We are excited to announce that Mr. Gavin Pielow has been named the founding Director of Academic Programs for BASIS Independent Bothell.

Letter from Mr. Pielow, Director of Academic Programs

The most transformative lesson I ever learned wasn’t about finding answers – it was about asking better questions. I trace this insight back to my AP Government teacher, Mr. Shaw, who did something remarkable in our classroom: he taught us that the quality of our understanding depends not on the answers we receive, but on the depth and curiosity of the questions we dare to ask. 

This approach mirrors what excites me most about BASIS Independent Schools and why our educational model resonates so deeply with me. Our goal extends beyond delivering information. We aim to cultivate intellectual architects: students who learn to navigate complexity, challenge conventional thinking, and approach scholarship as an active, dynamic process of discovery. Our passionate subject expert teachers go beyond subject instruction. They guide students in developing the intellectual tools to think like mathematicians, scientists, historians, and writers. This approach creates learners who are both knowledgeable and intellectually nimble. 

I’m especially thrilled to bring this exceptional approach to education home. Growing up in Bothell just minutes away from where our new school stands, I’ve watched our community transform into a vibrant ecosystem of technological innovation and intellectual dynamism – a metamorphosis that mirrors the educational journey we aim to create for our students. Just as local companies have pioneered groundbreaking solutions, I am raring to help cultivate an academic environment that sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving.  

My journey in education has taught me that powerful learning happens when we embrace ambitious curiosity. Each role I’ve taken, from a classroom teacher working with students in challenging environments to a policy analyst examining educational systems, has reinforced one fundamental truth: education is not about filling minds, but about igniting them. This means challenging students to see beyond what is, and imagine what could be. In my view, each student is a unique constellation of talents and potential, and our job is to help them shine their brightest. 

As we prepare for our inaugural year, I’m filled with excitement about the academic journey ahead. One of my key priorities as Director of Academic Programs is to foster a learning environment that balances academic rigor with joy and discovery. I’ll be working to implement innovative programs that challenge our students while nurturing their natural curiosity. Together with our families, we’ll build an academic program that not only prepares students for success in college and beyond but also instills in them a lifelong passion for learning and discovery. 

In the spirit of the curious learners we aim to nurture, I close not with an answer, but with a question: Are you ready to join me in creating something extraordinary at BASIS Independent Bothell? I can’t wait to discover the answer together! 

Warmest regards, 

Mr. Gavin Pielow 
Director of Academic Programs