We are thrilled to introduce to you to Mr. Roberto Escobar, who will be our Subject Expert Teacher (SET) for Music as well as Band and Orchestra. In grades 2–5, students will take music classes each week, and starting in grade 6, students can select Band and Orchestra as their elective.
Mr. Escobar says, “I am looking forward to joining BASIS Independent Bellevue and passing along my knowledge and passion for music to students!”
We hosted a Q&A session to get to know Mr. Escobar. Check out the full interview below to learn more.
We are excited to introduce Mr. Grant Norcross, one of our middle school math Subject Expert Teachers (SET). Mr. Norcross will teach Algebra I/Geometry and Algebra II/Geometry.
“I look forward to the start of the school year this August,” expressed Mr. Norcross. “Mathematics has undeniable connections in everything we do. I am excited to share with students how to solve complex problems in mathematics, and how to carry this skill into their other disciplines.”
We sat down with Mr. Norcross to ask a few questions and introduce him to our community.
We are overjoyed to introduce the Learning Expert Teacher (LET) for our grade 2 students, Ms. Rebecca Cauthorn! Primary students will have a different Subject Expert Teacher (SET) for each course much like in the Middle School Program; however, in grade 2, students will travel as a cohort throughout the day accompanied by their LET. The LET is an expert in taking a pedagogical approach to learning, and they are responsible for determining how content is best delivered to students to ensure that the lessons are appropriate while providing as much support as needed.
We hope you enjoy the following Q&A session where we learn more about Ms. Cauthorn!
Join us in welcoming Ms. Alex Hinton, our Humanities Subject Expert Teacher (SET) for grades 2 and 3! In these grades, students will travel as a cohort to each course led by a different SET, one of which will be Humanities. The Humanities class will feature integrated coursework in history and English, deeper content in classics, and will also focus on the societies that have shaped the current day.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Hinton to learn more about her teaching experience, her goals for her future students, and the student skills she plans on developing throughout the school year.
We are excited to announce another fantastic Subject Expert Teacher will be joining our team at BASIS Independent Bellevue! Dr. Rob Pulliam will serve as our Grade 6 and 7 Physics SET, Algebra I/Geometry SET, and Grade 5 Science SET during the 2022–2023 school year.
Dr. Pulliam, or Dr. Rob as students call him, joins us from BASIS International Guangzhou. He currently teaches courses from Grade 7 Physics to Advanced Placement Physics (AP Physics 1), an elective in Astrophysics, and a capstone course in Structural Engineering.
We had a fascinating conversation with Dr. Rob learning about his time as a space meteorologist and his vision for the classroom. Read our Q&A below for more on his story.
Join us in welcoming Ms. Pan Feliz, one of our Mandarin Subject Expert Teachers! In our Primary Program, grades 2–4, students are required to take Mandarin as their World Language. This class will feature two Mandarin Subject Expert Teachers to accommodate all learning levels. In grades 5-6, students take Latin, but come grade 7, students have the choice to select Mandarin as their World Language among French, Latin, and Spanish.
BASIS Independent Schools students continue to prove they are the future leaders of our generation. This year, graduates across our entire network of schools—from New York City and the Washington, D.C. Metro Area to California—achieved notable acceptances to some of the top colleges and universities not only in the U.S., but across the world.
It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce to you our grade 4 Learning Expert Teacher (LET), Mr. Matthew Glenn! Present in grade 2–4 classrooms, LETs are masters of the learning process and prioritize the social-emotional growth of their students. They accompany their group of students all day from class to class, working in tandem with each Subject Expert Teacher (SET) to offer extra support and guidance. Mr. Glenn is excited “to be part of the BASIS Independent Bellevue founding legacy and cannot wait for school to begin this fall!”
We are thrilled to introduce our Performance Arts Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Christopher Mullens.
Mr. Mullens is moving from Colorado, where he is currently a second grade teacher, to the Pacific Northwest to teach Performance Arts for grades 2-7 in our founding year. On starting at BASIS Independent Bellevue this fall, he expressed, “I hope my students are excited to bring their own creativity, passion, and voice to my class, and that they’re ready to collaborate and learn while having fun!”
We had the opportunity to connect with Mr. Mullens to discuss his history and experience. We hope this helps our families learn more about him and his passion for the performance arts!
It brings us great joy to introduce to you Mr. Mickaël Drouet, our founding year Spanish and French Subject Expert Teacher! At every grade level, BASIS Independent Bellevue students will take a World Language class—starting with Mandarin in Primary. In Grade 7, middle school students will be able to choose between taking French, Latin, Mandarin or Spanish.
Follow our Q&A session with Mr. Drouet to learn more about his background and passions.
Inspired by the blissful feeling of uncovering connections, our blog Eureka! Bellevue is about sharing moments that capture the essence of what it is to be a BASIS Independent student, teacher, administrator, or family.