BASIS Independent McLean Welcomes New, Local Teachers; Renowned Fairfax Co. Math Instructor, Vern Williams Joins Team

BASIS Independent McLean is grateful for all its new teachers this Teacher Appreciation Month. Veteran Fairfax County math teacher of 40 years, Vern S. Williams, is joining BASIS Independent McLean faculty in Aug. 2016, teaching middle school students. Renowned by parents, students and colleagues for his mastery as a math teacher, most recently at H.W. Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Va.; Williams passion and dedication to engage, teach and challenge students in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving has earned him nationwide recognition in his field. Williams is just one of many exceptional teachers joining BASIS Independent McLean, including Lisa Bliss of McLean, Va. with international experience and a specialty as a learning expert teacher; Cara Dalton of Oakton, Va., a veteran college and secondary education language arts instructor with an expertise in gifted curriculum; Daryl ‘Gus’ Grissom, Ph.D., of Herndon, Va., an exceptional world languages instructor; Amanda McMeekin Setty of McLean, Va., with a specialty in preschool thematic learning and graduate studies in New Zealand; David Sharp of Arlington, Va., a noted secondary education teacher in language arts and advanced placement studies; and Hsiu Mei Tozzi of Bristow, Va., with international experience, and a specialty in Mandarin. For BASIS Independent McLean ‘Meet the Teacher’ events, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com or call 703.854.1253.

Williams has taught math in Fairfax County public schools for more than 40 years. He earned the 1990 Fairfax County Public Schools teacher of the year, as well as two awards for distinguished teaching from the Mathematical Association of America. He also taught Math Reasoning for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer program for six years. In 2006, Williams was appointed to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel and later served on the Mathematics Writing Team for the Council of Chief State School Officers. In 2010, he was appointed to serve on the Southern Regional Education Board Middle Grades Commission. He also holds a seventh degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do.

More than 80 percent of BASIS.ed teachers have master’s degrees, while 28 percent have earned doctoral degrees. Many BASIS.ed instructors also come with international teaching experience from countries like Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Switzerland.

“Our teachers are at the heart of much of our curriculum…their interest, expertise and passion help our students thrive and succeed,” said Sean Aiken, head of school of BASIS Independent McLean, Va. “We’re thrilled to have such a remarkable group of local instructors join our team,” said Aiken.

BASIS Independent McLean curriculum challenges all students to be successful, creative and empowered within their own skill sets, while it also draws teachers with passion and expertise in their field of teaching, and allows teachers the creative space and support to instruct students within a dynamic teaching environment. Not only are BASIS Independent McLean teachers evaluated by school administration, but students provide critiques and feedback during a mandatory, mock classroom session with each teacher, which is considered in the hiring process.

School registration is underway for Tyson Corner’s new school, BASIS Independent McLean. The school will be located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Va. and opens in August 2016.