Mr. Bracamonte holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from San Jose State University. As the Communications Manager at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, he thrives in his creative role, enjoying the freedom to design for all school outlets and be the storyteller of what is happening on campus. He manages all BISV social media platforms, the school website, blogs, and the ParentSquare communication platform, and he is frequently seen around campus capturing photos and videos of students.

Mr. Bracamonte chose BASIS Independent for its mission to educate students to the highest international standards with a comprehensive liberal arts and sciences curriculum. He admires the school’s commitment to preparing students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and self-advocacy skills necessary for lifelong success. Believing that students learn best with proper support and the freedom to explore through curiosity and trial and error, he sees this as a path to building confidence and ownership of their success.

Outside of work, Mr. Bracamonte loves hiking and trying new restaurants, being a self-proclaimed foodie. He also enjoys traveling, particularly to hot and humid destinations like Hawaii. 

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Ms. Chan holds a Bachelor of Education in English from the Education University of Hong Kong and a Master of Arts in Literary Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. As the Dean of Students at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, she aims to facilitate effective communication among students, parents, and teachers to maintain a positive learning environment that promotes both personal development and academic success.

Ms. Chan chose BASIS Independent because its holistic approach to teaching and learning aligns with her personal education philosophy, and she wanted to be part of a team dedicated to fostering a love of learning in every student. She believes every student is unique and has great potential, emphasizing the importance of developing relationships to help them realize this potential.

Ms. Chan holds that students learn best when they are intrinsically motivated and naturally curious, and she strives to inspire this curiosity by serving as a role model. She uses collaborative activities and eLearning elements to maximize student engagement, often turning learning activities into competitions. One of her favorite lessons involved students writing descriptions of characters, creating visualizations, and sharing their work, resulting in much laughter and engagement.

Outside of work, Ms. Chan enjoys hiking, reading, solving Sudoku puzzles, and debating whether to get a boba. She is a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki and loves all his works, and she has a Goldendoodle named Noodle.

Ms. Chan graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
She is the Curriculum Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where her goal is to ensure that both teachers and students experience a smooth academic process.

Ms. Chan maintains the organization of grades and academics, supporting the educational flow of the school. She chose BASIS Independent Schools due to the prestigious education provided and the staff’s genuine care for both students’ academic success and their overall well-being.

Outside of work, Ms. Chan enjoys meeting up with friends and crocheting with them. She also loves traveling, especially to Europe and Asia.

Ms. Del Toro is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Psychology at Ohlone College due to her strong passion for understanding psychological concepts and their applications in real-world settings. With plans to transfer to San Jose State University in the near future to continue her studies, she brings her academic enthusiasm to her role as the Front Office/Health Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley.

In this position, Ms. Del Toro aims to create a welcoming and informative environment for students, parents, visitors, and staff, striving to facilitate effective communication and provide essential information regarding campus resources, ultimately contributing to a positive and efficient atmosphere. Drawn to BASIS Independent for its warm, community-focused environment and the genuine dedication of its teachers and staff to the school’s mission, Ms. Del Toro values her three years of prior experience working in a school setting.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places, with her most recent adventure taking her to New York, always eager to discover new destinations and create lasting memories.

Mr. Diaz received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona. He also considers his time as a United States Army Medical Specialist and as an overnight homeless shelter supervisor as important, formative experiences. Mr. Diaz has been fortunate to implement the BASIS curriculum in various cultural and socioeconomic populations; he is at BASIS Independent because he believes the BASIS curriculum works. Mr. Diaz’s teaching philosophy is based around the principles of Project-Based Learning, and if he had to describe himself in three educational theories, they would be Bloom’s taxonomy, Ausubel’s subsumption theory and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. He keeps students busy, knowing students are capable of great ideas, and he understands his role in facilitating a student’s approach toward those great ideas. The most important aspect in the classroom is compassion. A compassionate teacher remembers the struggle of being a student and behaves accordingly. Compassion results in thoughtful, well-planned lessons and a classroom environment respectful of a student’s humanity. When not at work, Mr. Diaz enjoys creating abstract and surrealistic paintings. He also enjoys studying project management and user experience design.

Mr. Do is a Campus Assistant at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley with extensive experience as a behavioral health counselor, specializing in trauma-informed care for youth. He was also a licensed Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist, certified by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board, and practiced for several years in this field.

As a Campus Assistant, his goal is to foster a safe, supportive, and achievement-focused environment that helps students be productive, engaged, and successful in their academic and personal growth.

Mr. Do chose BASIS Independent Schools because of its commitment to high academic standards and its strong sense of community. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his seven cats and three dogs. He is always happy to chat about his pets and believes that everyone he meets is a friend who hasn’t yet been introduced!

Ms. Erb received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Pathway Minor in Sustainability from California State University Chico. While at California State University Chico, she presented at the 14th Annual Sustainability Conference in 2016 on the impact of interactive sustainability efforts and proposed a new sustainability program for the campus.

Currently, she is the Dean of Students for Grades 6 and 7 at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where her goal is to create community and foster a culture of acceptance and understanding by creating safe and equitable places of learning, nurturing individual potential, and encouraging discovery, dreaming, and possibility. Ms. Erb chose BASIS Independent for its alignment with her values and its commitment to holistic education.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in love, compassion, and heart, emphasizing the importance of showing up every day for students, sharing in triumphs and failures with kindness, and reflecting on both brave and vulnerable moments. She believes students learn best when they feel believed in and are approached with compassion and encouragement.

Outside of work, Ms. Erb loves to read, craft, and spend time outdoors, especially when the weather is good.

Mr. Farrell graduated from SUNY New Paltz where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business and a Minor in Asian Studies. He also studied abroad at Beijing University in Beijing, China. While completing his degree at New Paltz, he volunteered by helping international students as their English Language Partner.

Mr. Farrell enjoyed learning about the different cultures and lifestyles of each student he supported while being able to expand his own cultural awareness. In 2013, he worked at a private international school in Taipei, Taiwan as a teacher and later as a Curriculum Manager. It was a great way to continue his experiences helping students reach their academic goals. At the same time, it provided wonderful insight on how to work within a multicultural environment. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2018, Mr. Farrell continued to support students as a private academic consultant in areas ranging from GPA maintenance, AP/SAT/ACT test preparation and college counseling.

After serving as Director of Admissions for both campuses, he moved into the Head of Operations position. In this new role, he looks forward to continuing to work with families, finding innovative ways to support them throughout their journey with our school. Initially, drawn to BASIS Independent Silicon Valley for its commitment to challenging students to excel, Mr. Farrell values the collaborative teams and the diverse perspectives within the community.

In his free-time, Mr. Farrell enjoys hiking, painting, and catching up with friends and family. Fun fact: He was the singer of a band in high school.

Mr. Ferguson studied a wide variety of topics at De Anza College in Cupertino. Subjects include Business, Calculus, Music, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Computer Aided Design, Programming, Linguistics, and more. He also completed Hope Corps, a ministry/missionary/leadership training program, in 2014. As the IT Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, Mr. Ferguson keeps campus running, for both students and staff. As a young person, Mr. Ferguson was homeschooled from grade 4 through high school. “There were many blessings about this, but two things stand out above the rest,” he says. “First, I was given a love for learning and exploration. Learning became something that was not just relegated to certain hours of the day, but rather something that I was passionate about and pursued in my own time. The second blessing was that I was encouraged to pursue my interests, and to explore subjects I was passionate about.” Mr. Ferguson says, “BASIS Independent Silicon Valley has a unique atmosphere where I see these two concepts (among other great things) thriving daily. Our classrooms are a place where the teachers are passionate about the subjects they are teaching, and our students are passionate about the things they are learning.” As an avid traveler, he has been all around the United States and to multiple foreign countries. “The highlight of my travels thus far was a month-long trip in the summer of 2016, to the island of Roatan, Honduras. While there, I taught English in a tiny village school, helped build the church there, and made connections with the local people that will forever impact my life and worldview,” says Mr. Ferguson. He is also a total foodie, a certified scuba diver, a speaker of Spanish and Mandarin, a choir director, a songwriter, a rock climber, and an avid DIYer.

Ms. Filios graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a double-major in English and Communication Arts. Not sure whether she wanted to pursue a film writing criteria, she met with her favorite high school English teacher who convinced her to give teaching a try. She then went on to Stanford University where she earned her Teaching Credential in English and a Master of Arts in Education. She has had the good fortune to have held a number of different educational positions while working at schools in the Bay Area. While at Saint Francis High School, she taught English, served as Director of Activities twice. She also served as the Director of College Counseling, in addition to moderating a wide variety of activities from cheerleading to the Teen Awareness Program. She then became principal at Saint Lawrence Academy where she served for 12 years before serving one year as Dean of Students at Magnolia Science Academy. Before coming to BISV, she worked at Valley International Academy, a small international high school in Saratoga, where she served as Head of School. Ms. Filios joined us as the Director of Academic Programs, and then transitioned to our College Counseling team. Working as a College Guidance Counselor is a job that she adores and she loves working in this student facing role. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, learning about colleges and universities, and spending time with her granddaughter Savannah. Many Saturday and Sundays are spent watching her granddaughter play goalie on her club soccer team.

Ms. Flores is a Campus Assistant at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. She holds a Medical Assistant Certificate and is passionate about inspiring students and fostering a love for learning. Her goal as an educator is to guide young minds toward becoming well-rounded young adults.

Ms. Flores chose BASIS Independent Schools for the opportunity to contribute to students’ growth and development. Outside of work, she enjoys relaxing with her favorite TV shows and a cold cup of Coca-Cola.

Ms. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from The University of Texas at San Antonio. After college she spent 18 years in New York City teaching, being a childcare provider, coaching powerlifting and working as a camp leader in the Berkshires. She is joining the BASIS Independent Silicon Valley family from BASIS Independent Brooklyn as the Director of Auxiliary and Summer Programs.

Ms. Garcia has a passion for working with children and believes that every child learns differently, so it’s important to learn new ways of doing things and to always be open to change.

As the Director of Auxiliary and Summer Programs, a priority for Ms. Garcia is to create well-rounded and balanced after school and summer programs. Inclusivity and Diversity is a passion that Ms. Garcia brings with her to the BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Family. “I am here to listen to our community. I want to make sure our students and parents feel seen and heard.”

When not on campus, Ms. Garcia spends time with her two dogs, Sherlock and Watson. Fun fact, Ms. Garcia has visited over 32 countries and counting. If there is some time off, you can bet Ms. Garcia will be turning into Carmen Sandiego.

Mr. Hashimoto holds a Comptia Security+ certification and has been recognized with several honors including the Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

He currently serves as the Information Technology Assistant at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower Campus. Having transitioned from the military, he is eager to broaden his scope of work in the Information Technology field within an educational environment.

Mr. Hashimoto believes that students learn best from individuals they respect and emphasizes the importance of serving as role models in character, discipline, and work ethic. He advocates for demonstrating values through daily actions rather than empty words and supports learning through observation and practical application.

Outside of his professional duties, Mr. Hashimoto enjoys listening to music and reading novels. A fun fact about him is that he has gone skydiving twice prior to enlisting in the Air Force.

Mr. Henriquez has always had a passion to develop young leaders to impact their communities and world. His passion led him to study Youth Leadership and earn a Bachelor of Religious Education at West Coast Baptist College. Mr. Henriquez is thrilled to be the founding Director of Student Affairs at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower and utilize his experience, both in the classroom and as a Dean, to continue creating a challenging but exciting environment for his students to thrive in.

Mr. Henriquez is committed to giving our Bobcats the tools and skills to become successful, well rounded, and involved citizens of our community and the world. He strongly believes that each student has the potential to achieve more than they might think with the right tools and support. A native Southern Californian and avid learner, Mr. Henriquez spends his free time reading, listening to audiobooks, podcasts and YouTube how-to’s, cooking, volunteering at his church, exploring beautiful landscapes to photograph, and cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Some of his bucket list goals are to visit all 58 national parks, earn his pilot’s license and publish a coffee table book of his writing and photography.

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