Mr. Eric Baade serves as a Campus Assistant at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where he is dedicated to fostering an environment in which students can thrive while continuing to grow as an education professional. He holds a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Mr. Baade chose BASIS Independent Schools for its strong sense of integrity and its genuine commitment to providing a high-quality education. He values being part of a community that prioritizes both academic excellence and meaningful student support.

He believes that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process, and he strives to contribute to an environment that encourages curiosity and participation. By supporting students both inside and outside the classroom, he aims to help them feel confident and motivated in their academic journey.

Outside of school, Mr. Baade enjoys long walks, bike rides, scuba diving, playing the banjo, reading, and spending time with friends and family. A fun fact: he owns a six-foot boa constrictor named Jörmungandr, inspired by the world serpent from Norse mythology.

Mr. Borceguin is the Director of Auxiliary Programs at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School. He earned an Associate Degree in Health Science from Evergreen Valley College and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from San Jose State University. In his role, he is dedicated to creating inclusive clubs and events, helping every student discover hobbies and interests that spark their passion. He believes there is something for everyone and strives to provide opportunities that engage and inspire each individual.

He chose BASIS Independent Schools for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student growth, as well as its supportive community. Being part of a team that encourages education, creativity, and lifelong learning aligns closely with his personal and professional values.

Outside of school, Mr. Borceguin is a passionate sports enthusiast, cheering for the San Jose Sharks, San Jose Earthquakes, and Golden State Warriors. He enjoys playing basketball and soccer and has recently embraced the challenge of golf. He also loves cooking, walking his 15-year-old dog Deeno, playing video games, and traveling, with notable trips to Mexico, Ireland, and Italy. A fun fact about him is that he is ambidextrous—shooting with his right hand in basketball while making lay-ups with his left, and being able to shoot effectively with both feet in soccer.

Mr. Bracamonte holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from San Jose State University. As the Director of Communications 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. Christopher earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from San Francisco State University, where she graduated summa cum laude.

She currently serves as the Admissions Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School. In this role, her goal is to make the admissions process clear, welcoming, and smooth for both students and their families. She chose BASIS Independent Schools because she believes in its mission to provide the best educational experience for students and wanted to be part of a community that supports student growth while making families feel at home.

Outside of her work, Ms. Christopher enjoys reading, baking, exploring new bookstores, and hiking. A fun fact about her is that she also enjoys writing short stories.

Ms. Maliyah Clark serves as the Dean of Students for Grades 6 and 7 at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where she is dedicated to creating a positive, respectful, and accountable school culture where students are encouraged to grow academically, socially, and personally. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Purdue Global University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Higher Education at Purdue Global University.

Ms. Clark chose BASIS Independent Schools because she values an environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves and strive for academic excellence. She is inspired by the school’s commitment to high expectations, meaningful relationships, and student growth, which aligns with her belief in supporting students through accountability, respect, and personal development.

Her educational philosophy centers on the belief that every student can grow when they feel supported, respected, and challenged. Ms. Clark believes strong relationships are the foundation for student success and strives to create an inclusive environment where students develop confidence, responsibility, and effective decision-making skills. She encourages students to reflect on their choices, learn from their experiences, and take ownership of their growth while providing the guidance and encouragement needed to succeed.

Outside of school, Ms. Clark enjoys spending time with her family and creating meaningful memories together. She also enjoys exploring new food spots with her husband and sons. A fun fact: her family travels across the country to support her son as he competes in flag football tournaments.

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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 Admissions 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. 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. Florando serves as the Dean of Students for Grades 3–5 at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where she is dedicated to supporting students in their academic and personal growth while fostering a positive, respectful, and engaging school environment. She earned her Early Childhood Education credits from Mission College and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education at Pacific Oaks College. She has worked in Early Childhood Education since 2012, most recently as a Pre-Kindergarten English-speaking teacher at an English and Chinese bilingual school.

Ms. Florando chose BASIS Independent Schools because of its curriculum, which encourages students to make meaningful connections across subjects while building strong foundational skills. She values being part of a community that inspires both students and educators to grow, and she believes all children are capable, motivated learners.

Her educational philosophy centers on recognizing the uniqueness of each student’s learning style and personality while guiding them to reach their full potential. She believes students thrive when they are supported, challenged, and given opportunities to think critically and solve problems. By fostering strong relationships built on trust and respect, Ms. Florando creates an environment where students feel confident sharing their ideas, collaborating with peers, and developing independence.

Outside of school, Ms. Florando enjoys exploring new places and visiting Disneyland whenever she can. She also loves spending time with her loved ones and her two dogs. A fun fact: she enjoys singing, dancing and choreographing hip hop, and drawing.

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.

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Ms. Hines earned her Bachelor’s degree in Educational Support with an emphasis in Special Education and Elementary Education and is pursuing her Master of Education in Educational Technology & Instructional Design at Western Governors University. She serves as the Director of Auxiliary and Summer Programs at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where her goal is to design engaging and well-structured opportunities that enrich student experiences beyond the classroom while fostering creativity, leadership, and community involvement. She chose BASIS Independent Schools because of their commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and holistic student development, and was particularly drawn to BISV’s emphasis on enrichment and student voice.

In her role, Ms. Hines develops student-driven programs and extracurricular opportunities that connect learning to real-world applications. She designs project-based activities, interactive workshops, leadership opportunities, and community-building events that encourage students to explore their interests, take ownership of their growth, and collaborate with peers. One of her favorite initiatives was the Lights On Afterschool event, which brought students together to showcase their talents, celebrate enrichment programs, and strengthen community connections.

Outside of school, Ms. Hines enjoys spending time with her two boys, hiking, traveling, and painting. A fun fact about her is that she loves finding ways to combine work with play—whether turning everyday family moments into learning experiences or bringing that same energy into the programs she designs for students.