Ms. Bandarenko received a dual master’s degree in education from Bank Street, in elementary education and literacy. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Hamilton College. Ms. Bandarenko is so excited to return for a fourth year with BASIS Independent Manhattan. She spent three years progressing through the roles of Kindergarten Teaching Fellow, Learning Expert Teacher, and Humanities Subject Expert Teacher. Next, Ms. Bandarenko spent several years in the corporate sphere working in education technology consulting and academic intervention design and implementation. She is thrilled to be back with BASIS Independent Manhattan as the Director of Student Affairs. She is passionate about child development is mission-aligned with our school by placing equal focus on students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. “In my role as the Director of Student Affairs, I channel my diverse experiences to foster robust connections within our community – bridging families, students, and educators. Every interaction enriches my journey.” In her spare time, Ms. Bandarenko enjoys being a newlywed, creative writing, fitness, trying new recipes, and snuggling up with a good book.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‍​​​‌​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌