We extend heartfelt congratulations to our 2025 – 2026 Subject Advisor (SAD) of the Year, Ms. Vivian Gao, from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower! Ms. Gao is the Subject Advisor for Music in PreK – Grade 5. 

Congratulations, too, to our runners-up, Ms. Swetha Bhattacharya (Computer Science) from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Upper, and Ms. Sofia Perez-Vargas (Pre-Algebra and Algebra & Geometry I), from BASIS Independent Bellevue!   

The SAD of the Year is a celebration and greater recognition of all the work our Subject Advisors (SADs) do, including providing template syllabi for our Subject Expert Teachers (SET), creating assessments, collaborating with other SETs across the BASIS Independent Schools network, and working incredibly hard to build subject mastery for each of our students.  

“Subject Advisors are a vital part of the BASIS Independent Schools academic model—they embody our reliance on and commitment to our Subject Expert Teachers’ expertise,” explained Ms. Linda Louis, BASIS Independent Schools Senior Director of Curriculum. “It is important to acknowledge the myriad ways they impact our network and to give teachers the opportunity to reflect on how much their work has been positively shaped by their SADs.”  

The Role of a Subject Advisor (SAD): Curriculum and Community  
BASIS Curriculum Schools have a Subject Advisor for each required course and some electives, all the way from STEM Discovery in PreK to Capstone courses for seniors. A SAD is first and foremost a classroom teacher; experienced BASIS Curriculum Schools Subject Expert Teachers apply to take on the SAD role and become extensions of the BASIS Curriculum Team. SADs are responsible for updating the curriculum and refining vertical alignment annually. This task involves looking beyond their classroom experiences, seeking input from teachers across the network of BASIS Independent and International Schools, incorporating insights from assessment data, and considering ongoing conversations in their fields.  

The Power of a Network, Amplified by Subject Advisors  
Throughout the year, SADs provide valuable guidance on the BASIS Curriculum and assessments and offer course-specific discussion prompts in frequent newsletters. In the forums SADs create, teachers can share their unique instructional approaches and request resources or assistance. SADs also host network-wide meetings over Zoom throughout the year to cultivate a community of colleagues, including a half-day of collaboration on the BASIS Independent Schools In-Service Day each fall. Their role in facilitating opportunities for professional growth and development ensures continuous improvement in the educational experience provided to students.  

Ms. Gao had the following to share about the role:  

“Being a Subject Advisor is meaningful to me because it allows me to support our Subject Expert Teachers while strengthening the connection between the BASIS Curriculum and classroom practice. I really value the opportunity to collaborate with educators and grow together to create meaningful learning experiences for our students.” 

Choosing the Subject Advisor of the Year  
Teachers across our network were asked to nominate their SAD in an anonymous, voluntary survey. The BASIS Curriculum Team reviewed all entries, carefully considering responses on several essential criteria, including thoughtful guidance on the BASIS Curriculum, sharing of high-quality resources, and facilitating professional learning communities among their colleagues. Teachers’ enthusiastic endorsements of their course’s Subject Advisor as the most supportive made it difficult to choose a winner, but nominations for Ms. Gao stood out. 

Writes one of Ms. Gao’s advisees: “I really appreciate Ms. Gao’s support as a SAD. She’s always approachable and offers practical and grounded guidance to support young learners. The strategies and resources she shares are clear and immediately usable. She also listens to teachers’ suggestions and collects our questions into key discussion points for our SAD meetings [these are Zoom calls for teachers of the same course throughout the BASIS Independent Schools network]. I really like her as my Subject Advisor!” 

“Working with Ms. Gao is a joy, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have her on the Curriculum Team as a SAD,” expressed Ms. Wen Yang, BASIS Independent Schools Professional Development Manager. “Whether she’s leading professional development workshops, reviewing teachers’ syllabi, or revising the Primary Program music curriculum, she brings a remarkable level of dedication and intention to everything she does. Her impact is especially evident in the way she supports our Subject Expert Teachers. From the thoughtful, high-quality newsletters she creates to the rich, differentiated resources and activities she shares, Ms. Gao consistently goes above and beyond. She also fosters meaningful collaboration through the well-organized and engaging SAD meetings she leads, helping our Subject Expert Teachers feel supported, inspired, and connected.”  

We are incredibly grateful to our exceptional Subject Advisors for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations on the completion of another school year!