BASIS Phoenix North, the newest school in the BASIS Charter Schools network, will bring the acclaimed BASIS Charter School curriculum to families living in the North Phoenix, Anthem, and New River areas.
We are so excited to officially open the doors of our new campus in Fall 2024, and we know our families are excited too!
Today, we’re taking some time to get to know the Head of School for BASIS Phoenix North, Kathryn Kennedy. With extensive experience in elementary education, Ms. Kennedy is passionate about creating positive, welcoming learning environments that enable students to do their best every day.
Read on to learn more about Ms. Kennedy and find out what’s in the store for the brand new BASIS Phoenix North campus!
From kindergarten teacher to school leader
Kathryn Kennedy began her education career in the Midwest, where she taught kindergarten at public schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on English language learners.
She started teaching for BASIS Charter Schools in 2018. Over the years, she has served as a kindergarten teacher at BASIS Phoenix Central and BASIS Peoria Primary, and as the Director of Academic Programs for BASIS Peoria Primary. She also served as the Director of Building Blocks Preschool, a private preschool created by the co-founders of BASIS Charter Schools.
Kennedy says BASIS is unlike other school systems she has worked for in the past. “There is truly no comparison to the student success and academic rigor that we have accomplished here at BASIS,” she says. “What I love about working here is that we truly focus on educating the whole child. That’s how we’re able to achieve such impressive outcomes.”
Kennedy is thrilled to be stepping into her new role as Head of School for BASIS Phoenix North and looks forward to facilitating the school’s growth. “The opportunity to start from the very beginning and grow with the student population is really exciting,” she says.
Ms. Kennedy’s vision for BASIS Phoenix North
Kennedy aims for the new BASIS Phoenix North campus to become one of the top schools in the nation, joining the ranks of the other schools in the BASIS network. At the same time, she recognizes that achieving such high accolades will take hard work.
“Perfection is not our goal. Instead, we need to emphasize progress and effort,” Kennedy says. “Hard work has high rewards, and we will need to keep that in mind as we strive to make BASIS Phoenix North the best school in northern Phoenix.”
In addition to achieving excellent student outcomes, Kennedy wants to create a school environment where students feel engaged and supported.
“I want my students to know that no one is alone,” she says. “Like the other schools in our network, we will have an entire support system in place for students. Whether it’s academic or socioemotional support, inside or outside of the classroom, our team will be there to ensure every student can thrive.”
Building a community of parents, teachers, and students
One of Kennedy’s priorities for BASIS Phoenix North’s inaugural school year is building a strong school community—and she already has plans for how to foster this sense of camaraderie!
“We are planning several events designed to help our families get to know each other and build relationships,” she says. “Additionally, throughout the school year, we will have educational events such as Literacy Nights or STEM Nights. These types of events will help build that school-to-home connection.”
Kennedy tells us that parents will have plenty of opportunities to get involved with the school. “Parents will be able to volunteer as field trip chaperones, lunchroom assistants, guest readers, and more!”
Overall, Kennedy says she wants to ensure that everyone at BASIS Phoenix North—whether they’re teachers, staff, students, or parents—feels welcome and included.
“Building a cohesive school community that works and learns together will be crucial during our first year,” she says. “BASIS Phoenix North will eventually expand to grades K–12, but since we’re starting out with a smaller student population of grades K–5, this gives us an opportunity to foster a closer, tighter knit community. Together, we can shape BASIS Phoenix North into a wonderful place for children to learn, grow, and succeed.”
Kennedy encourages all interested families to attend an upcoming BASIS Phoenix North information session. In the meantime, you can get a look inside our new campus with this virtual tour video!
Applications are currently being accepted for Fall 2024, so apply today for your best chance of securing a seat for your child. If you have any questions about the upcoming campus, please reach out to [email protected].
