Ms. Covert holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UC Davis and a master’s degree in bioanalytical and physical chemistry from the University of the Pacific. She spent nearly a decade in the industry as a leader in her field, serving as a senior scientist and laboratory manager in Global Agriculture, before returning to academia. 

As an educator with experience teaching at the university level, Ms. Covert has seen many bright students struggle with college-level materials, unprepared for the rigors of undergraduate education, and strive to live up to their full potential. This experience set her on the path to improve the education of our younger generations, to help better prepare them for college. According to Ms. Covert, the best way to minimize this gap is to intercede our learners during their pivotal years. Combining her experiences in both universities and as an industry leader allows Ms. Covert to drive these students to succeed in their future goals as the “movers and shakers of their generation.” Ms. Covert first joined BASIS Independent Schools as a Subject Expert Chemistry Teacher at Fremont Upper School.  

“Paul Brandt once said, ‘don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.’ Our students are incredibly bright and curious. They deserve the opportunity to excel, but they cannot do it alone.” Says Ms. Covert on her teaching philosophy. “It is on us, as educators, to help propel those young minds on a course of knowledge, curiosity, and success. If we can provide the tools and help them connect their real-life experiences to what they are learning, there is no stopping them.” Ms. Covert is proud to be a founding member of BASIS Independent Dublin.

Ms. Covert loves to read, play video games, and spend quality time with her husband and daughter.

What excites you most about helping build a brand-new school from the ground up?

I am very excited for the opportunity to join the BASIS Independent Dublin founding faculty. I look forward to contributing to the development of the school’s academic vision and culture from its very beginning. Being part of the creation of a brand-new school is incredibly exciting and will be deeply rewarding.

How does your background in the industry influence the way you teach and connect with students?

In addition to my teaching career, I spent more than seven years as a senior scientist and laboratory manager with Kraft Heinz’s Heinz Seed division.

My time in industry has a huge impact on how I teach and how I connect with students. Working as a senior scientist and laboratory manager showed me what science looks like outside of a classroom – how experiments are designed to solve real problems, how teamwork matters, and how persistence is just as important as intelligence. I bring those experiences into my lessons by sharing real-world examples, explaining how the concepts we study are actually used, and helping students see that what they’re learning has purpose beyond a test or a grade.

Because I’ve worked both in industry and in schools, I can relate to students who are still figuring out what they want to do. I talk openly about different career paths, the skills that matter most, like communication, problem-solving, and curiosity, and how mistakes are part of the process. My goal is to make science feel relevant, approachable, and exciting, and to help students see themselves as capable thinkers who could one day be the scientists, engineers, or innovators solving real-world challenges.

What lessons from BASIS Independent Fremont will you carry into this new role?

While I am enthusiastic about this new chapter, I acknowledge that leaving BASIS Independent Fremont was a very difficult decision. I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional group of colleagues and teaching truly remarkable students. Change is really hard, but it can also be an opportunity. That’s what I’m taking into this new role – change is hard but good. Change allows us to grow.

BASIS Independent Dublin is a Grades 6 – 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the BASIS Independent Dublin community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.