Passionate, expert teachers who believe that with the right support and encouragement, any student can excel
Expert Educators
Ask any BASIS Independent student what makes their school different and they will tell you “the teachers.” The foundation of our culture and the success of our students lies in the hands of our faculty.
As educators, our goal is for students to always want “more.” Inspiring students comes easy when teachers are truly excited about their material and have deep expertise in their discipline, whether elementary pedagogy, musical theater, or astrophysics. Our teachers light a fire in the heart and mind of every student, helping them discover their passions and leaving an indelible mark on their scholastic experience.
Ms. Gao Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Ms. Gao obtained her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Music Education from Dalian University in China. She then went on to receive her Master’s of Arts in Music Education from California Baptist University. Currently, Ms. Gao teaches Music and Drama class for students in the early learning and primary program. Her goal is to create dynamic, interactive, and fun lesson plans that engage the students, encourage them to be creative, and help them to be successful in musicals and plays. As a music and drama teacher, Ms. Gao believes all students are unique individuals who learn in unique ways. Due to this, she utilizes multiple methods of teaching (linguistic, visual, auditory, kinesthetic) to cater to each child, helping make sure that no one is left behind. Ms. Gao explains how students learn best when they take an active role in what they are learning. The more often an act is practiced and repeated, the more quickly and permanently it is remembered. One of Ms. Gao’s favorite activities to do in class is a music listening and responding game with her students. The students walk in a circle with the music on and stop at certain points of the music. Students perform different motions every time they stop. Listening skills are key here as they need to listen to the music carefully and respond to it accordingly. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Gao loves hiking and travelling. As for music, she is a big lover of Rock and Roll songs!
Ms. Garcia Subject Expert Teacher | Middle School
Ms. Garcia was born and raised in the province of Chaco, Argentina. She graduated with a Juris Doctor from Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina. Intellectual curiosity and adventure drove her to the United States where she obtained a Master of Arts in Spanish, with a concentration in Hispanic Literature, and a Master of Arts in Law and Political Science, both from Loyola University in Chicago. She has taught at Loyola in Chicago, Santa Clara University, San Jose City College and Contra Costa College. She is also certified in Positive Psychology coaching from the Wholebeing Institute by Professore Tal Sahar. Ms. Garcia has published several papers and short fiction works. Some specific areas of interest in her research are Positive Psychology, neuroscience and language acquisition, indigenous culture, and non-systemic education Her teaching philosophy at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is to be a facilitator in the classroom. She wishes to establish a nurturing, all-inclusive environment which is grounded in the knowledge that each individual learns at her/his own pace in accordance with her/his innate intelligence. Ms. Garcia’s attendance of a 10 day silent retreat centered around Vipassana meditation has heavily influenced her teaching style. Ms. Garcia’s approach is based in understanding the depths of the mind. During her free time, she loves to dine out, go to movies and continue exploring unknown realms.
Dr. Gavande Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Coming Soon!
Ms. Gehlot Subject Expert Teacher | High School
Ms. Gehlot holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics from Jai Narayan Vyas University, India. Having been closely involved in her daughters education, she began her professional teaching career after they graduated from high school. Since then she has been a mathematics instructor specializing in math contest training and subjects including Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calculus for students across high schools in the Bay Area since. Her primary goal as a BASIS Independent educator is to instill a love of learning in her students. One of her favorite quotes by Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, sums it up for her, “I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.” This is the sentiment that she strives to embody as a teacher. More than simply having a mastery of the concepts being taught, she wants her students to enjoy the learning process and continue to learn, even past their years at school. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley’s learning philosophy resonates with Ms. Gehlot’s teaching methods and ideology. She believes that foundational learning leads students towards achieving continuous success. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley provides a platform to affect the future of tomorrow – a place where she can effectively share her knowledge and experiences with children and provide them with a safe space to learn and succeed. Through her teaching experience thus far, she has noted that, “students learn best when they connect with teachers, allowing for open communication and dialogue. This allows students to move out of their comfort zones, exploring new areas of thought – no matter the subject that is being taught!” Learning is maximized by providing students with an even balance of effective instruction and application-based learning. Ms. Gehlot connects mathematical concepts to the real world to improve the learning process and strengthen students’ fundamental skills. In her experience, equating Ferris Wheels with trigonometry functions and poker playing with probability will ensure that students don’t forget these concepts. When she is not teaching, Ms. Gehlot spends her time cooking, travelling, and having (one too many) movie marathons with her husband and two daughters. Fun Fact – Her family has a major sweet tooth and makes sure to swing by a dessert place no matter where they are – whether it’s rose-flavored macaroons at Ladurée London or the Muir Woods Cherry ice-cream sundae at Ghirardelli Square!
Ms. Gera Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Ms. Gera holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Maharishi Dayanand University in India. She later received Early Childhood Education units from West Valley College in Saratoga, California. As a Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower campus, Ms. Gera’s goal is to inspire her students to explore, learn, and reach their full academic potential. She strives to provide the support students need to overcome any challenge they face and help them find confidence within themselves. Ms. Gera chose BASIS Independent because her teaching values matched the school’s philosophy of guiding students to become self-reliant, hard-working, and productive individuals. Before joining BASIS Independent, she heard from family and friends that BASIS Independent Schools fostered a safe learning environment and excelled in academic excellence that strengthened the community. Growing up in India, Ms. Gera was inspired by her mother’s efforts to encourage adults and children in the surrounding neighborhoods to enroll in school and continue their education. Her mother instilled the value that a good education will lead to a life of success and abundance. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Ms. Gera strives to inspire and strengthen her community by educating young minds in a safe learning environment where students can explore and learn real-life experiences. She prides herself in fostering educational excellence in her students by incorporating tested and fun learning methods and teaching techniques. From the first day of school, Ms. Gera sets clear guidelines and high expectations for her students and this has helped students create a sense of self-worth and determination to do well in their studies. When Ms. Gera is not in the classroom, she loves to go hiking on local trails with her family and friends. She has found that time flies when she is amidst nature and strolling along lakes or creeks. She has recently started to learn how to cook different cultural cuisines and really enjoys learning about the cultural background of the recipes she cooks. She mentioned that she is currently learning Mexican cuisine and absolutely loves making chicken enchiladas for dinner.
Ms. Guo Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Graduating from the Yunnan University of China with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science, Ms. Guo is currently one of our brilliant Mandarin teachers here at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Her goal as an educator is to stimulate students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese, guide them to find correct and effective ways to learn Chinese, and help them understand the characteristics of Chinese so they can firmly grasp what they have learned. Ms. Guo explains how Chinese and English belong to two completely different language systems, with Chinese being pictographic and English being phonetic. She believes if students learn these two languages at the same time, it can better develop their intelligence and improve their learning. Ms. Guo also emphasizes how her teaching philosophy is to allow students to learn happily and effectively. She uses a variety of teaching methods, according to the age, interests, and hobbies of my students to stimulate the learning interest of students and the students’ passion for self-driven in-depth exploration. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Guo likes dancing and watching sports competitions. She also enjoys trying different kinds of food!
Mr. Haberlach Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Mr. Haberlach has a Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Physical Education from Western Oregon University, as well as a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Concordia University – Chicago. He is also a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer. As a Physical Education Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School, his goal is to teach the students that exercise is important for physical, mental, emotional, and social health. He teaches different exercises that are fun, but that also build strength and endurance. Mr. Haberlach ensures that his classes encourage and motivate students to make exercise as part of their everyday routine so that they eventually turn into lifelong habits. Students will participate regularly in a wide variety of exercises and sport activities. They will learn that exercise can be done individually or in small groups and that both methods can be fun and rewarding. They will learn that exercise will make them feel more alert and more energized and that it is an important daily activity. Some of his favorite activities to teach TK- Grade 5 students are motor skills with a focus on how to move the body correctly. Developing motor skills at a young age is the foundation for all types of exercise, sports, or activities that they will participate in throughout their lives. Students learn best in physical education classes by using a progression method that starts at an easy level that slowly builds to more difficult skills. The progression method allows many repetitions and practicing those skills before advancing to another level of skills. In his free time, Mr. Haberlach enjoys going backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his wife and three children. Backpacking is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family, away from the distractions of everyday life.
Ms. Han Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Ms. Han earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the Hunan University of Science and Technology in Xiangtan, China. After moving to the United States, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Education from Cleveland State University in Ohio and also received her K-12 Single Subject Teaching Credential. After graduating, Ms. Han became the first Mandarin teacher in a public school district in Ohio. She was invited as a lead teacher at Kent State University in Ohio to aid in the STARTALK Chinese Immersion Program. When coming to California in 2012, she obtained her Single Subject Teaching Credential. Ms. Han is a Subject Expert Teacher in Mandarin at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower campus. Having over ten years of teaching experience, Ms. Han’s goal is to help students master the Chinese language, know Chinese culture, and respect and love the diverse customs that come with it. Her teaching philosophy is that in order to fully understand the Chinese language, students must learn both reading and writing skills. Having this firm foundation will help students to have confidence and interest in exploring Chinese culture. Ms. Han incorporates Chinese games, crafts, and singing Chinese songs in her lesson plans to help make learning fun and easy for her students. When she is not teaching Mandarin, Ms. Han enjoys hiking in the Bay Area with her family and friends. She loves to read, cook delicious meals, and watch movies during her downtime.
Mr. Hansen Subject Expert Teacher | High School
Raised on a working farm, Mr. Hansen received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History at the University of Nebraska. As a classroom teacher, most of Mr. Hansen’s experience has been with AP English language and AP world history, a course he co-taught with his wife and which earned recognition from the College Board as the best of its kind in the nation. In addition to working as a grader of AP English language exams at the national reading, Hal has also been a featured presenter on AP English at the National AP Conference. As a writer and communicator, Mr. Hansen has nearly twenty years of experience in which he has learned to connect with a wide range of audiences. After earning a second place finish in public speaking at the National Forensics League National Championships during his junior year in high school, he went on to work as a registered lobbyist both during and after college. Mr. Hansen has also worked as the communications advisor to a hi-tech start up and as a Subject Matter Expert in Writing for the Department of Defense, in addition to publishing a book on campaigns and elections in the fall of 2012. When he’s not writing, teaching English to BASIS Independent Silicon Valley students, or reading, Mr. Hansen likes gardening, classic cinema, and traveling in Europe and the western United States with his wife and daughters.
Ms. Hetu Subject Expert Teacher | Middle & High School
Ms. Hetu received her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At the previous school where she worked, she was awarded the “2022 Teacher of the Year” award, culminating her years of experience in teaching along with the amazing passion she has for her students and their learning. As a proud educator, she teaches Visual Art to students in our Middle and High School programs. Her teaching philosophy is to foster a love and excitement for visual art and help them understand how it relates to creativity and reasoning. Ms. Hetu believes that students learn best when they can see how passionate their teachers are about the subject material, and when they can connect subjects to their personal life and experiences. In addition, students learn better when they are engaged and excited about the topics. She loves when students first complain about a topic, and then become obsessed with it after a lesson! Ms. Hetu enjoys using dancing, books, demonstrations, current events, and other such interactive activities to engage her students. In her free time, she is an artist and loves to draw and paint. She is also a very passionate swimmer and has an amazing pet dog named Foxy!
Ms. Iskander Subject Expert Teacher | High School
Ms. Iskander received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering on 1999, from Cairo University. In 2003, she finished the Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers and Trainers. She later studied for her Master’s in Education, at Acacia University Arizona, receiving the degree in 2014. Ms. Iskander is the subject expert teacher of Engineering, Physics and Statistics. She has great passion for students and their education. Her goal is to promote and empower students to be the best version of themselves. She chose BASIS Independent Silicon Valley because of how the school deftly balances rigorous academics and art, performing arts and sports in its academic community. This well executed combination of activities produces students who are discerning and well rounded. When not in the classroom, she enjoys reading, diving, and meditation. She also serves as a volunteer counselor.
Ms. Jayapal Learning Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Ms. Jayapal received a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering with Distinction from Madras University. More recently, she completed 13 core units of Early Childhood Education from Ohlone College in Fremont. One of the reasons our school is a good fit for her is that she appreciates the challenging curriculum. She believes that each student is unique and helps to create a warm learning environment in the classroom by their specific participation. She takes her role in education very seriously, feeling that schools have an incredible responsibility. “Both substantial morals and academic knowledge must be imparted to students during their education to help them do well in society and beyond school.” Ms. Jayapal explained that her part in this is a commitment to understanding the concepts well enough to be able to explain them to the students in a formulated way. Her main goal in the classroom is to spend time on concept building and helping kids develop a productive learning ethics. Ms. Jayapal finds it especially rewarding to witness students achieving academic excellence. Ms. Jayapal loves outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and going on walks. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor.
Dr. Jensen Subject Expert Teacher | Middle School
Dr. Jensen hails from Scotts Valley, California. Prior to teaching at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, he taught American Literature, World Literature, and Native American Literature, as an Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University. At the University of California, Santa Cruz, he double majored in Literature and Anthropology and minored in Latin; he graduated with honors in both majors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honors society. Dr. Jensen also attained a Master’s degree and Doctoral degrees in American Literature from the University of California, Davis, where he taught several composition courses. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley attracted Dr. Jensen because of its high standards of excellence. Having taught literature and composition at universities in America, Germany, and France, he has come to appreciate schools that hold their students to a high level of achievement. “BASIS Independent Silicon Valley has an incredible system that helps students succeed at every step in their scholastic career,” he states. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Jensen’s interests include martial arts (he holds the rank of third degree black belt in Taekwondo), traveling the globe, and spending time with family and friends. He has also published poetry and literary criticism in various journals and anthologies.
Ms. Jordana Subject Expert Teacher | Middle & High School
Ms. Jordana has been working as a professional musician and educator in the Bay Area for some time. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at San Jose State University where she also studied choral and orchestral conducting. While completing her studies, she performed with numerous professional groups including a cappella ensembles +4db, SoVoSo, Opera San Jose, and served as the assistant conductor to the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Jordana was also commissioned to write the “De Anza College Jingle” broadcast on radio stations throughout the Bay Area. As a choral teacher, her groups have been chosen to sing on televised performances including one chosen by the Oakland Raiders organization. While completing her Teaching Credential in Secondary Education Music at San Jose State University, she served as a fellow with the California Music Project assisting music teachers in low-income schools. Ms. Jordana’s studies also include Levels I and II Kodály training from Holy Names University where she awarded a scholarship by the Northern California Association of Kodály Educators. Active in the Bay Area arts community, Ms. Jordana served as the President of the Silicon Valley Arts Coalition and was the founder and artistic director of the Foothill Community Concert Series. As an educator, she has taught in the public school system, done guest conducting, led workshops and clinics. Currently, Ms. Jordana spends part of her professional life as the Intermediate Choir Director and Teen a cappella Vocal Jazz Director with Vivace Youth Chorus. “As a music teacher at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, I teach the 5th grade and Upper School Choirs as well as the keyboarding classes where I want to foster music literacy by familiarizing the students with the choral art through standard choral repertoire and vocal ensemble technique and by exposing the students to the different levels of keyboarding, respectively. While we’re doing so, I want the students to experience the best part of music-making – the joy!” Ms. Jordana chose BASIS Independent Silicon Valley because of its holistic approach to education. “BASIS Independent Silicon Valley values academia not just for its own sake but with the goal of developing well-rounded individuals, and independent thinkers versed in a myriad of subjects including the humanities and the arts,” she says. When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Jordana enjoys cycling, hiking, and working out. She also loves to read and knit. Ms. Jordana is an avid Trekker and has attended a few Star Trek conventions dressed as Lieutenant Uhura.
Ms. Ju Subject Expert Teacher | Primary Program
Ms. Ju earned a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at Shanghai Normal University, and then a Master of Science in TESOL at University at Albany-SUNY. Teaching is her passion. She has taught at other private schools in the Bay Area and is very excited to work for BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School. Our school mission is to educate students to the highest international levels, which Ms. Ju feels perfectly matches her teaching philosophy. “BASIS Independent school has intelligent students, excellent expert teachers and an amazing curriculum,” she explained. This is a wonderful environment for me to continue to hone mydevelopment as a teacher.” As an educator, her goal is to guide students while they explore, follow, and achieve their dreams. Another key goal is to help her students understand and appreciate that learning is an ongoing process that never ends. Ms. Ju feels that it is important to teach students about respecting others and to treat others how they would like to be treated. She believes that each student is unique and should be valued. She commits to assisting stu-dents in discovering who they are and what they need, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas. Ms. Ju helps students to fulfill their potential by believing in them as capable individuals. She believes that it is her responsibility as a teacher to facilitate the learning process, and to promote a safe, productive and inclusive environment, which in turn improves her students’ social, intellectual, and emotional skills. She hopes that her students feel comfortable in relating to her as a tool to help lead them to success. As a Chinese language teacher, Ms. Ju believes that students not only learn various linguistic knowledge, they also develop skills on how to use Mandarin as a tool of communication. An important part of her teaching is to guide students to learn and understand Chinese culture. For example, to incorporate all kinds of cultural elements in her lessons, such as history, social values, customs,beliefs, traditions and so on. These help guide classroom discussions and encourage students to participate in cul-tural events. She enjoys using tools like group discussions in these lessons, so that they can collaborate together and think of things they might not have otherwise on their own. She will include music whenever possible, as it maximizes engagement on any topic. And it’s a lot of fun! When Ms. Ju is not teaching, she enjoys hiking, traveling, watching movies, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Mr. Juarez Subject Expert Teacher | Middle & High School
Mr. Juarez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from California State University, Chico and a Master of Arts in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University. He has been a part of the Dance and Theatre Arts program at De Anza College since 2016. At De Anza College, he recently directed Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka and The Bacchae by Euripides. He is a theatre maker based in the Bay Area. Selected credits include: Ed in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at The Pear Theatre, Henry VIII in Anne of the Thousand Days at Dragon Productions Theatre Company, Malcolm in The Scottish play at Half Moon Bay Shakespeare, and Tom Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Livermore Shakespeare Festival. He is thrilled to be joining the BASIS Independent Silicon Valley family as a Drama Subject Expert Teacher. As an educator and actor, he has had the honor and opportunity to work with people from all backgrounds and ages. Theatre arts inspires him as a discipline because it encourages humans to come together, embrace our backgrounds, and work towards a goal. When building his curriculum he believes in including a variety of playwrights who can introduce diverse stories that support our students in building their identity and sense of belonging. As a teacher, it is his goal to provide his students with classical and contemporary acting training where they can hear, see, and share their stories. As a performer and audience member, Mr. Juarez has witnessed the power of storytelling and its ability to expand perspective. His experiences have informed his understanding of the need for representation and inclusion. He truly believes theatre has the power to change the world as it has done for him. Mr. Juarez loves spending time with his family exploring nature, supporting local theatre, and visiting Disneyland.