Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy is an innovative high school within the Barrow County School System where “Traditions BEGIN and Legacies are BUILT.” At BASA, the vision is for every CREW member (students and staff) to feel connected with our school community and equipped for success.
BASA is fortunate to have Kendall Argo and Katie Conrad in the roles of Academic Interventionists and content area teachers to help ensure student success. BASA Principal Nick Scheman explains, “Mrs. Argo, a math teacher, and Ms. Conrad, an ELA teacher, split the Academic Interventionist role at BASA. They work tirelessly to identify students in need of additional support, push into classrooms daily, and pull students out for small group remediation. They have been an indispensable dynamic duo when it comes to providing curriculum support for our teachers as well as daily skill development for our students.”
Colleagues also praise the two amazing interventionists.
Social Studies Teacher Nick Schuff says, "Mrs. Argo and Ms. Conrad have been instrumental in my past, present, and future student's success! Both of these hardworking individuals have devoted time out of their daily schedule to place struggling students in their rooms so they may work one-on-one with them. Mrs. Argo and Ms. Conrad offer accountability for every student, and they are excellent at communicating with teachers about how best to serve every child. We here at BASA owe these women a tremendous amount of gratitude for making sure that every child has the possibility to succeed where they feel most vulnerable. I know many of my students would not be where they are today without them. Thanks for all you do, Academic Interventionists!"
ELA Department Chair Dr. Anne Locke Ridgway says, “Ms. Conrad has been a blessing to our BASA faculty. Her passion for helping students is unequivocally superb. She has spent countless hours ensuring our students receive the help they need. She does this while also teaching her own ELA classes. She is a rock star!”
Math Department Chair Jeff Lalaian says, “Mrs. Argo goes above and beyond every day, continually sacrificing herself for the needs of the students. She is an innovative and tireless model of what an educator should be. In my opinion, she is one of our school’s greatest assets.”
Mrs. Argo and Ms. Conrad also assist BASA Graduation Specialist Amber Hagy in her role as she supports students who are at risk of not graduating. They meet weekly and talk daily in their efforts to support struggling students. The interventions are done as students are struggling - instead of after they have already failed a course. BASA Junior Caylee Smith says, “I ended up only having to go to their expeditions once thanks to them. There were so many times I wanted to give up, but they kept pushing me and I'm so glad they did. Without them, I would not have passed my classes.”
Kendall Argo & Katie Conrad
We are proud of our students who are on the “Grad Track.” A Grad Track student has either failed one or more academic classes and/or is behind in credits needed for graduation with their cohort class. Graduation Specialists at all three Barrow County School System (BCSS) high schools support students who meet these qualifications.