Valley Vibe spoke to the head of the new North Phoenix charter school about the opening of the new campus on the west side of Anthem.
VV: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?
Kennedy: I am originally from the Midwest, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue University and began my career teaching kindergarten. Seeing the gap in education policies and student achievement, I went back to school for a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on reading and English Language Learners. In 2018, my family decided to trade the snow and wind of Chicago for the Arizona desert, and in that transition, we found BASIS Charter Schools. First, my sons attended as students, but I quickly fell in love with the rigor of academics at BASIS, and the immense support of students. I found myself back in the kindergarten classroom within a few months of the school year. I’m now in my sixth year with the BASIS Charter Schools network; I’ve been a kindergarten teacher at BASIS Phoenix Central and BASIS Peoria Primary, Director at Building Blocks Preschool in Scottsdale, Director of Academic Programs for BASIS Peoria Primary, and now serve as the Head of School at BASIS Phoenix North.
Outside of my career, I am a wife of 14 years and mom to two amazing boys. I enjoy family hikes with our pup, board game nights, and simply floating in the pool to escape the desert heat. Spending time with my family is my truest joy, but when I need a bit of quiet, I also enjoy reading and crochet.
VV: What are you most excited about in opening this location here in the North Valley?
Kennedy: I am equal parts excited and humbled to have the opportunity to open a new chapter in the BASIS Ed story. I truly believe that BASIS Charter Schools offer something special and unique—and our students’ and network’s success is evident through 26 school years. BASIS Ed is widely recognized as being the best of the best—and BASIS Phoenix North is simply an extension of this well-oiled machine.
As Head of School, my primary goals revolve around creating a sense of community among our students, families, teachers, and staff, while also creating an elevated learning environment where students achieve big goals. BASIS Phoenix North is the 23rd BASIS Charter School in the state of Arizona; you can expect us to bring exactly the same in terms of student support and academics from such an established network. But we also have the advantage of being a small, close-knit campus in our founding year. We ask a lot of our students at BASIS—we teach content that is at times a grade level advanced, or more, in a fast-paced curriculum. Yet, with only 200 students and 20 teachers and student support staff, we are primed to offer an educational experience unlike other schools. Our educators are in a position to truly connect with each student and family, creating a place where students can feel welcome and supported, as they achieve academic success.
VV: What message would you give families who may be interested in BASIS North Phoenix this late in the enrollment process?
Kennedy: I always encourage interested families to apply at any point in our timeline; enrollment is a very fluid process, and I would love to give everyone the opportunity to have the educational experience that BASIS Phoenix North has to offer.
VV: What is the teaching model like at BASIS at the elementary level?
Kennedy: BASIS uses a co-teaching model in grades K-3, as well as specifically hiring teachers for subject areas, instead of generalized teaching positions. So, at any grade level, students interact with upwards of six different teachers throughout the day. We believe that for students to succeed at BASIS Charter Schools and BASIS Phoenix North, we need to support them in ways that are unmatched elsewhere.
VV: What are your overall expansion/growth plans for the North Phoenix campus?
Kennedy: The new K-5 campus is the perfect location for us to establish ourselves in Anthem/North Phoenix, but we will outgrow the physical space allowed in this building. Next year, we plan to move down the road to the [middle/high school] building next to the post office. We will be able to make some renovations there to both give it the “BASIS Ed feel,” and also allow us the space to continue our growth in the area. We want the opportunity to offer multiple sections of every grade level, as well as add a grade each year until we are a full K-12 school.
By Valley Vibe Staff Writers