Mr. Runyon is an experienced school leader within BASIS Independent Schools, and he has shaped the trajectory of both new and established schools since joining the network eight years ago. Mr. Runyon is the inaugural Head of School at BASIS Independent Bothell after serving as the Associate Head of School at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, a Preschool–Grade 12 private school with a lower and upper school. While in Brooklyn, Mr. Runyon was critical to rolling out a school climate assessment, leading professional development for faculty, and introducing a new social-emotional learning program celebrated by teachers. His time at BASIS Independent Brooklyn coincided with the school’s recognition as the Best K–12 Private School in Brooklyn according to Niche.com.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‍‍‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‍‌‍​‌​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​‍​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

“Curiosity is essential in creating a positive school environment,” said Mr. Runyon. “The BASIS Curriculum encourages curiosity from an early age, as inquiry is at the center of everything done throughout the primary years. Then, we provide the opportunity for students to dive deeply into their interests as they progress through middle and high school. However, it is only through rigor, joy, and support that our students can thrive. Those elements working together are the engine of our curriculum. That connects to what I want to do here in Bothell. I want this to be a place where students and educators come to grow and reach their potential.”

Previously, Mr. Runyon oversaw Academic Programs for both BASIS Independent Brooklyn and Manhattan. He was also the Director of Admissions at BASIS Independent Fremont. Mr. Runyon has been instrumental in the growth of both new and established schools within our network across departments, so he is uniquely well-equipped to open and build our BASIS Independent Bothell school community.

In July 2024, Mr. Runyon received his Master of Science in Education in Independent School Leadership from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. “My experience at Penn has broadened my vision of what a school can be to its community. I am excited to bring what I have learned to help make BASIS Independent Bothell into one of the best schools in Washington.” Mr. Runyon graduated from the University of Oregon with two Bachelor of Arts degrees: one in Journalism and the other in Romance Languages, with a French and Italian focus.

As an educator, Mr. Runyon is a strong believer in the results that come from an international perspective. His career in education began with teaching English abroad to students of all ages, before teaching English as a second language to secondary and post-secondary students in New York.

Mr. Runyon was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and is excited to be back in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and young son. He is a devotee of local sports and is always happy to talk about the Mariners, Seahawks, or Trail Blazers. Don’t hold his Duck fandom against him. He enjoys running, and playing Jeopardy! (he insists he will be a contestant one day), and hiking through parks and forests with his family.