Leadership

BASIS Independent Schools, a globally recognized network of private schools celebrated for exceptional outcomes, is proud to announce that Ms. Apra Singh will lead BASIS Independent Dublin as its founding Head of Operations. Ms. Singh strives to prepare well-rounded, curious, and thoughtful students – students who advocate for themselves and others, contribute meaningfully to the community at large, and are well-equipped to succeed in college and beyond.

We sat with Ms. Singh to discuss her vision and goals for the future BASIS Independent Dublin community.

What is your vision for BASIS Independent Dublin, and how do you plan to implement it?
My vision for BASIS Independent Dublin is to create and foster a school culture rooted in collaboration, respect, academic rigor, and excellence.

Bringing this vision to life will require a team effort. Our goal is to hire exceptional Subject Expert Teachers and staff, enroll enthusiastic students, and foster strong partnerships with families. I believe that through hard work, collaboration, and adaptability—and by staying committed to our true north of student-centered decision making—we will achieve this vision together. 

My hope is that BASIS Independent Dublin becomes a landmark in the community and is a space for all stakeholders – students, staff, and families to feel like they belong.  

You’ve held this role before. What does a typical day look like for a member of Operations?
The truth is, there is no such thing as a “typical day” in Operations. The work is dynamic, fast-paced, and ever-changing—no two days are exactly alike. As Head of Operations, you serve as the figurative “person behind the curtain,” ensuring that every aspect of the school runs seamlessly. While every day is different, what remains the same is my connection and commitment to being a supportive presence in the lives of our students.  

The Operations Team oversees a wide range of critical functions, including human resources, staff recruiting, health and safety, facilities management, campus maintenance, tuition and finance, re-enrollment, and the day-to-day logistics that keep the school functioning smoothly. It’s a role that requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and a constant focus on supporting the broader mission of the school as well as every individual in our community.  

How do you define operational excellence in a school setting?
Operational excellence in a school setting means creating and maintaining systems that allow every member of the community to thrive. It is defined by the ability to deliver consistent, efficient, and proactive support across all areas of school life, including facilities, staffing, safety, communication, finance, and daily logistics. 

At its core, operational excellence means a commitment to continuous improvement, responsiveness, reliability, and collaboration. When operational excellence is achieved, it’s often invisible because everything simply works. But its impact is deeply felt in the learning environment it helps create. 

What role do extracurriculars play in the social and emotional wellness of our students?
Extracurricular activities are an essential part of student life and play a significant role in supporting students’ social and emotional well-being. They provide an opportunity for connection, self-expression, and personal growth outside the classroom.  

At our schools, we offer a diverse range of opportunities, including academic, athletic, artistic, leadership-focused, and everything in between. Whether a student likes to build robots, debate the pros and cons of Daylight Saving time, or paint a mural for the drama club’s latest production, there truly is something for everyone! 

Through these programs, students build friendships, develop confidence, strengthen communication and teamwork skills, and often feel a sense of belonging and purpose.  

Additionally, many of our clubs are student-initiated and student-led, providing valuable leadership and organizational experience. By empowering students to design and manage their activities and events, our extracurricular program becomes a true reflection of the passions, interests, and personalities of our student body. 

How do you plan to ensure that staff and families feel supported by your Operations Team?
To ensure that staff and families feel supported by the Operations Team, my approach will be rooted in proactive communication, responsiveness, and a commitment to continuous improvement. I believe that the primary purpose of Operations is to support the broader school community, and that begins with building trust through transparency, consistency, and follow-through. 

Strong relationships with students, staff, and families are the foundation for creating and implementing effective systems—whether for ordering supplies, aftercare, clubs, or daily arrival and dismissal. My goal is for the Operations Team to foster a collaborative, solution-oriented culture and to be a reliable, approachable resource that families and staff feel confident turning to for support. 

I also recognize that with any new school or initiative, there is always room to grow. I am committed to partnering with families and staff to reflect, adapt, and improve as we shape a thriving school community together. 

This past year, you were part of Spring Education Group’s Leadership Academy. How do you feel this experience prepared you for this new role?
The Leadership Academy was a transformative experience that challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone. The academy allowed me to explore the intricacies of running a school within our organization and provided me with the knowledge and tools to do so successfully.  

Through this experience, I gained valuable insights into important areas of operational excellence, including human resources, finance, communication, leadership, talent acquisition, data analytics, enrollment, legal compliance, and more. 

The Academy provided me with a strong foundation, a practical roadmap for success, and I’m very excited to apply what I’ve learned as we launch BASIS Independent Dublin. 

Tell us of your proudest moment during your time with BASIS Independent Schools. 
The past five and a half years have been the most rewarding of my career, filled with countless proud moments shared alongside my fellow educators. One moment that stands out above all others was the graduation of our first-ever cohort of seniors at BASIS Independent Fremont, a milestone that represented more than four years of preparation, perseverance, and collective effort. 

I remember sitting on stage, looking out at our graduates, many of whom I had known since middle school, and feeling overwhelmed with pride and love. It was an incredibly emotional day for all of us, and the joy we felt in celebrating their achievement was truly unparalleled. Every time these students come to visit us from their prestigious college programs, we are reminded of how far they have come and all the work they put in to get there! 

To stay connected with us as we share news about our campus and upcoming events, we invite families to submit an inquiry form to join our interest list.

BASIS Independent Schools, a globally recognized network of private schools celebrated for exceptional outcomes, is proud to announce that Dr. Helen Min will lead BASIS Independent Dublin as its founding Head of School. With a deep commitment to academic excellence, Dr. Min brings a wealth of experience in teaching, leadership, and curriculum development to lead this new community.

We sat with Dr. Min to discuss her vision and goals for the future BASIS Independent Dublin community.

What is your vision for BASIS Independent Dublin, and how do you plan to implement it? 
I hope to build on the rigor and excellent programs built at existing Bay Area campuses such as Fremont and Silicon Valley, while being responsive to the specific needs of the Dublin community. It’s essential for students to have a balance of academic rigor, extracurriculars, and social-emotional support. The most important foundation for a new school is the leadership and faculty, and that’s where we will begin – by building a strong and talented team of administrators and Subject Expert Teachers to establish BASIS Independent Dublin. 

How would you describe your leadership style, and how do you adapt it to meet the needs of different groups (students, faculty, parents, etc.)? 
I would describe my leadership as collaborative. I strive for transparency and to share decision-making when possible and credit where it is due. That said, I also strive to take responsibility for what happens and reflect and learn when mistakes happen. I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other, and while listening and collaboration take time, the outcome is worth the investment. With the different stakeholders and groups in a school community, it’s important to be responsive, but I will also rely on and work together with my team and staff to serve our community. It is important to remember that no one person stands alone when they represent a community. 

What are the key values that should drive a school’s culture, and how do you foster these values in your community? 
To me, key values that underpin the culture of a successful school are mutual respect and care for one another, curiosity and critical thinking, a love of learning, and a growth mindset for our students and for ourselves. While our students are certainly academically ambitious and high achievers, we also want to recognize and reward their efforts to build community, to look forward to being part of something bigger than themselves, and to take ownership in their learning. An important way to foster these values is to build and reinforce the culture together – leadership, faculty, families, and students – and to hold each other accountable in a supportive way. 

How do you plan to balance academic excellence with the emotional and social well-being of students? 
Academic excellence and the emotional and social well-being of students go hand in hand. For three years, I was the Director of Student Affairs at the BASIS Independent Fremont Lower campus, and when a student was struggling academically, we would approach this challenge from all fronts – helping them develop better executive functioning skills, independence, and accountability in their learning process, while also providing support and reinforcement for their academic learning. You really can’t have one without the other. We look for every opportunity to build on the practices of making good choices and reflecting on one’s growth and behavior, both in and out of the classroom. For older students, it’s also critical to involve them as the drivers of their learning. At the BASIS Independent Fremont Upper campus, students lead a lot of the after-school clubs, and this is a great way to foster their own interests and to give them agency in their own school experience. I’d like to continue this practice. 

How do you plan to involve parents in the life of the school and ensure open lines of communication with them? 
It is a typical pattern that parent involvement in school drops off as students get older. We also see that with older students, they may not tell their parents too much about what’s happening to them at school. It’s important to bridge this gap by creating opportunities for parents to be on campus to celebrate their students during school events, ceremonies, and competitions. It’s also essential to have a strong connection between parents and faculty, so that our Subject Expert Teachers proactively reach out to parents to keep them informed about their child’s learning, and parents and families, in turn, feel that they can reach out to them with questions. We also want to build the skills of self-advocacy and independence with students, so they are also taking the initiative to communicate with their teachers and families as well. 

Are there any particular school traditions you are excited to implement at Dublin? 
I look forward to cultural celebrations from our community, such as Diwali and Lunar New Year. Our parents contribute greatly to these celebrations, and there are many joyful and fun moments. I’m also excited for Spirit Week, Art Festival, performing arts events, Project Week, Senior Projects, and more! It’s truly special to see our community members come together in this way. 

Tell us of your proudest moment during your time with BASIS Independent Schools. 
One of my proudest moments at BASIS Independent Fremont was the grade 5 graduation at the end of my first full school year. I had headed the planning of the event and party for families and staff after, and it was such a wonderful way to conclude my first year as part of this community. It is truly wonderful to share a moment of such pride, celebration, and excitement with students and parents as they transition to their middle school years.  

To stay connected with us as we share news about our campus and upcoming events, we invite families to submit an inquiry form to join our interest list.