Faculty & Staff

Our Two-Teacher Model Explained

March 13, 2024 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

The Symbiotic Classroom is a hallmark element of our Primary Program, but what does that mean to a parent? How do our students benefit? We take this biology term and translate it into a successful teaching model that pairs a Subject Expert Teacher (SET) and a Learning Expert Teacher (LET). Read on to have this SET/LET relationship explained.

Imagine being back at school, sitting in a class where you already know the material, feeling like you’re “ahead” of everyone else. This is boring! Then you head to a class you don’t like, but it is only because you are struggling to understand the lesson. The teacher is going too fast! Now imagine there was a second teacher in those classes who really knows you. They recognize your strengths and provide enrichment when needed. They identify your areas of growth and provide support to help you achieve your highest potential. This approach best describes the SET/LET model at BASIS Independent Manhattan.

Meet the SET

Subject Expert Teachers (SETs) are just that—experts in their field of study—teaching classes in the subjects for which they received their degrees and are, therefore, most passionate about them. Their area of expertise is their sole focus, allowing them to concentrate on creating captivating, in-depth lessons for all grade levels they teach. Students in grades 1 and above have one SET for each discipline rather than one teacher who teaches multiple subjects.

Meet the LET

Learning Expert Teachers (LETs) span across grades 1—4 and are responsible for one class of students whom they stay with for the entire academic day. In addition to co-teaching with the SETs, LETs provide customized support in those classes, as needed. Because LETs are with just one class all day, they build trust and understanding with their students to better guide them throughout their academics.

The Benefits

Together, these expert teachers focus on building a classroom culture of social-emotional support and academic excellence. The SETs and LETs collaborate to create lesson plans that are both advanced and accessible to all students. The symbiotic relationship between these two teachers in the classroom helps provide:

Minimal distractions and maximum learning,
Flexibility for one-on-one and small group work,
An infectious passion for subjects passed on from teacher to student, and
Individualized attention on student progress and overall happiness.
At BASIS Independent Manhattan, the SET/LET relationship is at the heart of our goal to instill a lifelong passion for learning in our students.

Finding a Connection

In addition to co-teaching with SETs, LETs lead a weekly class called Connections. This course encourages students to utilize their knowledge in a creative way. Students are presented with project-based scenarios that require the use of problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration as they establish links across subjects. Connections shows our students how each subject is related to the other while gaining a deeper understanding of the material.

One of our most exciting Connections projects happens in grade 1 when students combine everything they learn about Ancient Egypt in Humanities, art, science, and engineering. The real-world connections across disciplines occur when they:

Write their name and phrases in hieroglyphs,
Construct pyramids using marshmallows and toothpicks,
Learn about mummies and recreate the mummification process with a stuffed animal and shoebox, and
Explore Ancient Egyptian culture and clothing.

Contact the Admissions Team
Should you have any questions, we invite you to explore our website, visit our school, or contact our Admissions team to learn more.

BASIS Independent Manhattan, a private school offering PreK through Grade 12, is based in Manhattan, New York. Students thrive alongside Subject Expert Teachers as they engage in a liberal arts program with STEM offerings.

Collaborative Learning, Personalized Support: Inside the Classroom with Ms. Park at BASIS Independent Manhattan

March 5, 2024 by christineklayman

For Ms. Park, teaching Grade 4 at BASIS Independent Manhattan is more than a profession; it’s a calling fueled by a passion to shape lives. In this Teacher Feature, Ms. Park shares insights into how BASIS Independent Manhattan goes beyond academics to foster collaboration, address parental concerns, personalize learning, and celebrate the unexpected in the journey of education.

How does BASIS Independent Manhattan help students develop essential life skills like collaboration, communication, and resilience?

That is what I love about this school. We prioritize holistic development, recognizing that success extends beyond academic achievements. Each day, my goal is to create a collaborative learning environment where my students engage in group projects, discussions, and activities that help develop essential life skills.

For example, we have recently been working on a unique interdisciplinary project in art and Mandarin, recreating traditional Chinese tales in stop-motion animation. The students designed and built the puppets and sets, brainstormed story sequences, and took turns at the animation station. Although the art-making process was slow, methodical, and frustrating at times, I saw the students display patience and teamwork, resulting in an impressive final project that was presented to the school.

What are some common concerns parents have about their 4th grader’s education?

I commonly hear worries about middle school readiness, including handling academic challenges and managing schedules with extracurricular activities. I am able to address these with families by providing a nurturing environment focused on individualized learning.

Having a close and collaborative relationship with parents/guardians and my co-teachers, we maintain consistent and transparent communication about student progress using the Communication Journal (known as the CJ). I also hold twice-a-week student and parent hours that provide personalized attention.

As a Learning Expert Teacher, how do you personalize learning for each student?

Differentiation is at the core of our educational philosophy at BASIS Independent Manhattan. As a LET, I’m committed to understanding each student’s unique needs and talents. I always look for opportunities to get to know my students such as engaging in morning meeting check-ins and conducting personal academic and individual check-ins during study hall. This allows me to tailor my support precisely to each student.

Additionally, collaboration with SETs is crucial, as it helps identify students who may benefit from pull-out groups for additional support. This individualized approach ensures that each student achieves their full potential.

What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned from your students at BASIS Independent Manhattan?

One of the most remarkable aspects of teaching at BASIS Independent Manhattan is the constant curiosity and unexpected insights from our students. I am astounded at the unique perspectives my students bring to constructing skyscrapers in engineering and the innovative problem-solving they use in math.

As their teacher, I love to couple that curiosity with a growth mindset and see how these students positively approach challenges. I see them use the “power of yet” to confidently navigate their educational journey, and I am thrilled to be along for the ride.

We are grateful to Ms. Park for sharing her insights that provide a glimpse into the vibrant educational ecosystem at BASIS Independent Manhattan where collaboration, personalized learning, and a celebration of curiosity combine to create a unique and enriching experience for students. Having a teacher like Ms. Park who has close relationships with students and families is a treasure, resulting in a rewarding experience of witnessing daily growth and enthusiasm.

Interested in learning more about our passionate teachers and academic program, sign up for our interest list, visit our school, or attend an admissions event.

BASIS Independent Manhattan is a PreK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings.

Wings of Inspiration: A Journey into Public Art with Carmen Recio and the Audubon Mural Project

November 15, 2023 by msnyder

In the vibrant art scene of New York City, having a public art piece comes with prestige. We are proud to share that Ms. Carmen Recio (Visual Arts Subject Expert Teacher, PreK-5) has her first artwork on display through The Audubon Mural Project, and it is on display in Washington Heights. Through a unique blend of passion, community engagement, and avian inspiration, Ms. Recio shares her experience with us, the community, and her students.

Initiation of Inspiration
In the fall of 2021, Ms. Recio participated in the Audubon Mural Project’s 5K one-of-a-kind art run that stopped at various murals where runners were met by artists and advocates who shared facts about the murals of painted birds. The inspiration went full circle as Ms. Recio first drew on this experience to do collaborative bird drawings with her grade 4-5 students, which she shared with the organizer of the Audubon Mural Project, Avi Gitler. From there, Gitler offered Ms. Recio the opportunity to paint a mural for the project.

The Artistic Process
Ms. Recio first chose an endangered bird species – the Spruce Grouse – and made preliminary sketches before transferring the design onto Polytab, a canvas-wallpaper hybrid. Days of meticulous painting followed as she used a stepstool to reach the large artwork that had to be mounted on her bedroom wall. Ms. Recio said it was a joyful project and very fun to paint. Once completed, Gitler and his team took charge of installing the masterpiece at its location on 158th St. and Broadway.

Connecting Art to Education
As an educator, Ms. Recio seamlessly integrates her artistic endeavors with her teaching. Her unit on street art empowers students to create large gridded drawings of birds. They vote on a species, measure out a grid, and piece together their drawings as a class. This hands-on approach not only fosters creativity but also imparts valuable lessons about collaboration and environmental responsibility.

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Recio has integrated real-world experiences into her teaching. Past collaborations with the Wild Bird Fund brought rescued pigeons to the school, creating tangible connections between students and the broader efforts of organizations like Audubon.

Conveying a Message of Awareness
Ms. Recio’s mural features the Spruce Grouse, a symbol of the project’s mission to raise awareness about endangered bird species. Several students and Wildcat community members have ventured to visit her artwork which helps spread a message about the impact of climate change and habitat loss on these creatures.

Through her creation, Ms. Recio hopes to inspire change in simple ways, urging people to reconsider their interactions with wildlife, from choosing appropriate bird feed to taking steps to prevent window collisions during migration season.

Our school is fortunate to have an educator like Ms. Recio who uses her passions to creatively transform art into awareness and inspire her students and the public. Stop by the mural for a photo opp and tag her @art_with_carmen and @basisindependentmanhattan to show your support of our fabulous Wildcat faculty who continue to show their passion inside and outside of the classroom!

Cultivating Excellence: Exploring the Dedicated Leadership of BASIS Independent Bellevue’s Dean of Students

September 20, 2023 by msnyder

Welcome Back, Mountaineers!

We hope this message finds you filled with excitement and anticipation as you return to school this fall throughout the PNW. As we eagerly embrace the return of the school year, BASIS Independent Bellevue is excited to introduce you to our esteemed Dean of Students, Ms. Huang. With a rich educational background and a deep commitment to nurturing students’ social and emotional growth, Ms. Huang plays a vital role in our school community.

Meet Ms. Huang:

Ms. Huang’s educational journey is a testament to her dedication to the field of education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Shanghai International Studies University, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from Washington State University, and a Master of Education from the University of Washington. Her extensive academic background equips her with the knowledge and expertise to guide our students effectively.

Ms. Huang’s Role as Dean of Students:

As the Dean of Students at BASIS Independent Bellevue, Ms. Huang has set an important goal for herself as an educator. Her mission is to form strong bonds with her students, create a secure and nurturing learning environment, guide students through their educational journey, and help them realize their fullest potential. Ms. Huang understands the BASIS model and approach and what we require that ultimately sets our students up for social, emotional, and academic well-being.

Ms. Huang works alongside Ms. Stienessen, the Director of Student Affairs. Together, their team is focused on creating a supportive community where students are willing take risks, be comfortable with failure, and develop into resilient learners.

Approach to Support:

Ms. Huang firmly believes that students thrive when they are genuinely interested in what they are learning and are motivated to explore and discover knowledge on their own.

Prior to becoming the Dean, Ms. Huang was a founding faculty member, serving as a Learning Expert Teacher (LET) for Grade 3. This experience has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of our school’s culture and the needs of our remarkable students. Ms. Huang as has three years of experience working at a BASIS Curriculum School in Arizona as a Subject Expert Teacher (SET) teaching Mandarin for grades K-4. This experience, along with her experience last year being the LET, helped her fully understand the co-teaching model. To her, it’s the best approach to help students with academic support, as well as challenging them with their potential.

“Students learn best when they are interested in the topics and wanting to learn themselves,” says Ms. Huang. “We can help make this happen by providing different types of learning, creating various activities, and providing intuitive practice opportunities.”

Outside of the Classroom:

Beyond her role as an educator, Ms. Huang enjoys spending quality time traveling with her family, indulging in mint chocolate chip ice-cream, and watching Korean dramas. These interests reflect her passion for discovering new experiences, fostering meaningful relationships, and finding joy in life’s little pleasures.

As we embark on this new school year, we are fortunate to have Ms. Huang as our Dean of Students, guiding and supporting our students on their educational journey. Her dedication to social and emotional learning, coupled with her commitment to creating a stimulating and inclusive learning environment, sets a strong foundation for a successful academic year.

Welcome back, Mountaineers! We look forward to a year filled with growth, learning, and personal development under the caring guidance of Ms. Huang and our exceptional educational team.

The Magic Behind BIF’s Operations Team

March 15, 2023 by ekugler

Behind every stunning Broadway performance or Nascar photo finish, there is a team dedicated to navigating obstacles and pushing their common vision toward realization or beyond to even greater heights. At BASIS Independent Fremont, that group is our Operations Team. From tightening the literal nuts and bolts of the school to safeguarding the health of our community, the Operations department is our figurative “man behind the curtain,” creating moments of magic for students and staff every day. We sat down with the Lower School Operations team to pull the curtain back and hear, in their own words, how this magic is made.

At the helm, Associate Head of Operations, Mr. Hinkel-Lipsker, breaks down the range of this diverse and instrumental team.

“The Operations department makes up all the parts of the school that are not primarily academically focused: the Front Office, the Facilities and cleaning crew, the Health Coordinator, technology coordination, after-school care, lunch delivery, and finances. We are also the HR department for the school, tasked with identifying and retaining world-class staff members. As the head of these teams, I like to think I constantly have my finger on the pulse of the school from all angles.”

From our students’ first moments stepping onto campus to their final waves at dismissal, Operations Team members are a constant thread throughout their day. Ms. Allen and Mx. Ansel comprise our Front Office team.

“When students and parents arrive in the morning, the Front Office is often their first stop at the school. We know waking up early and getting to school is tough sometimes, so we take pride in providing warmth and welcome to our students as they start their days,” Ms. Allen explains.

Mx. Ansel elaborates further, “Students love to stop by the Front Office for all sorts of reasons. Our team is the liaison between students and families while the kids are in school. We like to act as a home base of sorts, where students can gather dropped-off items or grab a fresh mask to wear. They’ll drop in to snag a water bottle if they’ve forgotten theirs at home. Our favorite moments are during quiet times when students drop in just to say hello or share a new joke they heard.”

At the end of the school day, students have many options depending on their academic needs, schedules, and interests.

“It is the job of the Front Office to make sure that students safely arrive at their proper location at the end of each day. This is a meticulous and ever-changing task in which we take great pride. We work hard to make sure that when a family member arrives at school, their student is exactly where they are expected to be.”

Whether our students’ attention is focused on an after-school club, upcoming STEM Festival, or drama performance, our Operations Coordinator, Ms. Michelle is there to ensure staff and students are ready for special projects and events and that their classroom supplies are well-maintained. Any time there is a class party, a new engineering project, or a classroom resource needed, she oversees the logistics to ensure the materials are ready and waiting for our students.

“When teachers request manipulatives or other classroom resources, I order and deliver the materials to the classrooms. When I see the faces of the kids light up when they catch a glimpse at their new project or activity, I get to feel a little bit like Santa Claus every week! The most exciting time is Term Project Week. The school commits a lot of resources into making this week really special and engaging for the kids, and I get to be at the center of it all.”

During the last week of the academic year, Term Projects Week, students exchange their typically structured day for a week-long interdisciplinary project developed entirely by our teaching staff based on student interests.

Just as our spiraling curriculum evolves based on advancement and student interest, so do our campus’ facility demands. Ms. Christy, our Technology Coordinator, ensures students’ and staff members’ technological needs are not just met but surpassed.

“I always look for opportunities to incorporate the newest technological advancements into our classrooms. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley, we have the best access to the newest systems. Our students are very technology-focused, and I love seeing their excitement when they see a piece of new technology. It’s a passion we share!”

“My department oversees the security of students and staff when they interact with the internet and computers, and I take pride in constantly updating and upgrading our systems to ensure the highest level of safety for our students.”

Similarly, Facilities Manager, Mr. Thorpe, tells us, “safety is always the number one priority for all departments, but especially for the Facilities team. When our community was returning to school from quarantine due to COVID-19, there was a lot of work to be done to physically prepare our students for distancing while on campus. Countless hours of planning and execution went into creating partitions, new floor plans for travel between classrooms, and of course, a rigorous daily cleaning protocol which included hydroelectric spraying.”

“All the work involved was 100% worth it because, in the end, we got to see students back in the classroom and enjoying each other’s company once again.”

As Health Coordinator, one of Mr. Nate’s roles is to communicate with the county about all COVID-19 concerns.

“Limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our school and community has been a huge task, and I am proud to get to manage the safety of our students, parents, and staff in this way.”

Mr. Nate explains, “I have a great role in our school where students see me as someone that helps them fix things and will stop to ask for help for issues beyond medical assistance. Being someone that our students can trust is very special, and I want all of our kids to know that the Health Office is a safe space.”

Mr. Hinkel-Lipsker sums it up nicely. “Our community teamed up to fight against COVID-19. We went through so many policy changes, sometimes with very little notice, but our staff, students, and families were all on the same side of “Team Safety.” Through all the hybrid schedules, distance learning, and flexibility, we were able to come back to school in the safest way possible and have grown so much more since then. I am so proud of all of us for making it to this point together as a team.”

To learn more about the Primary Program at BASIS Independent Fremont’s Lower School, click here.

BASIS Independent Fremont is a grades TK-12 private school based in Fremont, California, providing students an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum.

Teacher Perspectives: An Insight into our Classroom Culture and Environment

January 24, 2023 by msnyder

When you step into a BASIS Independent Bellevue classroom, you know you are somewhere different. There is an energy in the classroom with students eager to learn and Subject Expert Teachers who are excited to teach students to love their discipline as much as they do.

BASIS Independent Bellevue opened fall 2022, and the sixth campus to open in the BASIS Independent Schools network. As a school new to the area, many families are curious about the classroom dynamic and teacher difference. We recently sat down with Mr. Tyler, a History Subject Expert Teacher, to articulate the classroom and teacher difference for families, and bring to life our learning community. From their teaching strategies to their personal insights, our teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

This school year, Mr. Tyler teaches middle school world history and Grade 4 history. He is new to the BASIS Independent Schools family and offers a fresh perspective on how he and his peers ignite the fire, soul, and mind of their students.

Who is a BASIS Independent Bellevue Student and what are their characteristics?

Mr. Tyler: What stands out to me about our students is that they are not only advanced learners; they are more than I expected. They have an itching to dig deeper and expand their learning into real avenues and apply their learnings in real ways. They always have a drive to complete their work and go beyond what is expected to expand the connections in the world around them. They have a ton of curiosity, and this is so rewarding as a teacher. My classroom slogan is “Come in with a smile, work hard, and leave with a smile,” and my students are equipped to do just that. They themselves want to discover what they are made of and that excites me each day in the classroom.

What stands out about the BASIS Curriculum?

Mr. Tyler: Our curriculum is aligned with the skills needed to take on high level content, which we provide. Our students are prepared for the Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum that is utilized in our High School Program, as they will already have the fundamental thinking skills from their time in our middle school, which are needed to excel in college related content, such as the AP curriculum provides. The BASIS Curriculum is balanced in focusing on both liberal arts and STEM, and teaching students deep content within history. The curriculum is also collaborative in nature, which allows students to create connections and motivate them to step away from memorization of facts to developing historical content knowledge skills.

Who is a BASIS Independent Bellevue teacher?

Mr. Tyler: All of the Learning Expert Teachers (LET) and Subject Expert Teachers (SET) at BASIS Independent Bellevue are not just experts in their field but also do an exceptional job of passing their knowledge down to their students. The teachers continuously collaborate between Subject Advisors at other campuses across the BASIS Independent Schools network, and in the Primary Program, between LETs and SETs. The teachers are willing to make it happen, they believe in the model, and no teacher is too much of an expert to learn from one another. Everyone is open and willing to learn and this partnership between the teachers is what builds collaboration.

How would you describe the classroom dynamic and culture?

Mr. Tyler: It is not just that we have an advanced curriculum, but we have a learning culture that brings it to life. Teachers and students push each other in productive ways, which helps the expansion of the curriculum. We owe so much of the success to teachers and students; they create an environment where everyone is at their best and students needs are met. Each co-hort of students is supportive. What is also unique to our culture is that the competitiveness is focused on ‘wow isn’t it incredible I can achieve this,’ versus a pursuit for the top score.

We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our teachers, and are excited to share their stories and perspectives.

BASIS Independent Bellevue, a private school, opened with Grades 2 – 7 to start and will add a grade level each school year as we expand to a full middle and high school (Grades 5 – 12).