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.

Our upper management works to foster an unparalleled learning environment, keep the campus running smoothly, set the tone of our culture, and ensure that students and teachers alike receive the support and encouragement they need to excel.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Ms. Shari D. Cameron

Ms. DeCrosta

Ms. DeCrosta

Mr. Harmon

Mr. Harmon

Mr. Josephson

Mr. Josephson

Ms. Miller-Sims

Ms. Miller-Sims

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Meet our Team
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