Taylor Schuetz
Head of School
Taylor Schuetz joins BASIS Oro Valley Primary as a seasoned member of the BASIS Charter Schools network since 2013. Her journey with BASIS Charter Schools began at the Flagstaff campus after earning her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Disability Studies from Northern Arizona University. The following year, Ms. Schuetz assisted with the opening of BASIS Prescott as the Special Education Coordinator and soon after accepted the primary Dean of Students position.
To further develop her leadership competencies, Ms. Schuetz obtained a Master of Education in Instructional School Leadership K-12 with a specialization in Child Psychology and transitioned into the role of Director of Student Affairs. Through her tenure with BASIS Charter Schools, Ms. Schuetz has witnessed her students grow and flourish when challenged to reach their full potential.
As the Interim Head of School at BASIS Oro Valley Primary, Ms. Schuetz is dedicated to partnering with all school stakeholders to ensure that each student has the opportunity to receive our world-class education and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Peter Cano
Head of Operations
Peter Cano is the Head of Operations for BASIS Oro Valley Primary. Prior to this role, Peter taught math (from Algebra to Capstone Calculus) at BASIS Oro Valley. Prior to teaching, he has experience in operations, finance, and human resources with education technology companies. Peter is a Tucson native who attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and has an MBA from Duke University at Durham, North Carolina. Paying forward the positive influence Peter received from his teachers, he looks forward to ensuring teachers have the resources they need, coordinating the support from parents and guardians, and providing a safe and secure learning environment for the students.
Laura Jewett
Director of Student Affairs
Laura Jewett earned her Master of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. She has taught chemistry for grades 7–12 for a good portion of her teaching career, with many of those years spent in the BASIS Charter Schools network. Laura has also served as a New Teacher Mentor at BASIS Oro Valley. She is thrilled to join BASIS Oro Valley Primary as Director of Student Affairs, and to build upon the New Teacher Mentor program she was part of at BASIS Oro Valley.
Sarah K. Smith
Director of Academic Programs
Sarah K. Smith received a Master of Arts degree in Theatre Education from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Southern California. She began her BASIS career in 2015 at the flagship campus BASIS Tucson North. She then transitioned to the first international campus and served as the Director of Operations at BASIS International School Shenzhen. Sarah was also a founding faculty member and leader of the performing arts department as Head of Drama at BASIS International School Hangzhou. She is very excited for the opportunity to work at BASIS Oro Valley Primary.