Middle School Teachers

Expertise that Inspires

There are many ingredients in the recipe for student success, but none more important than an incredible teacher. All middle school classes are led by Subject Expert Teachers (SETs), who are a hallmark of the BASIS Curriculum. SETs are professionals with degrees or years of experience in the subjects they teach and the skill and care necessary to make complex material accessible to students. With different SETs for each subject, students grow under the mentorship and expertise of poets, musicians, actors, engineers, chemists, mathematicians, and more.

Meet
the Teachers

Mr. Adams

Latin

Mr. Adams

Subject Expert Teacher Latin

Mr. Adams is a Latin Subject Expert teacher in the Middle School Program at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. Previously, he was a Latin Teacher at a private school in Manhattan, where he taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade for the past two years.

“Latin is not a dead language – it is the parent of the Romance languages, and still very much serves as the basis in terminology for many present-day careers. The irony that this most classical of Classical subjects is not best served by the Classical teaching model, which treats students as tabulae rasae, is not lost on me; but as Latin was once a living language it is best taught in an environment that recognizes the humanity of its learners.”

Mr. Adams graduated from Trinity University and spent years in academic publishing followed by archeological research. He returned to college as an adult, receiving two master degrees – one in Art History with an emphasis on cultural heritage preservation from Rutgers University, and a Masters in Adolescent Latin Education from Hunter College.

Mr. Bedes

French

Mr. Bedes

Subject Expert Teacher French

Mr. Bedes is a French Subject Expert Teacher in our Middle and High School Programs. He brings more than a decade of experience in language instruction. Previously, Mr. Bedes was a French language teacher for three years at the French Institute Alliance Francaise. He also taught French to middle and high school students at Wuhan Foreign Languages School. Before that, he taught Spanish to tenth and eleventh-grade students at a high school in Saint-Orens-de-Gameville, France.

Mr. Bedes graduated with high honors from Sorbonne University with a master’s degree in languages, literature, and foreign cultures. He was born and raised in France, so he is a native speaker.

Mr. Bohanan

Music

Mr. Bohanan

Subject Expert Teacher Music

Mr. Bohanan is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in K-12 Instrumental Music Education and will receive his master’s degree in Museology this spring. Mr. Bohanan has worked in both public and private education settings throughout Oklahoma as well as New York State, and he serves as the Band teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. At the Upper School campus in Red Hook, he teaches general music, jazz band, and chamber ensembles.

As an educator, Mr. Bohanan uses modern and classical repertoire to engage students in building characteristic tone, technical fluidity, and a demonstrated mastery of music theory on their selected instrument.

Mr. Bohanan currently plays Principal Bassoon with the Brooklyn Symphony. He has previously performed with the Band of Long Island, Long Island Wind Ensemble, and the Oklahoma State University Orchestra, Choir, and Band Programs. One of his favorite performances was performing with the Oklahoma State Wind Ensemble at the 2016 Band Master’s Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan. When he is not performing, Mr. Bohanan can be found outdoors, camping, or reading a book with his dog Leo.

Mr. Budisin

Latin

Mr. Budisin

Subject Expert Teacher Latin

Mr. Budisin received his Bachelor of Arts in classics from Williams College, post-baccalaureate in classical languages from the University of Pennsylvania, and master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma. Matt’s scholarly work explores the relationship between ancient and modern philosophy.

Mr. Budisin is a Latin teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn and applies his training in philosophy, philology, history, and pedagogy to bring Latin back to life for his students. The study of Latin can be thought of as a compass to orient an educated young person around the liberal arts, or an entryway into the study of not just the arts and humanities, but the social and natural sciences as well.

Mr. Budisin chose to work at BASIS Independent because of the tremendous potential and talent he sees in the students and the incredible spectrum of experience, knowledge, ability, and vision that his fellow colleagues bring to their work with students. He wishes to contribute a positive part to this work.

Outside of school, Mr. Budisin is usually reading and doing research, but also cycling, cooking, exercising, traveling the world and exploring, painting, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Ms. Bunkers

Science

Ms. Bunkers

Subject Expert Teacher Science

Ms. Bunkers is excited to return to BASIS Independent Brooklyn team as a Subject Expert Teacher in our Science Department, and she looks forward to nurturing an environment for students where curiosity and creativity in all subjects can flourish.

In 2012, Ms. Bunkers graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Oberlin College. During her undergraduate career, Ms. Bunkers worked in laboratories both in Ohio and Chicago, participating in research in subjects varying from invasive species to oral cancer. In 2011, Ms. Bunkers had the opportunity to travel to Australia where she worked with Landcare Australia, rehabilitating natural habitats and providing botanical illustrations for their book about native Australian plants. Ms. Bunkers joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn in 2017.

Ms. Bunkers was drawn to the beauty of BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s facilities, but more importantly, the dedication of its teaching faculty and staff. She is thrilled to work amongst such impressive colleagues.

In her free time, Ms. Bunkers can be found playing the piano, working on illustrations, or enjoying time out at the movies.

Mr. Cailibotte

Math

Mr. Cailibotte

Subject Expert Teacher Math

Mr. Caillibotte is a member of our math faculty focused on Pre-Algebra instruction in the Middle School Program. He brings more than a decade of teaching experience. Most recently, he taught math at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. Previously, Mr. Caillibotte instructed technology classes at Brooklyn Friends. Mr. Caillibotte is French and taught economics at the collegiate level in both College Alain and Lycee des Canuts in Lyon after spending years as a commercial engineer.

Mr. Caillibotte graduated from Universite de Rennes and went on to receive his master’s degree in teaching, education, and training from Universite Claude Bernard Lyon. He ranked third for the Concours National Professeur de Lycee out of 2,350 candidates.

Mr. Caillibotte believes in the importance of collaborating with parents as partners in their children’s education, and we are excited to have him join our team.

Mr. Chen

Mandarin

Mr. Chen

Subject Expert Teacher Mandarin

Mr. Chen is a language enthusiast! He joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn in 2017. Mr. Chen earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Shanghai University in China in 2009. He continued on to earn his master’s degree in nuclear engineering with a full scholarship from the same university in 2012.

Previously Mr. Chen taught Mandarin at P.S. 9 and P.S. 166. He also worked with Qtalk Publishing LLC to develop the QTalk method being used worldwide to teach many languages.

“As a Mandarin Teacher at BASIS independent Brooklyn, I truly enjoy teaching the students each day. I offer a full Mandarin immersion classroom, providing young learners a chance to acquire the language naturally. It is very important to me that my students are making progress and enjoying the learning process,” says Mr. Chen.

In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, learning Spanish, and traveling.

Ms. Collard

Music

Ms. Collard

Subject Expert Teacher Music

Ms. Collard is a British-born composer-lyricist, orchestrator, and arranger. She recently graduated from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU Tisch, having previously studied Music at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. Her songs and orchestrations have been featured at cabaret venues; and on various online streaming platforms, including YouTube web series Is This Art Now?, and musical theatre podcast The Latest Draft, for which she is also a programming manager.

Ms. Collard has also been the musical director of several vocal and orchestral ensembles, as well as for a student production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (site-specific production dir. Eric Gelb, 2019), and played percussion for a variety of concerts and musicals, including the original Edinburgh Fringe run of Six. She is a proud member of Maestra and of the Dramatists Guild.

Ms. Corbett

Art

Ms. Corbett

Subject Expert Teacher Art

Ms. Corbett is a member of our Fine Art Faculty. She is an accomplished artist with more than ten years of experience as the owner and operator of a custom paint and design company. Previously, she spent eight years in film and television production as a prop master, lead scenic director, art director, and ultimately production designer.

Ms. Corbett received her bachelor’s degree from Tuft University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. For the past three years, she has provided fine arts instruction to students in K-Gr. 8 as a volunteer with the Red Hook Art Project.

Ms. Crowley

Performing Arts

Ms. Crowley

Subject Expert Teacher Performing Arts

Ms. Crowley is a Performing Arts Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She attended Dawson College then New York University studying acting and educational theater K-12. She received her Master of Arts in drama, theater, and performance studies at the University of Toronto.

Starting her career in the theater, Ms. Crowley worked at the New York Theater Workshop before transitioning to a Teaching Artist role at Wingspan Arts for four years. At Wingspan, Ms. Crowley taught courses in drama, chorus, and creative play to students in partner schools.

For the past five years, Ms. Crowley has been a key part of building and growing the performing arts program at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She works with students as young as PreK up to high school, and she has been a driving force behind our fall and spring performances at the school.

According to Ms. Crowley: “The performing arts program aims to foster artistic and emotional development in our students. Skills are honed in physical and verbal communication, creative interpretation, imaginative play, and abstract thought. For me, the most important aspect of what we do is in the cultivation of empathy and global curiosity by learning to see ourselves in the lives and experiences of others. Here at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, the performing arts program works in conjunction with the other fine arts disciplines as a creative and emotional outlet for students while also posing exciting academic challenges.”

Ms. Cruz

Spanish

Ms. Cruz

Subject Expert Teacher Spanish

Ms. Cruz is a member of our languages faculty focused on Spanish instruction in the Middle and High School Programs. Ms. Cruz started her career in administration working at Georgetown University and Georgetown Law School before moving to the classroom as a Spanish teacher in both public and private schools in Maryland for five years. While teaching she dedicated five years to volunteering for Cultura Plenera, a non-profit organization dedicated to community building and growing awareness of Puerto Rican culture.

Ms. Cruz graduated from Colgate University with a degree in Spanish literature. She continued on to receive her master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. While an undergraduate she spent time studying at La Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid.

Ms. Goodin

Student Affairs

Ms. Goodin

Student Affairs Student Affairs

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. Halloran

Math

Mr. Halloran

Subject Expert Teacher Math

Mr. Halloran is a Subject Expert Teacher in our Math Faculty who has spent the past two years focused on Algebra instruction at our school. Mr. Halloran graduated from Gonzaga University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He continued on to graduate with a master’s degree in teaching. For the past two years, Mr. Halloran has been living in Brooklyn, and he is happy to call the borough his home.

“I am excited to be a part of a school community that takes mathematics so seriously. I am deeply committed to teaching my students as much as possible, so they have the skills needed to reach the highest levels of math and science.”

When not teaching, Mr. Halloran loves to be outdoors. Some of his favorite outdoor activities are snowboarding, hiking, and anything on the water. A couple of his favorite indoor pastimes are cooking and playing video games.

Mr. Heilbronn

Physical Education

Mr. Heilbronn

Subject Expert Teacher Physical Education

After finishing Abitur in English and geography at the Gymnasium Horn in Bremen/Germany in 1984, Mr. Heilbronn went on to study cultural science at the University of Bremen. In 1989, he moved to New York to pursue a career in the music industry and continued his studies in sound engineering, editing and programming.

In 2012, he acquired a United States Soccer Federation coaching license.

As a member of the Physical Education faculty at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Mr. Heilbronn’s goal is “to make physical activity fun and accessible for all of our children. I want our students to know how easy it can be, to live healthy every day and understand what impact it will have on their bodies growing up. Students learn about sportsmanship, respect, rules, and discipline and get to feel proud about their own accomplishments every day.”

He loves to play and coach soccer. Food is another passion of his. “I also like to travel, meet new people and experience different cultures and foods,” he says.

Ms. Hesseling

Chemistry, Science

Ms. Hesseling

Subject Expert Teacher Chemistry, Science

Ms. Hesseling joins BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s science faculty as a Subject Expert Teacher for Gr. 8 chemistry and Gr. 5 science. She finds the passionate teachers and students at BASIS Independent incredibly inspiring and is thrilled to be a part of its culture of learning.

Ms. Hesseling grew up in Los Angeles and graduated with high honors and a degree in chemistry from Wesleyan University. She spent much of her time at Wesleyan in her research lab, ultimately writing a senior thesis on the synthetic design of bimetallic nanoparticles.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Hesseling enjoys exploring the city on her bike and cooking dinner with her friends. When it’s warm enough, you can find her at the beach or a park, throwing a frisbee or reading a book.

Dr. James

Biology

Dr. James

Subject Expert Teacher Biology

Dr. James is a Subject Expert Teacher in our Sciences Faculty who will lead advanced Biology classes. She rejoins BASIS Independent Brooklyn after teaching abroad at BASIS Shenzhen. Prior to that Dr. James taught in the Middle School Program at BASIS Independent Brooklyn.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Dr. James attended Louisiana State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2011 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biological Sciences in 2015. In 2016, she continued her training as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Genetics Department at Yale University. During her studies, Dr. James using advanced genetic, molecular, and microscopy techniques to study cell biology and organism development of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Her goal at BASIS Independent Brooklyn is to help students explore the wonders of the biological sciences while promoting and supporting excellence. She aims to provide “a positive and inclusive learning environment for students” and prepare them for a successful path post-graduation.

Dr. James shared that she chose to return to BASIS Independent Brooklyn because of the robust, accelerated curriculum. “In my experience teaching at the university level, overcoming academic challenges in the classroom is most rewarding for the teachers and students. I am proud to be part of a community that sets high expectations for all and promotes enthusiasm for learning.”

When not in the classroom, Dr. James enjoys listening to podcasts and traveling.

Mr. Koppel

Economics, History

Mr. Koppel

Subject Expert Teacher Economics, History

Mr. Koppel is a Subject Expert Teacher in history and economics at our Upper School campus. He started his career at Success Academy teaching both middle school English and History. Then he moved on to another charter school in Manhattan leading small group interventions for 7^th and 8th-grade students.

Mr. Koppel graduated from Carleton College with a degree in Economics and History. While at Carleton he served as a men’s basketball coach, where he created models and data visualizations to help the coaches gameplan for future opponents. Before graduation, Mr. Koppel worked for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s summer program planning and running one portion of their summer academic program. He also participated in a shadow program at the Pomfret School where we earned the opportunity to teach history.

A devoted Quizbowl aficionado, Mr. Koppel organized and led a Quizbowl Tournament while at Carleton. He is also a decorated Quizbowl high school champion (8^th nationally in all-subject and 3^rd nationally at History Bowl). He looks forward to bringing Quizbowl to our school.

Mr. Kostopoulos

Physics

Mr. Kostopoulos

Subject Expert Teacher Physics

Mr. Kostopoulos is a Subject Expert Teacher in physics for our Middle and High School Programs. He has spent the past 11 years as an adjunct lecturer most recently at City College and Lehman College. Before that, he taught Queens College and Baruch College. Previously he was a graduate assistant at Hunter College. During that time, he has also worked as a private tutor focused on middle school and high school physics, chemistry, and math instruction. His experience includes preparing students for the AP Physics exam.

Mr. Kostopoulos has extensive research experience, including work as a research assistant at the American Museum of National History and the National Centre of Scientific Research Institute of Nuclear Physics in Athens, Greece. Mr. Kostopoulos’ research in Greece included work handling a TANDEM particle accelerator and the completion of a thesis on Compton Shielding.

Mr. Kostopoulos graduated from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece with a degree in applied mathematics and physics. He went on to earn his master’s degree from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where he also pursued a PhD in physics.

Ms. Lindsey

Logic, Math

Ms. Lindsey

Subject Expert Teacher Logic, Math

Ms. Lindsey is a Subject Expert Teacher for Logic and part of the Math Faculty at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she spent several years working for non-profit organizations. She discovered her love for teaching working as a teaching assistant while she earned her master’s degree in philosophy. Ms. Lindsey then spent four years as an instructor and tutor for a test prep company, helping students build their test-taking skills and confidence. She joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn in 2017.

It was in a logic class that Ms. Lindsey found her appreciation for math as a symbolic language, so she is delighted at the opportunity to teach both Math and Logic at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. Ms. Lindsey chose BASIS Independent Brooklyn for its impressive commitment to academics and its team of passionate educators.

Ms. Lindsey says, “As teachers, we work for that moment when there’s a clear spark of understanding and confidence for a student. Students sometimes hesitate to ask for a different explanation of a concept, but I like the challenge of finding new ways to help them understand. And that moment when we get to see their confidence in their own growth when they think ‘I’ve got this now!’ is so rewarding.”

When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Lindsey enjoys spending time at the beach or Prospect Park, and rock climbing.

Mr. Mandeville

Student Affairs

Mr. Mandeville

Student Affairs Student Affairs

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. McCollum

Physical Education

Mr. McCollum

Subject Expert Teacher Physical Education

Mr. McCollum holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta where he was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society. He was also honored for his Communication Law research, which focused on national courts and the interpretation of true threats law as it pertains to cell phone communication.

As a Subject Expert Teacher in Physical Education, his goal is to share with students the joy of sports and the importance of building a team-based environment. “I find happiness in motivating BASIS Independent students and teaching them to have enthusiasm and respect in everything they do. I am determined as an educator to assist them to reach their goals and excel beyond their expectations. I also find great joy in building lasting and meaningful relationships with my students am committed to the overall success and improvement of all BASIS Independent students,” he shares.

In his spare time, he enjoys playing competitive soccer, which he has played since childhood. “My other interests include cooking, baking, creative writing, and traveling. I spent my formative years living in Germany and traveling around Europe, sparking a lifelong love of travel. I still enjoy writing poetry now as much as when I became a published poet at the age of 14,” Mr. McCollum says proudly.

Mr. Moreland

Science

Mr. Moreland

Subject Expert Teacher Science

Mr. Moreland is happy to share his love of environmental science with students as our Physical Geography and AP Environmental Science Subject Expert Teacher. He taught global history at Frederick Douglass Academy High School and High Roads School in Maryland. Prior to that, he spent years teaching English, science, and history in Maryland as well as abroad in China and even the Czech Republic.

Before teaching, Mr. Moreland spent two years at Tetra Tech managing terrestrial and aquatic species for toxicology testing. He was responsible for field sampling and culturing aquatic river species and organisms. Mr. Moreland graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and history. He continued his studies at the school receiving his master’s degree in teaching.

Ms. Moriarty

English

Ms. Moriarty

Subject Expert Teacher English

Ms. Moriarty received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Harvard University in 2002, where she was also on the Dean’s List. In 2007 she earned her Master of Fine Arts from The New School. During her tenure at The New School, Ms. Moriarty was awarded a merit scholarship. In 2017 Ms. Moriarty published her first novel, North Haven.

Ms. Moriarty is a Subject Expert Teacher in the English Department at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, currently teaching 7^th-grade English and the Creative Writing elective. She strives to empower young writers and take some of the mysticism away from the writing process. By fostering a safe space for intellectual risk-taking, Ms. Moriarty puts students’ voices at the center of every discussion. As readers, Ms. Moriarty’s students learn that the most successful narratives are those that are totally unique and simultaneously express a universal truth about the human experience. This idea then reinforces their exploration and celebration of diverse narratives.

Ms. Moriarty’s search for a deeper connection to her professional community, her students, and her growth as an educator naturally led her to BASIS Independent Brooklyn where she found a group of like-minded teachers eager to challenge and inspire their inquisitive and driven students.

When not in the classroom, Ms. Moriarty spends her time with her 12-year-old daughter and their dog Woofy. She is working on her second novel, and she procrastinates by swimming, roller skating badly, or practicing the ukulele.

Ms. Muravchik

Math

Ms. Muravchik

Subject Expert Teacher Math

Ms. Muravchik is eager to share her love of math with students this year as a Math Subject Expert Teacher. Previously she taught high school math at both Little Red Schoolhouse and Brooklyn Friends School for years before focusing on private math tutoring. Before that, Ms. Muravchik also taught differentiated math instruction at a private tutoring center for eight years. She graduated from New York University and continued on at the school to receive her master’s degree.

Mr. Opirhory

Art

Mr. Opirhory

Subject Expert Teacher Art

Mr. Opirhory is a member of the Fine Arts Faculty at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, and he studied at New York’s School of Visual Arts. There he developed a passion for classical representation and traditional preparation of materials.

Mr. Opirhory leads visual arts classes in the Middle and High School, including art studio and digital photography. He finds inspiration in nature, science, and mythology.

Mr. Rappelfeld

History

Mr. Rappelfeld

Subject Expert Teacher History

Mr. Rappelfeld received his bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University with a major in philosophy, politics, and law and a minor in anthropology in 1999. One of his most satisfying academic and personal experiences was studying in the Czech Republic at the University of Economics during college. Mr. Rappelfeld went on to receive his master’s degree in teaching at Iona College in 2002. He continued his studies by completing post-graduate work at George Washington University in 2007.

During the past 20 years, Mr. Rappelfeld has had the pleasure of teaching World History, AP Psychology, AP European History, and Economics in high schools in Westchester County, NY, Connecticut, and Maryland.

Mr. Rappelfeld joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn in 2018. He is very excited to provide his students with the building blocks and foundations for the 7th grade World History and AP World History courses. Mr. Rappelfeld is also a co-advisor for the National Junior Honor Society. In everything he does, he strives to challenge his students to achieve their absolute best.

Mr. Rappelfeld also performs as a singer-songwriter in the NY Metro area. He also loves spending time in Prospect Park with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

Ms. Rea

Science

Ms. Rea

Subject Expert Teacher Science

Ms. Rea is a Learning Expert Teacher focused on Health Education. She graduated from the University of Iowa. She received her bachelor’s degree in health and human physiology with an emphasis on health promotion and a minor in global health studies. She also obtained a certificate in public health.

Ms. Rea chose BASIS Independent Brooklyn because she likes that our school promotes teacher autonomy, which creates endless innovation in the classroom. Her goal, as an educator, is to empower her students to be independent, appreciate themselves, and understand the importance of helping others.

Prior to joining BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Ms. Rea worked with at-risk youth at a non-profit organization. She focused on using a social-emotional curriculum through athletics and created health presentations for students. She has also volunteered at a domestic violence shelter. There, she organized necessities for the victims and worked closely with the youth who stayed at the shelter. Ms. Rea’s passion for helping others started when she volunteered in Nicaragua. She taught English to single-parent mothers and their children and built eco-friendly infrastructure with the community.

In her free time, Ms. Rea enjoys reading, going to history museums, paying Sims, and volunteering. She also has a passion for exercising, such as cardio kickboxing, running, and lifting weights.

Mr. Russell

English, French

Mr. Russell

Subject Expert Teacher English, French

Mr. Russell is a Subject Expert Teacher for both 6th Grade English and 8th Grade French. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, and he joined the BASIS Independent Brooklyn faculty in early 2017. Mr. Russell started the running club at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, and he has also led other strength and conditioning clubs on campus.

Mr. Russell chose to teach at BASIS Independent Brooklyn for a number of reasons, not least of which are the universal commitment to student success and the high academic standards. He aims to foster an enduring intellectual curiosity and a genuine love of language and literature within his students.

In his free time, Mr. Russell loves to explore new restaurants, run in the city’s parks, and read. He is also an avid golfer.

Ms. Schickling

Math, Physical Education

Ms. Schickling

Subject Expert Teacher Math, Physical Education

Ms. Schickling is a Subject Expert Teacher in Physical Education BASIS Independent Brooklyn. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the California University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Schickling hopes to challenge her students and promote growth with them, both inside the classroom and in our community.

Ms. Schickling first joined BASIS Independent Brooklyn in the Admissions department in 2016, and she found she loved the environment and culture the school created for students. Two years later she joined the Operations Team before moving into a faculty position at the school. In the past few school year, Ms. Schickling also coached the co-ed basketball team and also helped coach the middle and high school girls’ volleyball team.

When not in the classroom, Ms. Schickling enjoys being in nature, whether that means reading a book at the park, going on a hike, or doing yoga on her roof. She is a suburb girl at heart, and she always takes the opportunity to see some green in this concrete jungle.

Ms. Shati

Math

Ms. Shati

Subject Expert Teacher Math

Ms. Shati joins BASIS Independent Brooklyn at a Math Subject Expert Teacher in our Middle School Program. Previously, she was an adjunct professor of Math at the City University of New York’s City College of Technology where she was also a mentor to freshman students. She has also taught Gr. 5 math in a charter school in New York City.

Ms. Shati earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from CUNY College of Technology.

Mr. Singh

Teaching Fellow

Mr. Singh

Teaching Fellow Teaching Fellow

Mr. Singh joins BASIS Independent Brooklyn as a Teaching Fellow. He is eager to shadow experienced Learning Expert Teachers and Subject Expert Teachers on our campus. Recently Mr. Singh received his Bachelor of the Arts Cum Laude from the City College of New York with a major in English and a minor in history. While pursuing his degree, he had the opportunity to gain classroom experience and shadow teachers in a number of New York City schools.

Mr. Singh’s goal as a BASIS Independent educator is to foster a positive learning experience for students and to enrich their education. At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, he can further pursue his career as an educator by working with students of all grade levels and hopefully making a positive impact on their school experience.

In his free time, Mr. Singh enjoys listening to his ever-growing vinyl collection on his turn table. He is a huge fan of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Also, he loves reading books ranging from a wide array of genres.

Mr. Strom

Biology, Physics

Mr. Strom

Subject Expert Teacher Biology, Physics

Mr. Strom is a Biology and Physics Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. He graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in biology, and after graduation he pursued his Master of Science in ecology at Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, he focused his studies on both science education and plant-insect interactions.

Mr. Strom aims to nurture curiosity, creative scientific thinking, and love of biology in the next generation of scientists.

Mr. Strom chose BASIS Independent Brooklyn for the opportunity to teach students excited to learn at world-class academic standards and to work alongside an incredibly intelligent, engaged, and creative faculty!

Mr. Strom camps, hikes, plays music, and is a voracious reader including, science, history, fiction, among many other genres.

Ms. Susanto

Chemistry

Ms. Susanto

Subject Expert Teacher Chemistry

Ms. Susanto is eager to share her love of science with students at our school as part of our Chemistry Faculty. She graduated from King’s College London and continued on to receive her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Learning Sciences and Technologies. Her goal is to create a fun, positive, and collaborative learning environment for our young scientists.

Ms. Thorne

Biology

Ms. Thorne

Subject Expert Teacher Biology

Ms. Thorne attended The City College of New York with a full scholarship from the Teacher Academy, a program that offered weekly first-hand experiences in New York City classrooms. She received two additional scholarships for academic achievement before graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Secondary Education. Ms. Thorne then continued her education at Brooklyn College where she obtained a Master of Arts in secondary education and also graduated summa cum laude.

“I was given the opportunity to join the BASIS Independent Brooklyn team in 2014 where I developed a strong fondness of BASIS Independent students and their resilience. I am currently the 5th-grade Science, 6th-grade Biology, and 8th-grade Biology teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. I am particularly passionate about finding new ways to engage students, whether it be using basketball to learn the parts of the skeletal system, or taking students outside to learn more about the street trees that grow in New York City,” says Ms. Thorne.

“I possess a love of science that borders on obsession, and my goal as a teacher is to pass on even a fraction of that interest to my students,” she says. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing video/board games, watching Japanese animation (or anime for short), and practicing new languages.

Ms. Villanueva

Computer Science

Ms. Villanueva

Subject Expert Teacher Computer Science

Ms. Villanueva is eager to share her love of Computer Science as a Subject Expert Teacher at our school. Previously, she tutored and was a graduate teaching assistant at the College of Engineering and Computing Science at NYIT.

Ms. Villanueva spent the majority of her career in research. She spent time in the Quantitative Neuroimaging Lab at Weill Cornell and the Human-Centric Data Analytics Lab at NYIT. She has presented at scientific symposia, including on the topic of Affective Computing and graduate research. She is currently working on an Arduino 4-wheel robotic smart car.

Ms. Villanueva graduated from Hofstra University and continued on to earn her master’s degree with distinction in computer science from the New York Institute of Technology.

Mr. Whitener

Spanish

Mr. Whitener

Teaching Fellow Spanish

Mr. Whitener joined our faculty as a Teaching Fellow and is excited about the opportunity to share his love of the Spanish language and culture with students.

Mr. Whitener graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he began his career teaching Spanish enrichment in North Carolina public schools before transitioning to serve as a teaching assistant for a Spanish immersion class. Previously, he also served as a Spanish-language interpreter for the Burke County Schools system.

Our school’s advanced curriculum, variety of language courses taught, and commitment to student support drew Mr. Whitener to our Red Hook campus.

Outside of class, Mr. Whitener enjoys exploring the city and community, being outdoors, and watching basketball – particularly UNC!

Mr. Winter

Physics

Mr. Winter

Subject Expert Teacher Physics

Mr. Winter is a founding member of the BASIS Independent Brooklyn Science faculty and has been teaching physics and astronomy for more than a decade. He earned his master’s degree in physics education, and he has pursued pedagogical research in this field in addition to teaching at Mississippi State University.

Mr. Winter enjoys explaining difficult concepts in approachable ways, and he loves showcasing his physics education experience at BASIS Independent Brooklyn.

Ms. Ye

Mandarin

Ms. Ye

Subject Expert Teacher Mandarin

Ms. Ye is a Mandarin Subject Expert Teacher. She attended Brooklyn College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education with a concentration in mathematics. She is currently enrolled in a master’s program in adolescent Chinese education at Hunter College.

As a Mandarin Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Ye’s goal is to motivate students to learn how to converse fluently in the language. “I strive to create a learning environment where my students feel excited and empowered when they are able to express their thoughts and talk about themselves in Mandarin,” says Ms. Ye.

Ms. Ye is thrilled to join the BASIS Independent Brooklyn community. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys working with students from multiple backgrounds, as well as discussing various topics.

In her free time, Ms. Ye spends time baking, since it is one of her passions. One of her favorite desserts to make is cheese cake. Also, Ms. Ye enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures with her family.

Mr. York

Physical Education

Mr. York

Subject Expert Teacher Physical Education

Meet our Teachers
Attend an Event

Find an Event

Expertise that Inspires

Meet the Teachers

Mr. Adams

Mr. Adams

Mr. Bedes

Mr. Bedes

Mr. Bohanan

Mr. Bohanan

Mr. Budisin

Mr. Budisin

Ms. Bunkers

Ms. Bunkers

Mr. Cailibotte

Mr. Cailibotte

Mr. Chen

Mr. Chen

Ms. Collard

Ms. Collard

Ms. Corbett

Ms. Corbett

Ms. Crowley

Ms. Crowley

Ms. Cruz

Ms. Cruz

Ms. Goodin

Ms. Goodin

Mr. Halloran

Mr. Halloran

Mr. Heilbronn

Mr. Heilbronn

Ms. Hesseling

Ms. Hesseling

Dr. James

Dr. James

Mr. Koppel

Mr. Koppel

Mr. Kostopoulos

Mr. Kostopoulos

Ms. Lindsey

Ms. Lindsey

Mr. Mandeville

Mr. Mandeville

Mr. McCollum

Mr. McCollum

Mr. Moreland

Mr. Moreland

Ms. Moriarty

Ms. Moriarty

Ms. Muravchik

Ms. Muravchik

Mr. Opirhory

Mr. Opirhory

Mr. Rappelfeld

Mr. Rappelfeld

Ms. Rea

Ms. Rea

Mr. Russell

Mr. Russell

Ms. Schickling

Ms. Schickling

Ms. Shati

Ms. Shati

Mr. Singh

Mr. Singh

Mr. Strom

Mr. Strom

Ms. Susanto

Ms. Susanto

Ms. Thorne

Ms. Thorne

Ms. Villanueva

Ms. Villanueva

Mr. Whitener

Mr. Whitener

Mr. Winter

Mr. Winter

Ms. Ye

Ms. Ye

Mr. York

Meet
the Teachers

Meet our Teachers
Attend an Event