps / APs which dictate the content to be mastered be -- but they have significant leeway in how they can design the classes.



In our experience at BASIS, this autonomy has been more of a minus than a plus. Because the teachers have the autonomy to design their own curricula, they often stray from what is required for the pre-comps and comps. So, the weeks leading up to the exams turn into a mad dash to cram in all the material they neglected.

I think that the BASIS model would work better if BASIS.ed simply gave the teacher PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and homework for each lesson.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 18:30     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Back to the present hOS-I say good riddance to him-he has no interest in the students and was in D.C. solely to secure an education policy position, which did not pan out.

The teachers at Basis DC are truly exceptional, no one (administration) or nothing (building) else is worth attending the school (I cannot speak for the college counselor, though I hear great things about her as well).


Parent of 7th and 11th grade Basis student. Add the college counselor to the plus/positive column.

Agree with the rest of your post.


I am really glad to hear that about the college counselor! I only wish we could take Basis DC teachers with us elsewhere, they really are amazing, inspire curiosity and drive in their students and love the kids enough to work extra long hours for less pay in a dank building with less teacher autonomy than you would find at most charter schools. We have had one "bad" teacher and one or two less-than -perfect fitting teachers (through n o fault of their own, and they were still excellent teachers), all the rest rank among the best any of my children have had in their time in school.


I'm 13:31. Actually the middle school teachers we've gotten to know say they have a lot more automony than at other schools. Yes there are the comps / APs which dictate the content to be mastered be -- but they have significant leeway in how they can design the classes.

Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 17:32     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Back to the present hOS-I say good riddance to him-he has no interest in the students and was in D.C. solely to secure an education policy position, which did not pan out.

The teachers at Basis DC are truly exceptional, no one (administration) or nothing (building) else is worth attending the school (I cannot speak for the college counselor, though I hear great things about her as well).


Parent of 7th and 11th grade Basis student. Add the college counselor to the plus/positive column.

Agree with the rest of your post.


I am really glad to hear that about the college counselor! I only wish we could take Basis DC teachers with us elsewhere, they really are amazing, inspire curiosity and drive in their students and love the kids enough to work extra long hours for less pay in a dank building with less teacher autonomy than you would find at most charter schools. We have had one "bad" teacher and one or two less-than -perfect fitting teachers (through n o fault of their own, and they were still excellent teachers), all the rest rank among the best any of my children have had in their time in school.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 13:31     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:Back to the present hOS-I say good riddance to him-he has no interest in the students and was in D.C. solely to secure an education policy position, which did not pan out.

The teachers at Basis DC are truly exceptional, no one (administration) or nothing (building) else is worth attending the school (I cannot speak for the college counselor, though I hear great things about her as well).


Parent of 7th and 11th grade Basis student. Add the college counselor to the plus/positive column.

Agree with the rest of your post.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 13:18     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Back to the present hOS-I say good riddance to him-he has no interest in the students and was in D.C. solely to secure an education policy position, which did not pan out.

The teachers at Basis DC are truly exceptional, no one (administration) or nothing (building) else is worth attending the school (I cannot speak for the college counselor, though I hear great things about her as well).
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 12:59     Subject: Re:Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Sort of. Weak facilities and a narrow focus on academics don't provide for a "normal" or well-rounded enough HS experience for most students and parents. Many families who are quite OK with the academics leave in search of a gym, library, pool, prom, serious sports teams, decent music program, better writing program, emphasis on character training etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2017 12:53     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Basis dc parent here. Basis private (basis mclean) is nothing like Basis dc. I happen to be a very happy basis dc parent (coming from a disorganized terrible charter where I was concerned about my child's safety and heard that dcpcs board basically ignores grievances because they are a pro-charter advocacy group).

But, basis dc is not a private school and does not have the resources of basis mclean. friends of mine go to basis mclean and say that it's the best private in the greater dc area. they really are not comparable. I guess you get what you pay for?


Basis parent here who adores Sean Aiken and will not miss the present HOS when he leaves at all-basis McLean is almost half the cost of the bi 3s and big 5s and you say you get what you pay for, how could it possibly the "best private in ther greater D.C. area"?


Exactly, PP. All new BASIS parents are enamored of the program initially. I think they all believe that they are getting a stellar education on the cheap. The vast majority, however, leave the school before graduation. The BASIS model takes its toll on students, and most families come to realize its true cost.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2017 15:24     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They seem to be moving quickly. Several (~5) internal candidates being interviewed this week, starting Monday. No classroom teachers in the mix; all are now in an admin role.

I don't know if there are also any outside candidates at this point.


Which ones-are they all BDC internal or Basis Ed internal?


5 BDC internal candidates for sure. I don't know if there are other Basis network candidates or totally outside candidates.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2017 15:22     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:They seem to be moving quickly. Several (~5) internal candidates being interviewed this week, starting Monday. No classroom teachers in the mix; all are now in an admin role.

I don't know if there are also any outside candidates at this point.


Which ones-are they all BDC internal or Basis Ed internal?
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2017 08:13     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
They seem to be moving quickly. Several (~5) internal candidates being interviewed this week, starting Monday. No classroom teachers in the mix; all are now in an admin role.

I don't know if there are also any outside candidates at this point.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2017 00:35     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:Basis dc parent here. Basis private (basis mclean) is nothing like Basis dc. I happen to be a very happy basis dc parent (coming from a disorganized terrible charter where I was concerned about my child's safety and heard that dcpcs board basically ignores grievances because they are a pro-charter advocacy group).

But, basis dc is not a private school and does not have the resources of basis mclean. friends of mine go to basis mclean and say that it's the best private in the greater dc area. they really are not comparable. I guess you get what you pay for?


Basis parent here who adores Sean Aiken and will not miss the present HOS when he leaves at all-basis McLean is almost half the cost of the bi 3s and big 5s and you say you get what you pay for, how could it possibly the "best private in ther greater D.C. area"?
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2017 09:40     Subject: Why is the head of school at BASIS really leaving?
Anonymous wrote:What did the letter say? A PP made reference to the tone and length of the letter. What does that mean?


None of your business.