Culture of Support

Redefining College Prep at BASIS Independent Manhattan

December 16, 2024 by christopherrosenbal Leave a Comment

Early applications are in, the first decisions are coming out, regular deadlines are approaching, and the long college checklist doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter. Thankfully, our seniors are balancing any anxiety with confidence gained from BASIS Independent Manhattan’s college prep programs and supportive environment.

With personalized guidance from our dedicated faculty, expert resources, and custom events, the Class of 2025 is not only applying to the finest educational institutions but also cultivating resilience and independence – qualities that will serve them well in their future academic journeys.

Here’s a glimpse into the incredible work our students have been doing.

Personalized Preparation

While traditional high school students might begin preparing for college in grade 11 or 12, our students begin their college preparation in grade 9. This early start allows our College Counselor, Mr. Tejada, to take the time to get to know each student’s interests and strengths.

He says, “I ask students about their career interests, potential major, passions, and hobbies and work with them on ways they can demonstrate them in meaningful ways.”

For Mr. Tejada, it’s not just enough that our students are prepared to apply to college. They must understand the connection between their strengths and the varying opportunities that each university has to offer.

To help students uncover this connection, Mr. Tejada works with seniors in a daily 45-minute College Counseling class to learn practical skills, such as navigating the application process, resume building, and essay writing, while also having them explore future degrees that might be a good fit.

A Standout Program

At many other schools in NYC, college counseling is part of a general guidance counseling program where the onus is on the student to ask for support and meet application deadlines. At BASIS Independent Manhattan there is a balance of independence and accountability. The College Counselor works one-on-one with juniors and seniors on a weekly basis, challenging them to complete goals and following up on their weekly progress.

Another factor that has empowered the older students at BASIS Independent Manhattan is our commitment to small class sizes and expert educators. This model has made it possible for our teachers to really impart a deep understanding and mastery of content in the sciences, mathematics, literature, history, world languages, and AP Courses. Personalized teaching makes for proficient learning and is one of the contributors to our legacy of outstanding test scores.

Bringing Experts to You

BASIS Independent Manhattan is committed to sharing what we know with parents, recognizing the significant role they play in their children’s educational journey. Our insightful “College Admissions 101” classes are a series of monthly workshops for high school parents/guardians hosted by Mr. Tejada. Each of these exclusive virtual sessions features knowledgeable panelists who provide valuable insights into various steps or specific topics within the college application process. Topics covered include:

The benefits of pre-college programs

Testing with the SAT & ACT and using those tests in the college application process

A guide to University of California Admissions

Financial aid

The benefits of public honors colleges and programs

And so on. Below is a simplified list highlighting some of the more impactful elements of our college preparation program.

Grades 9 & 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
College Counseling Newsletter	College Counseling Newsletter	College Counseling Newsletter
Encouraged to attend college rep visits	Required to attend college rep visits	Encouraged to attend college rep visits
Open access to counselor	Open access to counselor	Open access to counselor
Monthly Virtual Workshops for Parents/Guardians	Monthly Virtual Workshops for Parents/Guardians	Monthly Virtual Workshops for Parents/Guardians
Student “Boot Camp” Workshops (Spring)	Weekly one-on-one scheduled meetings with counselor (Spring)	Weekly one-on-one scheduled meetings with counselor
		Daily College Counseling Class for two trimesters in length
		Life-Skills Mentoring

Cornell University Acceptance — Congratulations on your Early Decision at Cornell!

Impressive Results

Already, there is good news to celebrate. Four of our seniors received Early Decision acceptances, and we are thrilled to announce they will be attending:

Columbia University
Cornell University
Lehigh University
Babson College

One could attribute success in the college application process to our advanced curriculum, your child’s innate talents, or a myriad of other factors. However, the effectiveness of the approach at BASIS Independent Manhattan truly stands out, showcasing the remarkable results we achieve together.

Setbacks are inevitable, but our students are well-equipped to overcome them with the right mindset. Our robust college counseling program plays a crucial role in this process. With personalized support, dedicated resources, and daily classes, our students confidently navigate obstacles and are empowered to make informed decisions about their future.

Interested in learning more? Schedule a tour of our Upper School campus to witness firsthand what sets our programs apart!

Shark Tank Sparks Innovation at BASIS Independent Manhattan

December 6, 2024 by christopherrosenbal Leave a Comment

Hey Sharks… Welcome to BASIS Independent Manhattan!

What does a TV show where stuffy millionaires scour the cerebral seas for tasty new ideas have to do with students at BASIS Independent Manhattan? Turns out, the Shark Tank formula is the perfect intersection between drama, English, and engineering, three subjects that our elementary school students happen to excel in.

Gearing up for our very own Shark Tank

When we announced the annual, interdisciplinary Shark Tank project at our private school on the Upper West Side, the grade 4 students were thrilled. They quickly began to scheme up idea after idea to pitch. But there was still a lot that needed to happen before our little entrepreneurs would be ready for the big day. Our top-ranked teachers got right to work.

Starting on the STEM side, students used the engineering design process to brainstorm and develop their inventions. Engineering Subject Expert Teacher Ms. Delaney explained how this unfolded in her class: “The first step was to guide students through drafting detailed blueprints to transform their ideas into reality. Once we identified their most innovative designs, the class collaborated to create working prototypes they were excited to pitch to the Sharks.”

Shark Tank display of photos and inventions

Moving along to English, this is where students wrote persuasive essays with a strong hook, crucial supporting details, and a concise conclusion. Ms. Lauten (English Subject Expert Teacher, Gr. 4–5) said, “It was important that students understood the connection between their writing and their upcoming Shark Tank presentation, By using these components of a persuasive essay, it was a smooth process pulling out the strongest elements to craft a compelling oral pitch.”

Time for the last leg of the project! In drama students honed their public speaking skills. Ms. Boscolo (Drama Subject Expert Teacher) worked with them on projection, posture, eye contact, and enunciation. She went on to say, “These skills not only enhance public speaking, performing, and presenting, but they also boost individual self-confidence.” It was evident students learned that a solid presentation could make all the difference between sealing the deal or walking home empty-handed.

Learning to manage those pre-pitch jitters

As the looming day drew closer, students’ nerves increased. Here are a few ways our expert teachers supported students throughout the process:

Talked about using a growth mindset to approach challenges with resilience and confidence.
Focused on learning from feedback and seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth.
A special lesson led by our School Counselor emphasized the value of maintaining a positive attitude and believing in one’s abilities.
Teachers gave students strategies to help them stay calm under pressure, using their emotions as motivation for success rather than a reason to give up.

The Big Day

One by one, our young entrepreneurs proudly stood to pitch their ideas, all of which were incredible. Here are a few highlights:

“Tweet,” by Morgan, is a pencil case that has games, music, and lots of other things attached to it. Morgan explained how Tweet can make life more fun and give us easier access to technology.
Ryder pitched “The Lingle Bingle,” a powerful, cheap, GPS tracker that can work anywhere in the world.
“The Reminder Watch,” pitched by Ella, is a watch that glows and vibrates whenever the wearer has forgotten something. And the best part? The Reminder Watch comes in many different shapes and patterns. 😊 Each of our students pitched something that we were proud of.

Success for all

BASIS Independent Manhattan takes great pride in being a top-ranked liberal arts school. We also understand the importance of balancing rigorous academics, such as STEM, with joyful learning. Through interdisciplinary and real-world lessons, like the Shark Tank project, we prepare our students to be inquisitive, solution-oriented collaborative problem solvers.

We are proud of our young entrepreneurs for thinking outside the box and showcasing their innovations!

We invite you to learn more about our Wildcat community at one of our upcoming admissions events. You can also apply for the 2025-26 school year today — application fees are still being waived — and the deadline is January 9, 2025.

Leadership Spotlight: Middle School Dean of Students Patrick Russell

November 22, 2024 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

The Middle School Program at BASIS Independent Brooklyn aims to build strong foundational knowledge across subjects while also nurturing student autonomy and self-discipline needed for advanced critical inquiry important for high school and college. Two Deans of Students help guide that growth and advancement in the critical middle school years at the school. Today we wanted to feature Dean Patrick Russell, who focuses on academic student support in the Middle School years, since prospective families often have questions about the transition to our Middle School Program. Who better than Mr. Russell to speak to the support and best practices brought to help students transition to and thrive at our school.

After graduating from Cornell University in 2016, Mr. Russell joined our team first as a Teaching Fellow. During this time, he shadowed Subject Expert Teachers to learn about the BASIS Curriculum and grow teaching skills and understanding of classroom management. His passion for teaching, skill in connecting with students, and ability to bring subject matter to life was quickly evident. He moved into a Subject Expert Teacher role for both English and French instruction in our Middle and High School Programs. Mr. Russell is a beloved teacher and now a rising star in administration. He is the Coach for our Cross Country and Track Teams, and he has led conditioning and weight training programs for our students.

Would you share what drew you to a career in education?

I was inspired to go into education by my high school English teacher. I was one of the kids not always succeeding in middle school and high school, since the school I attended was very rigid and had a very specific way of doing things. I needed something a little bit different.

My high school English teacher constantly sat me down and we would debrief after difficult lessons or disappointing grades. He would ask what happened, and he listened and made the content more accessible to me. He was also one of those teachers who would assign somewhat non-canonical material that he knew we would read. At the end of the day, this teacher being able to give students challenging material and provide it in such a way that they care, showing up every day with the enthusiasm that he brought, completely turned around my high school experience. He created a course that made every student care.

What appealed to you about joining BASIS Independent Brooklyn first as a teaching fellow then teacher and now Dean?

I wanted to focus on the parts of my job that were the most fulfilling, which were helping students overcome challenges, facilitating their growth as students, and making real connections with people. While I do love the disciplines that I taught, the Dean role allowed for more of those rewarding moments and the opportunity to make a bigger impact on the entire Middle School Program rather than in just my disciplines.

Through the years, I have seen many different teaching styles that have different impacts on students, and I have seen the benefits that all of them can bring. I have also seen where different learning styles work differently for different students. It is so important to give kids the opportunity to figure out what works best for them, which also involves giving them space to experiment through trial and error and fail safely, build back up, and have moments of self-reflection. The pedagogical autonomy afforded to BASIS Independent Brooklyn teachers allows them to provide multiple differentiated routes to the same learning outcomes, which in turn increases content accessibility for students.

You taught middle school English and French before moving into the Dean of Students Role. How did that experience inform your new position?

Coming from a teaching role to administration, I have seen the positive culture and genuine joy around learning at the school. I have seen first-hand also how what works for one student might not work for every student, which reinforced to me the importance of being able to meet students where they are to create a differentiated, supportive approach to instruction.

Tell us about the support in place for students transitioning into the Middle School Program.

We understand that every student is unique—each adjusts to change differently, has their own approach to learning, and defines success in their own way, which is why personalized Student Support is essential to the process of learning and to academic success. Essentially, we provide a range of support to our new students, and we know some students will need more supervision and guidance through a formal program. The first few months of school entail students getting used to their daily and weekly schedule of classes and homework, which may feel overwhelming at first. Our team is present to help students adapt to changes and reestablish positive habits.

Another important skill we prioritize developing is self-advocacy. When students advocate for themselves, they feel empowered to ask for help, take academic risks, and make mistakes in a supportive environment. It involves learning from mistakes and failing safely, knowing that failure is not permanent but an opportunity to grow.

Overall, finding the best way to study and approach academic challenges is a trial-and-error exercise. Our team works with students alongside their Subject Expert Teachers to build work and study habits as well as develop effective time management and organization skills. These skills are incredibly important in Middle School as we prepare students over time for our High School Program and beyond.

You just worked to establish both track and cross country teams at our school. Have you always enjoyed running and being a coach?

Yes, when I grew up cross country and track were my off-season sports. I’ve had a running club at our school as long as I’ve been here. Over time with our revamped ethos on sports where it is a greater part of the holistic student experience, we were able to evolve that club into a competitive team. Also, I recently received my USA Track and Field Level One coaching certification, and I’m excited about it.

Do you mind sharing some fun facts that families might not know about you?

When I was younger, I played hockey in the World Junior Championships for Great Britain. I had to stop playing after graduating college and moving to Brooklyn, but I would love to have time to start again!

BASIS Independent Brooklyn is a PreK– Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bears community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Celebrating Gratitude – Our November Character Theme of the Month

November 21, 2024 by jessicagrear Leave a Comment

The PNW rainy season is upon us at BASIS Independent Bellevue, which means fall is officially in the air! The weather may be gloomy, but we are taking time this month to celebrate our Character Theme of the Month – Gratitude! The American Psychological Associate defines this phenomenon as a sense of happiness and thankfulness in response to a fortunate happenstance or a tangible gift. Some additional research describes gratitude as the willingness to expand our attention so that we perceive more of the goodness we are always receiving (Pratt, 2022)

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you”; it is about appreciating the big and small moments that make life special. Studies show that practicing gratitude can improve our physical health, calm our nerves, strengthen our relationships and generate greater happiness in life (Pratt, 2022). This month, we are excited to create opportunities for students, staff, and families to embrace gratitude in meaningful ways.

On – Campus Gratitude

Mountaineer Mondays

Each Monday, during our Academic Enrichment periods, our students participate in Mountaineer Mondays. Mountaineer Monday is a time for students to start their week by reflecting on important topics and learning what it means to be a Mountaineer. This month, the focus of Mountaineer Mondays is Gratitude! Students will be engaging in grade–level activities such as writing a letter expressing gratitude for themselves and creating a tree filled with drawings of what they are grateful for.

Renewal Food Bank Food Drive

To express our gratitude to our local community, the staff and students at BASIS Independent Bellevue are holding a Food Drive for Renewal Food Bank. We are collecting nonperishable food and hygiene items to give back and help others. With the support of our School Counselor and Student Affairs team, our teachers will be having meaningful discussions with students about food insecurity and empathy during this month. Additionally, members of our National Junior Honor Society will have the opportunity to visit the Food Bank and volunteer while bringing in our school donations. We are so proud of our students for their dedication to showing compassion and care for others!

Cookies with the Counselor Notes

Every month, our School Counselor, Ms. Olivia, hosts a Cookies with the Counselor event during recess periods. This is an opportunity for students to come by and have a sweet treat with our Counselor while engaging in an activity aimed at developing Social-Emotional Wellness. This month, students will be writing cards of well wishes to accompany our donation to the Food Bank.

Staff notes

Our reflection on gratitude does not only come from our students. In the staff lounge this month, teachers have been writing down what they are grateful for on leaves and posting on the wall as a reminder to stop and reflect. Additionally, we will be hosting a Staff Potluck and providing an opportunity for the staff to gather during lunch while sharing a delicious meal.

Coffee and Cocoa

As a final show of gratitude to our campus, our Operations Team organized a “Coffee and Cocoa” event for both students and staff. A barista was sourced to come in and provide delicious, caffeinated beverages for our teachers, and yummy hot cocoa for students. It was the perfect event for the chilly fall weather!

What is our community grateful for?

We surveyed our staff to discover what our community members are grateful for this year, and to get to know them better. Check out their responses!

Ms. Grear, Director of Admissions – “I am so grateful to live in the beautiful PNW for most of the year, while having the opportunity to return home to Buffalo, NY and spend time with my loved ones for the holiday season.”

Ms. Chaffee, French Subject Expert Teacher – “I am so grateful for our students because they are energetic, motivated, and always on task. They give me new perspective when it comes to approaching culture and languages. I feel like I learn from them as much as they learn from me!”

Mr. Tyler, History Subject Expert Teacher – “Our Mandarin Expert Teacher, Ms. Pan is the best cook! She is always bringing food for the staff and I am grateful for that.”

Ms. Rakotz, Director of Academic Programs – “I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Mountaineer community. Throughout the hardships of the most recent big storm, our community came together to support one another by reaching out to each other, opening up our homes and making sure we were all safe and supported. The Mountaineer community feels like a true family that always supports each other. It is a privilege to be able to watch our students do the same.”

Mr. Pitak, Auxiliary Programs Coordinator – “I am thankful for my fiancé. We recently got engaged and we are looking forward to a bright future together.”

Ms. Campos, Front Desk Coordinator – “I am so thankful for my family. They are always there for me and support me in any way that they can. I saw them recently and we had a movie night, did puzzles and colored together. I feel grateful to have such a strong support system.”

Mr. Diambri, Associate Director of Admissions – “I am grateful for loving friends, good health, and a great place to work!”

Ms. Rieger, History Subject Expert Teacher – “I’m thankful for my coworker, Mr. Hui-Peterson. We share a room and he has been so supportive of me in my first year here. He always answers all my questions and helps in anyway that he can. It is great to have that support”

Mr. Hui-Peterson – “I am thankful for power and the internet! You don’t realize how much you take it for granted until you don’t have it anymore. The recent storm was hard on everyone and I’m so grateful we all got through it.”

Ms. PV, Math Subject Expert Teacher – “I am grateful that my extended family is coming to visit for the holiday season. We are going to have the usual holiday celebrations, but this year is extra special because I am hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law. I can’t wait to be an auntie!”

Gratitude teaches us to focus on the good in our lives, even during challenging times. By practicing gratitude, students learn resilience and empathy—essential skills for personal growth and success. At BASIS Independent Bellevue, we’re proud to nurture these qualities by modeling it in our own lives to help our students become thoughtful, compassionate individuals.

7 Phrases for Effective Communication with Children

September 26, 2024 by michaelmertes Leave a Comment

Effective communication with children requires patience and the right approach. Educators often use simple but powerful phrases to guide students, and many of these strategies can be equally helpful at home. Here are seven phrases that encourage positive behavior and foster meaningful conversations with children:

1. “If you do / If you don’t…”

For clarifying choices and consequences
Guiding children toward making good choices is more effective than attempting to forcing compliance. This phrase helps them understand what’s expected and what the outcomes will be based on their actions.

“Put your papers and lunchbox in your bag now. If you don’t, you won’t have them for school.”

“Clean your play area in the next 10 minutes. If you do, we’ll have time for a bike ride.”

2. “Help me understand.”

For encouraging thoughtful responses
This phrase shows a willingness to listen and helps shift children from an emotional reaction to a more rational mindset. It’s also a useful way to develop communication skills by having them explain their perspective.

“I hear you’re upset with your sister. Help me understand what’s going on.”

3. “Answer in your head.”

For keeping responses in check
If a child tends to shout answers before a question is finished, this phrase can help. It encourages them to think before responding aloud, which is especially useful with multiple children.

“Before you tell me what you think, answer in your head, and then let’s talk.”

4. “It seems like you’re feeling _______.”

For helping identify emotions
Sometimes a child’s emotional reaction becomes the central issue. By naming their feelings—whether it’s frustration, disappointment, or anger—they can begin to calm down and focus on resolving the problem.

“It looks like you’re feeling disappointed that your friend couldn’t come over.”

5. “What would make you feel better?”

For fostering problem-solving skills
When emotions run high, this question guides children to think about solutions. This empowers them to manage their emotions and take the next step. Younger children often benefit from a few suggestions like an offer for a hug or brainstorming solutions.

“I know you’re sad that the game is over. What do you think would help you feel better?”

6. “It looks like you need help with _______.”

For when they need to do it now.

This is especially effective for tasks your child can do 100% independently. Children like you to know they can “do it by themselves.” But there’s a big difference between can and will. This phrase can trigger them into action to show you they don’t need your help. The key here is to physically move to help them as you say this and show you mean business.

“It seems like you’re struggling with your jacket zipper. I’ll help you start it.”

7. “I’ll come back when…”

For taking a break when emotions run high
When emotions escalate, it’s important to model a healthy response. Let children know how you’re feeling, take a break, and give them a clear task to focus on while you regroup.

“I’m frustrated right now. I’ll come back when I’m calmer. In the meantime, please start putting away your books.”

Every child is unique, so it’s important to experiment with these phrases to see which ones resonate best.

Empowering Parent-Teacher Partnerships: Tips for a Successful School Year

September 25, 2024 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that strong parent-teacher partnerships are essential to student success. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about providing a nurturing and supportive learning environment and are committed to open communication and collaboration with parents.

In this blog post, our teachers offer experiential advice on how to start the school year off right. Building lasting relationships is possible with these top three tips for parents of students at any age:

Attend events
Reach out
Meet in person

Tips for Parents: Start Strong with Effective Communication from Day One

Attend back-to-school events to establish initial connections with teachers.

At the start of the year, we emphasize relationship-building within our Wildcat community! In addition to Meet the Teacher nights, we also have welcome-back carnivals at both the Upper and Lower Schools for socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.

Attending parent events has been a game-changer for me. It’s great to get to know parents and build a personal connection. This has really strengthened my relationships with families and helped me better support their children.
Mr. Smith Visual Arts SET, Upper School

Proactively reach out to teachers with questions or concerns, especially at the beginning of the year. You can share your child’s strengths, interests, and any challenges they may be facing, but be prepared to work in partnership with the teacher. Math Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Perez remembers when a parent reached out to share that their upper school student struggles with math even though they put in a lot of effort. Establishing that connection early opened up so many options for support.

This insight helped me better prepare for supporting the student, ensuring I worked with the parent to address difficulties before they became overwhelming. It also allowed me to be more understanding and patient with the challenges the student faced.
Ms. Perez Math SET, Upper School

Since our inaugural year in Fall 2022, our campus has grown in tremendous ways. One of our points of pride has always been our exceptional faculty. They are dedicated educators who are passionate about the holistic growth of our students. From championing academic successes to running after-school clubs, our teachers are on the front lines of all our students’ achievements. This year, we are thrilled to announce 12 new additions to our school community.

With this growth, a question we frequently receive is “What does the hiring process for teachers look like?” We are proud to have a robust and rigorous process for vetting our teachers well as ongoing professional development opportunities to help new and returning faculty feel confident and prepared for day one in the classroom.

The Hiring Process

A pillar of our model is to ensure that we have high standards for both our Learning Expert Teachers and Subject Expert Teachers. Achieving this means we must have an exhaustive hiring process where teachers can show us what makes them top-tier educators. Our approach includes several stages;

Candidate Sourcing: An advantage of our extensive network of schools is the ability to fill many of our roles with internal candidates. Positions are typically offered in-house first, allowing us to consider candidates with established successes within our network. When internal applicants are not available, we turn to our Talent Acquisition team, who leverage various platforms to identify and recruit premiere educators

Initial Screening: Once identified, candidates are invited to begin the initial interview and screening phase. In this stage, we are looking to see that the candidate holds exceptional credentials for their teaching role and can share with us a proven record of success in prior positions.

In-Person Interview: Qualified applicants that do make it past the first round of initial interviews then move on to an in-person interview with our Head of School, Dr. Thies. During this stage, Dr. Thies methodically evaluates a candidate’s teaching philosophy, classroom management techniques, and their fit within our campus community. She looks for teachers that demonstrate a high level of content knowledge along with a true passion for teaching that will keep students actively engaged in the learning process.

Demo Lesson: In the final stage, most candidates are asked to present a demo lesson for current students, Dr. Thies and other staff members. Oftentimes, this includes existing teachers working within the candidate’s subject area. This is a crucial stage where the hiring team is evaluating content knowledge, teaching strategies and lesson plans. We are looking for teachers that emulate the exceptional qualities of an educator at a BASIS Independent School.

Background and Reference Check: The safety and wellbeing of our students is of utmost importance. Before making any final offers to candidates, we are sure to conduct thorough background and reference checks. It is crucial that others can vouch for the same superb qualities we see during our interviews.

The Training Process

Our meticulous efforts do not end once the hiring process is complete! On the contrary, when offers are made and our new faculty are ready to join our community, we get to work onboarding them with all the tools and skills they need to deliver our internationally benchmarked curriculum at each grade level.

Summer Onboarding

Every new teacher is required to participate in a week-long onboarding process. During this week, our Head of School, and the Directors from each department in our Administration Team partner together to accomplish the following goals;

Introduce our school culture, policies, and general expectations of a BASIS Independent Bellevue staff member

Team building and making connections

Provide targeted workshops for both curriculum and instruction

Outline our SET/LET model

Allocate time for lesson planning and syllabus creation

As this week wraps up, our new teachers have begun to understand our model and campus expectations. This sets the stage for them to roll into the next week of training, where our veteran teachers join us for our In-Service, full staff training!

In-Service Training

After enjoying summer break, all faculty return to campus the week before school starts for In-Service training. Each member of our Administration Team works to prepare training courses for staff that focus on various needs within the school. These programs include comprehensive workshops on instructional techniques, best practices in classroom management, social-emotional learning and so much more!

Crucially, this week also provides our faculty with the opportunity to collaborate. Teacher collaboration is essential to creating a dynamic and effective learning environment and our school leadership prioritizes these staff partnerships during In-Service week to set the standard for the coming year. During this week together, teachers coordinate assessment schedules, share resources, and begin their lesson plans together.

This week of training reaffirms our school’s commitment to excellence and sets the stage for our teachers to continue their professional growth that we will foster throughout the school year.

Ongoing Development

Learning is a life-long process and to be a successful teacher, one must have a commitment to the on-going advancement of best practices in the classroom. This is why our professional development opportunities do not end after summer In-Service training.

Throughout each school year, our teachers have regular access to our Subject Expert Advisors (SADs) who serve as network-wide mentors for Subject Expert Teachers on campus. SADs are both experienced teachers and experts in their field and can offer teachers valuable feedback about content and instruction. In the 2023-2024 school year, our campus was proud to have Mr. Grant Norcross win Subject Expert of the Year within our network!

Our teachers also have on-campus guidance by way of our teacher mentors and our Student Affairs Team. New teachers are automatically assigned an on-campus teacher mentor who observes and guides new staff as they adjust to teaching within our program. Veteran teachers also receive regular feedback from mentor teachers who often observe and participate in classrooms. Having a frequent and positive administrative presence in the classroom helps to prepare teachers for their formal observations with our Head of School, Dr. Thies.

Dr. Thies prioritizes her presence in the classroom as early as possible. Teachers know to expect her to conduct observations as early as the first week. While this may seem intimidating to some, she emphasizes that this is a critical part of teacher development, and her priority is to offer support to help teachers grow into the best educators possible. “I am a coach at heart.” she says. “I love the fact that conducting regular observations allows me to not only see the amazing things our teachers are doing firsthand, but it also provides me the opportunity to work with them and help them continue to improve throughout the course of the school year.”

Our school leadership knows that fostering a culture of excellence within our school starts with the top. This is why we invest in the continuous and ongoing development of our top-notch teachers starting with their first week on campus. We are so proud of our faculty for their endless commitment to becoming masters at their craft and experts in our internationally benchmarked curriculum!