As a School Counselor at BASIS Independent McLean, Ms. Baig is dedicated to creating a community where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. In addition to encouraging academic success, she helps students develop the social and emotional skills needed to grow into empathetic, thoughtful, and resilient individuals.

Ms. Baig has worked in the mental health field for more than a decade, with experience across schools, hospitals, and community mental health centers. She began her career in a behavioral health hospital, where she supported children through both medication management and counseling, and later continued her work with students in a variety of settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Religion and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Temple University, as well as a Master of Social Services from Bryn Mawr College.

Outside of school, she enjoys reading, bird watching, and spending time with her husband, their two children, and the family’s lively mix of pets, including four cats and a Cavapoo puppy.

Ms. Baljee hails from a quaint town in the Himalayas of India. As one of the founding teachers at BASIS Independent McLean, she has played a key role in shaping the school’s academic culture. With over twenty-two years of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse teaching techniques to her work.
Passionate about continuous learning, Ms. Baljee believes her strengths lie in logical thinking and curiosity—qualities that guided her career path. She views mathematics not just as a subject, but as a way to understand the logic and patterns of the world, and strives to inspire and challenge students to reach their full potential.

After serving as Subject Adviser and Upper School Math Coordinator, she became Director of Academic Programs last year, continuing to advance the school’s vision for academic excellence.

Outside of academics, Ms. Baljee is a professionally trained Bharatanatyam dancer, sharing her love of this classical Indian art form with the school community and enriching its cultural life.

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.

Coming Soon!

Originally from Missouri, Ms. Clements recently moved to the DMV area from Charlotte, North Carolina. She studied art and creative writing, holding various degrees and certificates in both from Missouri Southern State University. Ms. Clements is also a professional photographer and has taught at conferences nationwide as well as at the University. In her free time, she enjoys painting, writing, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Durham grew up in the Northern Virginia area and currently resides in Oakton. After graduating from George Mason University in 2018, she has worked in various settings and is excited to join the BASIS Independent McLean family! Beyond her professional role, she is a proud mother to Jordan (4) and Josie (2), who keep her active and busy. She also enjoys following baseball and football, cooking, and spending time outdoors.

Mr. Escobar taught in a school for autism for 6 years before joining BASIS Independent McLean. He has since worked with a wide range of age groups, from elementary to high school level students who have autism， as a behavioral technician at NOVA. He is passionate about creating an environment where students feel free to express their creativity and build confidence. You can find him not only at BIM but also in nature, hiking, walking, playing soccer, and watching football.

Ms. Foley has a background in architecture and design firms, where she provided administrative support to top architects in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix. After dedicating time to her family, she is excited to bring her organizational and communication skills to BASIS Independent McLean as a Front Desk Coordinator. She holds a B.A. in Professional Writing with a minor in Intercultural Communications and is fluent in Spanish and Farsi. In her free time, she enjoys oil painting realism on canvas.

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.

Dr. Hight has spent over fifteen years teaching at the middle school, high school, college, and adult levels, as well as working in college counseling. He was a founding faculty member at BASIS Independent McLean and loves the school for its intellectually curious students, high standards, and commitment to continually growing and improving. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in history, an M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in history from Harvard. In his free time, he enjoys writing novels, playing and watching a variety of sports (go Fulham!), and spending time with his family and three dogs.

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 Grade-2 LET before becoming a Humanities SET for Grades 1 and 2. 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 School students.

Ms. Marcus is proud to serve as the Director of Operations at BASIS Independent McLean. She joined the BIM community in 2021 and has previously worked in both the Admissions Office and on the Auxiliary Programs team. In these roles, she built meaningful connections with families and students across all grade levels and developed a deep appreciation for the school’s supportive and vibrant community.

Before joining BIM, Ms. Marcus graduated from Virginia Tech and spent several years teaching Early Childhood Education before discovering her passion for school operations and administration. She finds great joy in creating systems and supporting the day-to-day work that helps students, teachers, and families thrive.

In her free time, Ms. Marcus enjoys exercising, trying new restaurants, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Ms. Orth has been teaching in the Early Childhood field long enough to have the joy of seeing many of her students graduate from college. 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 seventh year at BIM. She began her journey at BIM as a teacher and is grateful for the experiences and opportunities that have led her to continue to lead the Lower School as its Director. 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 to make people laugh, and mixed media arts. She and her husband enjoy traveling, especially to see their daughter in San Francisco.

Ms. Pernick joined BASIS Independent McLean in 2025, bringing with her over 15 years of independent school admissions and administrative experience. She has worked with a diverse range of students and families in Northern Virginia independent schools and university settings. In addition to graduating with honors from Virginia Tech, Ms. Pernick has completed post-graduate coursework through the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, and is currently pursuing her Master of Education in Leadership and Human Development with a concentration in Independent School Leadership from George Mason University.

Ms. Pernick was drawn to BASIS Independent McLean because of the world-class education the students receive in a joyful and creative learning environment. As Director of Admissions, she is committed to helping students and families find their best-fit school with the goal of enabling each student to reach their fullest potential. Ms. Pernick looks forward to sharing what makes the BIM community vibrant and special.

Outside of school, Mrs. Pernick enjoys solving escape rooms, attending theatrical productions, and trying new restaurants with her friends and family.

Ms. Qian has been in the field of education for more than 20 years. Whether teaching university courses, High School English, or third grade, and whether serving as Curriculum Coordinator, Principal, or Director of Literacy, Ms. Qian is dedicated to schools, students, teachers, and families. She believes in cultivating a culture of excellence and caring and this is what drew her to BASIS Independent McLean. She is honored to now serve as the Director of Upper School, where she looks forward to engaging with students, teachers, and families in meaningful collaboration. Ms. Qian holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Illinois, as well as advanced degrees in School Leadership and Linguistics. She has studied Literacy Education at Columbia University and is currently completing her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction through Utah State University.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, watching movies, learning to play tennis, as well as hiking, skiing, and traveling. Most important to her is spending time with her husband, their three college-aged children, and their mini golden doodle, Kai. Ms. Qian has spent many years living abroad and loves learning about the world. She is thrilled to be part of the BASIS Independent McLean community.