Leadership, Administration & Staff

Service-oriented and eager to help, our leadership, administration, and staff are champions of the school community. While their key focus is supporting the teachers in the classroom, they work hard to ensure every student and family has a positive experience. Whether they are the front-and-center, visible faces of our school or the unsung, behind-the-scenes heroes, leadership, administration, and staff are invaluable in upholding our culture and values.

Looking to get to know our unmatched, expert teaching faculty? Explore our teaching philosophy and meet the educators that bring it to life every day.

Ms. Amore

Front Office Coordinator, Upper School Campus

Ms. Amore

Front Office Coordinator, Upper School Campus

Mrs. Amore is a Front Office Coordinator at BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School Campus. Her goal is to be a welcoming presence to all students, parents, faculty, and visitors, and to be a positive representation of the BASIS Independent Brooklyn family.

Mrs. Amore was very impressed with the team she met during the interview process, including Head of School Hadley Ruggles. “I did not know very much about BASIS Independent Brooklyn at the time, but the more I researched and learned about the school, the more I wanted to be a part of the team.”

Mrs. Amore graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY) with a Bachelor of Science degree. When not on campus, Mrs. Amore is a member of a local Christian rock band as a singer and guitarist. The band sings at select services throughout (the Roman Catholic churches of) Brooklyn and Queens. Mrs. Amore also enjoys travelling with her husband, especially visiting the different regions in Italy.

Ms. Bono

Dean of Students, Gr. 4-5

Ms. Bono

Dean of Students, Gr. 4-5

Ms.Bono is currently the Dean of Students for Grades 4-5. She has been teaching for nine years in many grades ranging from kindergarten to grade 5. For the past four years, Ms. Bono has taught first-grade Humanities at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She was also the Subject Adviser for BASIS Independent Schools for both first and second-grade Humanities.

Ms. Bono attended the University of South Florida where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with endorsements in reading and English for speakers of other languages. She continued her studies at the University of South Florida where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education. She earned her master’s degree in Exceptional Student Education involving working with a wide range of students.

“I am honored to be a part of the amazing BASIS Independent Brooklyn team and transition to a role within the administration,” said Ms. Bono. “During the last few years, I have proudly watched my former students develop into curious young scholars. I am excited to continue to support them in my new role as Dean of Students.”

In her free time, Ms. Bono likes to play in the park with her husband and Australian Shepherd. She also loves visiting her family in Florida and keeping up with her classical singing.

Mr. Brauch

College Guidance Coordinator

Mr. Brauch

College Guidance Coordinator

Mr. Brauch brings with him not only years of experience helping students through the college application process but also first-hand experience with elite colleges and universities.

He graduated from Harvard University with his master’s degree in education and received his bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College. Upon graduation from Harvard, Mr. Brauch moved to China to teach academic writing and composition at a top university. After teaching, Mr. Brauch accepted an opportunity to counsel Chinese students on their college options, working on a cross-cultural team and meeting with students from various high schools to guide them through the college application process.

In the United States, he has worked as the College Counselor at the Latin School of Chicago, and most recently, as an Academic Advisor and Assistant Director of Admissions at International Education Opportunities, an organization that helps bring and support international students as they transition to U.S. independent and Catholic high schools along the East Coast. Through his most recent position, prior to joining BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Mr. Brauch met one-on-one with various students daily to speak about their assignments and course selection. He also provided additional college counseling support to international students and expertise to independent school counselors who were unfamiliar with international students as they relate to and are evaluated in the college process.

Mr. Brauch was attracted to BASIS Independent Brooklyn for several reasons, namely the mantra of “Education Redefined.” He explains, “BASIS Independent Schools are unique in that they provide an extremely rigorous academic environment for students to challenge themselves and excel past the barriers of a traditional American education. At the same time, our school in Brooklyn also maintains and promotes a very supportive and collaborative environment in which to grow and learn.”

Mr. Brauch brings his individualized approach to BASIS Independent Brooklyn, working with students one-on-one to learn about their collegiate and post-collegiate aspirations and helping to make the college process less arduous. “I am very excited to learn about students as they develop their interests and help guide them as they take the first steps towards researching and applying for college,” he says.

Ms. Brown

Health Coordinator

Ms. Brown

Health Coordinator

We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Tia Brown to our Health Office at the Upper School campus. She joins us with 14 years of experience in pediatrics, and she loves working with children. Ms. Brown is very excited to work with all our Bears.

You can reach Ms. Brown through our Health Office email at healthoffice@basisindependent.com.

Ms. Burton

Medical Office Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Ms. Burton

Medical Office Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Ms. Burton joins our Lower School Campus as a Medical Office Coordinator. She graduated from New York University and continued her studies at NYU to obtain a master’s degree in public health.

Ms. Burton shared that her goal is to care for the health and wellness of children. She also plans to collaborate with faculty to promote student health and well-being and connecting with parents to address the health needs of their children during the school day.

Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Head of School, Lower School Campus

Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Head of School, Lower School Campus

Ms. Cameron is a Brooklyn native who has devoted more than 20 years of her life to education. During her educational tenure, Ms. Cameron assumed an array of roles ranging from classroom teacher to Director of Academic Programs, Admissions, and Student Affairs. She currently serves as Head of School for BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Lower School campus opening at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn.

“Cultivating love and excitement for learning in the foundational years of a child’s educational experience is key for sustained passion and success as students advance in their educational journeys,” shared Ms. Cameron. “I am honored that I have the opportunity to assist in shaping a school culture that thrives on the joy factor being present every day in every classroom!”

Ms. Cameron graduated from Virginia Union University on a full academic scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the area of interdisciplinary studies/K-8 education. She continued her studies at Strayer University where she received a Master of Business Administration with a focus in leadership management. After graduating, Ms. Cameron devoted 15 years teaching in the Henrico County Public School District where she received the honor of being the 1st Year Teacher of the Year, Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, and the Gilman Award Teacher of the Year finalist.

What excites Ms. Cameron most about serving as Head of School for the Lower School is the opportunity to work closely with the amazing teaching faculty, internationally-acclaimed curriculum, and build a wonderful community here in Brooklyn. BASIS Independent Brooklyn is committed to educating the entire child beyond the basic, traditional academic disciplines, and Ms. Cameron believes that educating the whole child is what truly prepares young people for success.

One of the main philosophies that drew Ms. Cameron BASIS Independent is the shared vision of students achieving more than what is generally expected of them when the proper systems are in place.

In her free time, Ms.Cameron enjoys attending poetry lounges, writing plays, and discovering local small businesses to support.

Ms. DeCrosta

Associate Head of Operations, Lower School Campus

Ms. DeCrosta

Associate Head of Operations, Lower School Campus

Ms. DeCrosta is the Associate Head of Operations BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Lower School Campus. Her goal in this role is to build upon the existing safe and welcoming environment at the Lower School and enrich the experience through the school years to come for students, faculty, and staff.

Ms. DeCrosta graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in urban planning and architecture along with journalism and mass communication.

Ms. DeCrosta felt the Director of Operations role was a great fit for the next step in her career, as she worked as a Real Estate developer and operator throughout the New York Metro Area from 2005 to 2020. She was formerly a member of the development executive team that constructed and operated City Point, which is now home to our Lower School Campus.

Outside of school, Ms. DeCrosta is a long-time resident of Carroll Gardens who enjoys stopping by the local farmers market alongside her two daughters and husband. She spends much of her personal time at Prospect Park, as she is an active board member of the Prospect Park Alliance.

Ms. Ellerton

Director of Admissions

Ms. Ellerton

Director of Admissions

Ms. Ellerton is the Director of Admissions at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. When Ms. Ellerton first stepped foot inside BASIS Independent Brooklyn and met the faculty and staff working here, she knew that she had found a community with a mission and team that she would love to support.

As Director of Admissions, Ms. Ellerton’s goals are to make our admissions process warm, open, and educational for every family. She hopes to gain insight into each applicant’s unique personality, and demonstrate to families the many reasons why the BASIS Independent Brooklyn community and curriculum are so fantastic.

Ms. Ellerton graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in chemistry. She spent much of her time at Macalester in the pool, where she was a captain of the water polo and swim teams. She proudly holds school records in both sports, and was nationally ranked twice in water polo.

Ms. Ellerton spends her time baking, knitting and reading. She can often be found playing trivia around New York City (even though she rarely wins) or swimming in the Red Hook Park Pool!

Ms. Forde

Director, High School

Ms. Forde

Director, High School

Ms. Forde graduated from Williams College with her bachelor’s degree in history and classics, and she was honored as a Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellow during her years on campus. She received her master’s degree from the University of London and her post-baccalaureate from Bryn Mawr College. She also pursued coursework ranging from anatomy to cellular and molecular biology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Medical School, and Georgetown.

After obtaining her degrees, Ms. Forde worked in clinical research at the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine. She co-authored two research publications on anxiety while at the university. After a few years in the clinical research setting, Ms. Forde decided to switch careers to education.

Ms. Forde previously worked directly with elementary and middle school students on their reading literacy and mathematics ability in preparation for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Program. Later she focused on literacy coaching for 6th and 8th grade students with the ExpandEd schools system, a nonprofit dedicated to its mission of closing the learning gap by increasing access to enriched education experiences. Her work with ExpandEd involved improving reading comprehension, facilitating student discussion, and developing critical thinking skills. At this time, she also began to enjoy leading afterschool clubs, including Yearbook. Most recently, Ms. Forde coordinated, developed, and facilitated interactive workshops and activities for Global Kids while continuing her work as a literacy coach for 6th and 8th grade students.

Ms. Forde joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn because she is passionate about instilling the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to develop young individuals into successful adults who make key contributions to the world. Since 2017, she has led middle school World History classes and in 2019, a senior Capstone Class on the History of Medicine. Ms. Forde also leads the Model UN team on campus.

When not in class, Ms. Forde enjoys knitting, traveling, baking, and creating puzzles.

Ms. Goldfarb

Director of Communications

Ms. Goldfarb

Director of Communications

Ms. Goldfarb’s passion for communications is exceeded only by her love for a school she has come to adore as a parent. She spent more than 20 years leading communications programs for some of the largest healthcare brands in the world at top New York City public relations agencies. Ms. Goldfarb also served as Parent Association president of her daughters’ elementary school before transferring them to BASIS Independent Brooklyn. That volunteer position gave her insight into ways smart, creative communications could help strengthen a community of parents, teachers, and administrators.

Ms. Goldfarb began her career at WPP’s Ogilvy Public Relations followed by Cohn and Wolfe, where she rose from Senior Associate to the level of Senior Vice President/Group Director of the Healthcare Practice. She was offered the chance later in her career at Biosector 2 to co-lead the largest account in the healthcare public relations industry at the time. The account took her team across the country educating people on COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Ms. Goldfarb and her agency teams won PR Week’s “Healthcare Campaign of the Year” in 2011 (Biosector2 for DRIVE4COPD) for that account in addition to many other industry honors. She had also won that award in 2001 while at Cohn & Wolfe for the “Allegra-Everest Expedition.”

Prior to changing professional focus to grow BASIS Independent Schools in New York City, Ms. Goldfarb ran her own communications consultancy focused on healthcare, consumer, and non-profit clients.

“My desire to lead up communications at BASIS Independent Brooklyn comes from my experience with the school as a parent. Both my daughters come home inspired by their teachers daily. The teachers at the school and the curriculum are second to none. I want to help BASIS Independent Schools take root here in NYC, so other families can benefit from the difference in instruction offered.”

Ms. Goldfarb earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Duke University graduating cum laude.

Mr. Goldman

Dean of Students, High School

Mr. Goldman

Dean of Students, High School

Mr. Goldman attended Boston University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in American history and continuing his study of history and education at the graduate level, earning a Masters of Arts in teaching in social studies education. Since college, he has presented original research at the International Country Music Conference at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and published articles on U.S. History.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to support our high school students and school community in my new capacity as dean this year. In my A.P. U.S. History course, I remain deeply committed to the exploration of inclusive narratives and strive to engage my students in relevant, rigorous, and analytical work to give them the skills and knowledge base necessary to play an active role in shaping our society and political discourse,” says Mr. Goldman.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. Goldman was a recording and touring artist for a half-decade with the band Steel Train. He had the privilege of working and traveling with many talented friends and artists—once even filming a music video in Hawaii. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Goldman can now be found proudly pushing a stroller through the streets of Brooklyn with his wife and son.

Ms. Goodin

Dean of Students, Middle School

Ms. Goodin

Dean of Students, Middle School

Ms. Goodin received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Montclair State University, and a master’s degree in K-8 multiple subject education, with a concentration in policy and administration from Loyola Marymount University. She completed her master’s degree while serving as a Teach for America corps member in Oakland, CA. Ms. Goodin is currently entering her eleventh year in education, and she has previously worked as both a Learning Expert Teacher (LET) and Humanities/English Subject Expert Teacher (SET) at the primary school level. During her years as an English Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Goodin enjoyed working with her colleagues across the BASIS Independent Schools network as a Humanities Subject Advisor as well as a trainer at BASIS Summer Institutes.

“I look forward to entering my second year as Middle School Dean of Students, and the opportunity to support many of my former students in achieving their unique academic and personal goals,” says Ms. Goodin. “I am also excited to continue to co-advise our school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter, which has been a wonderful way for members of our student body to contribute to their school and local community.”

In her free time, Ms. Goodin enjoys experimenting with new recipes, spending time outdoors, staying active, and exploring the city.

Mr. Harmon

Head of School, Upper School Campus

Mr. Harmon

Head of School, Upper School Campus

Mr. Harmon is the Head of School for BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School bringing more than a decade of experience as a teacher in both high school and middle school. For the past three years, Mr. Harmon has led our Middle School program, supporting teachers, students, and families.

Mr. Harmon received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University with a major in Greek and Latin and a minor in English. He began his teaching career in central Ohio where he taught English and coached basketball. He then took his teaching career abroad to a private school in Istanbul, Turkey, where for five years he taught English Language Arts, helped to develop an AP English program, and began to develop an AP Latin program.

Joining our school first as an English and Latin Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Harmon was excited by the vision, rigor, and breadth of the BASIS Independent Brooklyn educational experience. He has since helped grow and strengthen our middle school program in the Dean and Interim Director roles on the Student Affairs team prior to assuming the Associate Head of School.

“I’ve always found comfort and inspiration at the opportunity to watch students grow. As an Associate Head of School, I am excited to be able to watch this growth occur more broadly by returning to work with my former students currently in the high school while also continuing to support our middle schoolers as they make the transition to high school themselves. I also look forward to bringing the same passion I’ve brought to Middle School supporting students, teachers, and families to our broader BASIS Independent Brooklyn community.”

While education is his passion, Mr. Harmon also enjoys traveling, listening to music, and biking with his son Elliott (BIB ’35).

Mr. Horn

Technology Coordinator

Mr. Horn

Technology Coordinator

Mr. Horn is the Technology Coordinator for BASIS Independent Brooklyn. He joined the campus three years ago after working with Arizona BASIS Curriculum Schools. Mr. Horn is the site Information Technology Specialist helping staff, faculty, and students at the school.

Mr. Josephson

Associate Head of Operations, Upper School Campus

Mr. Josephson

Associate Head of Operations, Upper School Campus

Mr. Josephson is the Associate Head of Operations at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. His goal is to improve the success rate and quality of life for all students and faculty through strengthened resources and collaboration. For the past five years before joining our school, Mr. Josepson managed operations for a Brooklyn-based restaurant supplier and an education contractor. In the latter role, Mr. Josephson worked alongside numerous private and public schools on the East Coast. Since 2017, he has also taught Asian Studies at CUNY – City College of New York.

Mr. Josephson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin with a double major in legal studies and political science and a minor in criminal justice. For seven years after graduating, Dan taught and directed operations in private K-8 schools in South Korea and Taiwan. He received his Master of Arts in Asia – Pacific Studies from National Chengchi University.

Mr. Josephson chose BASIS Independent Brooklyn because he too believes in cultural responsiveness and combining learning methods from multiple countries to achieve a truly ideal education.

Mr. Josephson enjoys nature, art, music, museums, sports, TV, film, reading, and writing. He loves being an uncle and trying to be a foodie.

Mr. Kaponyas

Dean of Students for Gr. 1-3, Upper School Campus

Mr. Kaponyas

Dean of Students for Gr. 1-3, Upper School Campus

Mr. Kaponyas is excited to return to BASIS Independent Brooklyn as the Dean of Primary Program for Gr. 1-3. Mr. Kaponyas’ goal as a Dean is to inspire students to learn, grow, and excel. He is looking forward to students experiencing significance, belonging, and fun at BASIS Independent Brooklyn.

Mr. Kaponyas went to Hunter College for his undergraduate work and studied English literature. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with cum laude honors. Mr. Kaponyas returned to Hunter College to complete his graduate work in early childhood education (Birth-2nd Grade). Mr. Kaponyas has continued his professional development and is now a certified Responsive Classroom educator.

Mr. Kaponyas chose to join BASIS Independent Brooklyn in 2017 because it aligned with his own teaching philosophy, one that recognizes the great potential young children have to learn. Mr. Kaponyas first became interested when he heard about the school’s coteaching model from a BASIS Independent Brooklyn parent. This parent described the rigorous curriculum for her daughter, and her daughter was ecstatic to be so challenged academically, while her teachers took the time to develop a strong trusting relationship.

As a native New Yorker (originally from Queens and now living in Brooklyn), he is ecstatic to be a part of the BASIS Independent Brooklyn community. During his free time, Mr. Kaponyas enjoys spending time with his loved ones, surfing, reading, traveling, and going for long bike rides through Prospect Park.

Ms. De Leon

Director of Student Affairs, Lower School Campus

Ms. De Leon

Director of Student Affairs, Lower School Campus

Ms. De Leon was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She received the Gates Millennium scholarship and attended Brown University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in elementary teaching. After twelve years teaching and curriculum consulting, Ms. De Leon decided to transition to administration as the Director of Student Affairs at the Lower School Campus.

As Director of Student Affairs for the Lower Campus, her goal is to cultivate productive and positive relationships with teachers and families so that all students can achieve at their highest levels. “At our Lower Campus, every moment that the kiddos are working in their classrooms they are deepening their curiosity, building their resiliency, and thinking critically about their world. This strong foundation sets them on a path to not just be personally successful but also to be a part of the success of their global community. I am eager to be a part of their journey and support them at every stage of accomplishing their goals.”

Outside the classroom, Ms. De Leon enjoys running half marathons, biking around all the boroughs, and exploring all the cultural spaces that New York City has to offer with her husband and two children.

Mr. Mandeville

Director, Middle School Program

Mr. Mandeville

Director, Middle School Program

From the very first day BASIS Independent Brooklyn opened to students, Mr. Mandeville stood apart as a leader among our faculty. He shaped our French program from the middle school years through high school, including a very popular Senior Capstone class exploring French literature. For the past several years he also served as the French Subject Expert Advisor across all BASIS Independent Schools. Mr. Mandeville has always been passionate about the role teachers play in opening the world to young minds, making it accessible, and helping all students recognize their importance and potential as its citizens. Now he is excited to lead our Middle School Program in collaboration with Dean Holly Goodin.

Mr. Mandeville received his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude with a double major in letters and French from the University of Oklahoma in 2010. During his master’s program, he received a scholarship to participate in Middlebury College’s summer Russian program, which he completed in 2012. In 2014, he received his master’s degree in French literature from the University of Oklahoma, and he was formally recognized for excellence in teaching by the University Provost.

“BASIS Independent Brooklyn offers unique autonomy to its teachers, which allows them to explore and present lessons from different angles. Imagination is key to true mastery of a subject, and our school proves the amazing results that come when students are encouraged to creatively interact with their lessons,” Mr. Mandeville says with pride.

As an avid runner, Mr. Mandeville’s time outside of the classroom is often spent finding new running trails through the city or practicing yoga. He loves exploring the cultural marvels of New York City and reading fine French literature.

Mr. McKnight

Auxiliary Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Mr. McKnight

Auxiliary Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Mr. McKnight steps into the role of Auxiliary Coordinator at our Lower School. He graduated from The Pennsylvania State University and then received his Master of Public Administration from Bernard M Baruch College.

Mr. McKnight’s goal is to provide students with robust and engaging clubs, activities, and events that are both educational and fun.

When he is not working with the Auxiliary team to develop great programming, he is watching documentaries and going for walks in the many beautiful green areas of New York City.

Ms. Miller-Sims

Associate Head of School, Upper School Campus

Ms. Miller-Sims

Associate Head of School, Upper School Campus

Ms. Miller-Sims is the Associate Head of School at our Red Hook Campus, and she looks forward to supporting all her students and faculty to achieve at their highest level in a joyful environment.

Ms. Miller-Sims graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was a modern language major studying both Italian and French. While an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Padua, Italy. Ms. Miller-Sims later attended the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University where she received a Master of Arts degree in foreign language education. Ms. Miller-Sims received a Master of Science degree in general and special education grades 1–6 from Touro College.

Ms. Miller-Sims first joined the faculty at BASIS Independent Brooklyn as a Learning Expert Teacher for the Primary School because she wanted to be an integral part of a community with a strong culture of learning and curiosity.

“While it is always a difficult choice to leave the classroom, I am excited for the new challenges that moving into an administrative role will provide. During my time as a teacher, I saw how crucial having an excellent, supportive admin team is to the success of a school, and I am excited to bring a fresh perspective to my role as Director of the Early Learning and Primary Programs.”

Outside of school, Ms. Miller-Sims enjoys exploring new cultures both inside New York City and by travelling to other cities and countries. She also loves taking her dog for long walks in Prospect Park.

Ms. Persaud

Director of Operations, Upper School Campus

Ms. Persaud

Director of Operations, Upper School Campus

Ms. Persaud is a Director of Operations at BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School Campus. Her goal is to focus on the backstage magic of the day-to-day operations so that teachers can focus solely on the education and social-emotional health of our students.

Ms. Persaud received her Bachelors of Arts in English at Stony Brook University, where she was awarded both the Shin Ming Hu Student Leadership Scholarship as well as Student Leader of the Year.

What drew Ms. Persaud to our school was the robust and quality education for students. “BASIS Independent Brooklyn offers students a lot of opportunities to explore a variety of subjects. I love how they incorporate world travel and languages, such as Mandarin into their curriculum. It gives the students an opportunity to learn about cultures that are not their own.”

Mrs. Persaud enjoys spending free time with her husband and two children (ages 7 and 11). She enjoys knitting, baking, and reading. Over the summer Mrs. Persaud took up jogging as a hobby and is currently learning to play Fortnite with her son.

Ms. Puello

Academics Program Manager, Lower School

Ms. Puello

Academics Program Manager, Lower School

Ms. Puello is the Academic Programs Manager for our new Lower School campus. She previously served as an Assistant Curriculum Coordinator at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the City University of New York City College.

Prior to joining BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Ms. Puello served as the Director of Operations at “CUNY in the Heights” where she managed the office, supervised a staff of 15, focused on collecting data and distributing reports, and ensured completeness and accuracy of all lists and files. Prior to CUNY, Ms. Puello spent more than 13 years working at Riverdale YM-YWHA after-school program rising from a counselor to assistant to the director all while attending school.

Mr. Runyon

Director of Academic Programs

Mr. Runyon

Director of Academic Programs

Mr. Runyon returns to BASIS Independent Brooklyn as the Director of Academic Programs. Previously he served as the Director of Academic Programs for both BASIS Independent Manhattan and BASIS Independent Fremont. Before moving from Brooklyn to Fremont three years ago, Mr. Runyon worked in our Admissions Team and helped to grow our school in its early years.

Mr. Runyon hails from the University of Oregon where he received a bachelor’s degree in romance languages as well as journalism. His entry into academics came through teaching ESL abroad. Mr. Runyon received his teaching certificate in Florence, Italy in 2011, and taught in Tokyo, Japan soon after. Upon moving to New York in 2012, he became an English teacher at Embassy English in Chelsea. Mr. Runyon was promoted to become the Associate Academic Manager in 2013, where he oversaw teacher scheduling and academic compliance, and he was promoted to become Student Services Manager in 2014 where he oversaw student wellness, visas, and school operations.

Says Mr. Runyon, “BASIS Independent is extremely high achieving and has a faculty and student body that are committed to excellence. It’s the kind of team that you really want to be a part of.”

When he’s not on campus, Mr. Runyon enjoys playing basketball around Brooklyn, reading, and practicing foreign languages. He loves traveling (he’s lived in Japan, France, and Italy)!

Ms. Rusk

Curricular Coordinator

Ms. Rusk

Curricular Coordinator

Ms. Rusk graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and international affairs. She went on to pursue her master’s degree in international education at New York University. Before joining BASIS Independent Brooklyn, she worked in Student Services at an English Language School with international students. Previous to that she taught English as a Second Language in France and Azerbaijan.

As a Curriculum Coordinator at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Ms. Rusk is excited to be working in a place with such passionate and supportive staff and teachers. BASIS Independent holds students to high standards, and the school creates an environment where these standards are achievable.

“I was drawn to BASIS because of the emphasis on education held to international standards,” said Ms. Rusk. “The focus on STEM, liberal arts, and foreign languages create a truly well-rounded education.

In her spare time, Ms. Rusk enjoys traveling, trying new foods and restaurants as well as exploring the city.

Ms. Smith

Assistant Curricular Coordinator

Ms. Smith

Assistant Curricular Coordinator

Ms. Smith first joined our BASIS Independent Brooklyn community as a parent and then transitioned to work as a consultant for our Admissions Team. Now she joins our Academic Programs Team as an Assistant Curriculum Coordinator.

After graduating from Baruch College with a bachelor’s degree in information systems, Ms. Smith moved to New Jersey to work as an analyst at AT&T. She soon returned to New York to work in finance and technology, beginning as a program analyst at Salomon Brothers. After experience at several major securities firms and traveling abroad to support clients in Europe and Asia, she settled at Bear Stearns as an Executive Director in equities and derivatives technology.

After almost 20 years in the industry, Ms. Smith decided to switch gears and devote more time to family life. When her son approached elementary-school age, she experienced first-hand the daunting process of touring schools, from private to public, trying to find one that was a right fit for her family. She was very excited after reading an article in the paper about BASIS Independent Brooklyn and attending an information session on campus. Ms. Smith and her husband were happy to discover a school with a unique academically rich program with passionate teachers!

“I am thrilled to have found a school community where both families and faculty share a common goal of teaching our children the passion to learn. My son comes home every day with a wealth of new knowledge and is excited to share his day. I wanted to be part of a school that is committed to helping each student reach their potential.”

Ms. Smith and her family now reside in Boerum Hill. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring the neighborhood, attending baseball games, and being an occasional tourist in the city she loves!

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas

Admissions Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas

Admissions Coordinator, Lower School Campus

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas is excited to step into the role of Associate Director of Admissions for our Lower School Campus. Before joining our school, she was a program administrator at New York University as well as a teacher at the Blue School. Earlier in her career, she worked in Pre-College Student Services at Columbia University.

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas graduated from SUNY New Paltz and worked at the school as a research assistant for several years investigating the learning outcomes of the engineering design thinking process.

Ms. Vereen

Director of Auxiliary Programs

Ms. Vereen

Director of Auxiliary Programs

Ms. Vereen is the Director of Auxiliary Programs at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She joins our school from Wellesley College where she served as a community director. Ms. Vereen graduated from York College in Pennsylvania and went on to pursue her master’s degree in education at the University of Vermont. While in graduate school, Ms. Vereen was honored with the Richard F. Stevens Outstanding Graduate Student for Vermont State. She also wrote for several publications within The Vermont Connection.

Ms. Vereen’s main goal at BASIS Independent Brooklyn is to center the beauty of joy and wellness within the student experience. She is excited to work with students in this capacity to provide them fun and exciting moments that they will never forget.

When she is not at work, Ms. Vereen enjoys trying new restaurants all throughout New York City, baking some sweet treats, writing, and taking her puppy on walks!

Meet our Team
Attend an Event

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Ms. Amore

Ms. Amore

Ms. Bono

Ms. Bono

Mr. Brauch

Mr. Brauch

Ms. Brown

Ms. Brown

Ms. Burton

Ms. Burton

Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Ms. DeCrosta

Ms. DeCrosta

Ms. Ellerton

Ms. Ellerton

Ms. Forde

Ms. Forde

Ms. Goldfarb

Ms. Goldfarb

Mr. Goldman

Mr. Goldman

Ms. Goodin

Ms. Goodin

Mr. Harmon

Mr. Harmon

Mr. Horn

Mr. Horn

Mr. Josephson

Mr. Josephson

Mr. Kaponyas

Mr. Kaponyas

Ms. De Leon

Ms. De Leon

Mr. Mandeville

Mr. Mandeville

Mr. McKnight

Mr. McKnight

Ms. Miller-Sims

Ms. Miller-Sims

Ms. Persaud

Ms. Persaud

Ms. Puello

Ms. Puello

Mr. Runyon

Mr. Runyon

Ms. Rusk

Ms. Rusk

Ms. Smith

Ms. Smith

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas

Ms. Velazquez-Rojas

Ms. Vereen

Ms. Vereen

Meet our TeamAttend an Event

Meet our Team
Attend an Event