Ms. Baljee hails from a quaint town nestled in the Himalayas in India. As one of the founding teachers at BASIS Independent McLean, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the academic culture of the institution. Ms. Baljee views mathematics not just as a subject but as a gateway to exploring the intricacies of nature, logic, and the world around us. Her mission is to “inspire, motivate, and challenge her students to realize their full potential.” With more than twenty-one years of experience utilizing a wide range of teaching techniques in her classroom, Ms. Baljee also serves as the Subject Adviser for the network and the Upper School Math Coordinator at our school. This year, she will be stepping into the role of Director of Academic Programs.

In addition to her passion for inculcating the love of learning, Ms. Baljee is a professionally trained Bharatanatyam dancer, an ancient Indian classical dance form. She continues to share her love for dance with the community at BASIS Independent McLean, enriching the lives of those who share her enthusiasm for this beautiful art.

With a B.S. in Special Education from James Madison University, Mrs. Brown joined the admissions team at BASIS Independent McLean in 2015 before the school opened the tours in the fall of 2016.

Mrs. Brown is passionate about the BASIS Curriculum, educating prospective students and families, and giving them a tour of the fun and learning happening on campus.

As Director of Admissions, her goal is to fill the school with great students and families who love to learn. Mrs. Brown also sponsors the Student Ambassador program for Grades 5-12 students who help Admissions by sharing their Red-Tailed Hawk stories with interested students and families.

A great day is when a prospective parent calls and says, “I am thinking of sending my child to BASIS Independent McLean…”

Those who know Mrs. Brown know the most important thing to her and her husband of over 40 years is their family, which now includes eight grandchildren. She is also active in her church and loves Jazzercising, hiking, biking, and a good home improvement project—which usually involves a paintbrush!

Ms. Carroll grew up in Northern Virginia and attended college at Virginia Tech. After graduating, she began her career in the office at the Primrose School of Downtown Bethesda. Given her involvement in numerous sports and clubs during her upbringing, Ms. Carroll is very excited to be the go-to person for clubs and sports at BASIS McLean. Outside of work, she enjoys running and spending time with her friends and family.

American University, B.A. in Psychology | American University, M.A.T. in Elementary Education.

Ms. Chirlin grew up in Northern Virginia and has worked with children for over 25 years in school and extracurricular settings. Life took her family on a six-year detour to Australia, where she enjoyed the beautiful views, unusual wildlife, and a more relaxed lifestyle. When Ms. Chirlin is not at school, you can find her spending time with her kids, planning their next vacation, or biking on a local trail. She has visited 30+ countries and 40 U.S. states.

George Mason University, B.A. in Elementary Education

Prior to joining BASIS Independent McLean, Ms. Flores taught in a Montessori school in New Zealand, where she holds dual nationality. The pandemic brought her back to the stateside, allowing her to venture into new opportunities. She has since worked with a wide range of age groups, ranging from preschool students to the college level where she was an English tutor at NOVA. She is passionate about creating an environment where students feel free to express their creativity and build confidence. You can find her not only at BASIS, but also in nature, hiking, and traveling/exploring with her husband.

Ms. Fors is a licensed Qualified Mental Health professional for children and adults with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field doing everything from in home counseling to school counseling, including several years of individual and group counseling overseas. She holds a BA in psychology from George Mason University, and is currently working on two Master’s degrees from George Mason University in School Counseling and in Clinical Mental Health. For the last two years, she worked with schools in Southern Virginia bringing awareness and training on social/emotional/mental health needs to teachers and administrators in the public school setting. She brings a wealth of experience and training in multicultural, trauma, and education based counseling. She is a mom of four children, and they are my heart and joy.

Mr. Garcia is the facilities manager at BIM and takes pride in being a part of the organization. Originally from El Salvador, he spent 15 years working in various roles, including appliances, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. With 23 years of residence in the Tysons Corner area, Mr. Garcia is a dedicated member of the community. He has a strong passion for soccer and is an avid fan of his favorite player, Lionel Messi. Outside of work, he cherishes spending quality time with his family whenever the opportunity arises.

Ms. Goldsmith moved to Northern Virginia ten years ago from Alabama with her husband and daughter, and they love the NOVA area. After spending several years as a preschool teacher, she is returning to the administrative field. Outside of work, Ms. Goldsmith loves traveling, especially to the beach, and spending time with her family. She spends most of her spare time taking walks with her family and sitting at the ice rink, watching her daughter figure skate. She is thrilled to join the Basis Independent McLean team and greet visitors, students, and staff as they enter the building.

Associate Degree in Education, Xi’an Normal University, Xi’an, China | Ms. Guan is a monitor in the Pre-K1 program and she has been with BIM since 2022. She has a wealth of experience working with and teaching children of various ages. Before joining BIM, she spent six years teaching Chinese Language (Mandarin) at Hope Chinese School (Annandale, VA) for students of 1st to 6th grade, and was recognized as one of the best teachers. She also taught Chinese Language including grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, composition, literature, and essay writing to students from kindergarten to 6th grade in China before coming to the US. Ms. Guan has a lovely family of five. Her two daughters are both in Langley High School, her son studies in Virginia Tech, and her husband practices Civil Engineering. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, jogging, hiking, and traveling.

Ms. Kabir is originally from Bangladesh and completed her GED there. She has been living in this country for nearly 19 years. She worked as an extended-day aide for 5 years in Arlington Public School and has 7 years of experience working with children, including those with special needs. Additionally, she has worked as a professional nanny. She is proficient in four languages: Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu. For her future education, she plans to pursue an IT course to change her profession. Ms. Kabir has a 16-year-old son whom she loves spending time with. She enjoys photography, art, and her favorite subject is history. She also has a passion for driving and hiking. One day, she aspires to move to a more remote location to live.

Smith College, BA in Psychology | Smith College, MAT in Elementary Education | Ms. Kushner started teaching first, second, and third grade at the Campus School of Smith College in Amherst, Massachusetts before relocating to New York City and teaching at BASIS Independent Manhattan. She started in the classroom as a second grade LET before becoming a Humanities SET for first and second grade. She contributed to the Curriculum Team as a Subject Advisor for Humanities teachers across the network, in addition to coaching new teachers as a Teacher Mentor for two years. Ms. Kushner then crossed over to the administrative side and became the Director of Lower School. In Manhattan, she led the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee and created the Anti-Bullying and Inclusion Workshop Series for middle school students. It’s her goal to foster meaningful relationships and partner with families to ensure students develop the tools to work through academic and social-emotional challenges. In September, she made the move to the Washington, D.C. area and is spending her time settling into her new home. She also enjoys sharing her love of Taylor Swift with the middle schoolers.

Meet Ms. Lee, an education professional passionate about fostering inclusive communities. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hue University of Art, specializing in silk painting and screen art, she has been in the U.S. since 2012. During this time, she has held roles in early childhood education and administration, showcasing expertise in data analysis, project management, and community development. Ms. Lee’s dedication extends beyond work to community-driven initiatives. She balances family life with biking, hiking, cooking, and painting with her two young boys.

Ms. Lewis was born and raised in Queens, New York. She received her B.S. in Liberal Arts from Excelsior University and her M.A. in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her career in college admissions and student services spans five states and nearly a dozen colleges, including the University of San Francisco, University of Colorado, Boulder, and Pace University in New York City, where she most recently worked as a Career Counselor. Ms. Lewis is excited to join the College Counseling team and looks forward to helping students and parents navigate the college admissions journey. When she is not reviewing essay drafts or advising students, Ms. Lewis can be found exploring her new environs in northern Virginia.

Ms. Marcus brings a background in both Early Childhood Education and Special Education to BASIS Independent McLean, having worked extensively both in the classroom and in administrative roles. After graduating from Virginia Tech, she began her career as a lead teacher at the Virginia Tech Child Development Center of Learning and Research. Following this, she transitioned to Northern Virginia, where she gained experience on the administrative side of another local school. However, it was at BASIS Independent McLean that she discovered her passion for placing exceptional students in outstanding educational environments.

Since joining BIM in 2021, Ms. Marcus has held various roles, initially serving as the Admissions Coordinator and then as the Auxiliary Manager. This year, she returns to admissions as the Associate Director of Admissions and is eager to connect with and welcome incoming families.

Ms. Orth has been teaching in the Early Childhood field long enough to have the joy of seeing many of her students graduate from high school. Prior to coming to BASIS Independent McLean, she lived in Gunnison, Colorado, working with 4-year-olds and preparing them for their transition to Kindergarten. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood minor from Wisconsin Lutheran College. This will be her fifth year at BIM. She previously taught PreK-1 and PreK-2, and was the Dean and Director of ELP. She is looking forward to continuing to build community within the Lower School and supporting an environment where students, families and teachers are able to have their needs met to be the best we can be. When not at school, she loves to sing, being on stage making people laugh, and mixed media arts. She and her husband enjoy traveling, especially to see their daughter in San Francisco.

Ms. Purnell is a Philadelphia native, who fell in love with the DMV when she attended Howard University. Ms. Purnell’s love for children sparked while serving as a camp counselor every summer until she graduated. After graduation she furthered her work in education with DC Public schools, while serving as the operations coordinator for a national touring company. Over the last couple years, she served as an assistant program director for a non-profit organization where she rekindled her passion for working with children. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, listening to music and planning trips for her friends and family. Ms. Purnell is ecstatic about her new position and cannot wait to utilize her skills on our team.