Ms. Spencer earned both her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Master of Science degree in Sports Leadership from Endicott College. She graduated Summa Cum Laude when completing her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. Ms. Spencer is the Auxiliary Programs Manager of Athletics at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Her main goal in her role is to give students a fun and memorable sports experience that helps to enrich all aspects of their lives. Ms. Spencer saw the dedication that students at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Upper campus had for all things athletics and knew that she would be the perfect fit to make their sports goals achievable. As a former college athlete, she loves all things sports and helping students make progress in the sport that they choose. In her spare time, she enjoys weightlifting, reading, and exploring new places around the Bay Area. In her final year of playing college softball, she was an NCAA Nationally Ranked Division 2 softball athlete and was ranked 6th in the entire nation in hit-by-pitches!

Ms. Sullivan serves as the Front Office/Health Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Her goal is to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for everyone who walks through the school’s doors, as well as to maintain the health and well-being of the students.

She chose BASIS Independent Silicon Valley because she loves the school’s culture and the supportive parent community. Ms. Sullivan states that she always feels appreciated for her contributions and enjoys being part of such a positive environment.

Outside of work, Ms. Sullivan loves going to concerts and shows. She also enjoys traveling and trying new cuisines, always on the lookout for new experiences and flavors.

Ms. Than received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Jose State University. Her college experience was enriched by her participation in a research project at Stanford Graduate School of Education as a research assistant. Her passion for education led her to choose to become a part of the BASIS Independent Silicon Valley team. Ms. Than explained that she wants to “thoughtfully inspire the students to be the best of themselves, and to be able to contribute to the school in a manner that is most beneficial to our students.”

Ms. Than started at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley as the Curriculum Coordinator; a position she held for two years before taking on the role of Upper School Dean of Students and Senior Project Coordinator in 2021. As part of the Student Affairs Department, she had the opportunity to provide mentoring and promote a productive learning environment for the students.

As the Director of Academic Programs at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School, Ms. Than upholds academic excellence and curriculum development. She believes that both of the departments she has worked in are incredibly important for our students, even if they each have very different focus. During her free time, she loves cooking Vietnamese dishes and spending time with her two adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Ms. Titus earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Thought from Concordia University Irvine. She originally joined BASIS Independent Silicon Valley during its founding year in 2014 as a Learning Expert Teacher before becoming a Subject Expert Teacher. After several years in the classroom, she eventually joined the Student Affairs Team as Dean of Students for Grades 5 – 7. She then joined another private school in the Monterey Bay Area as Vice Principal for two years.

We are excited to have Ms. Titus back and we know she will bring her experiences and expertise from the classroom and as a member of admin to the leadership role of Head of School. She chose BASIS Independent because she was inspired by the level of rigor it presents for students and its innovative model for education. “BASIS Independent Schools creates an environment that is inspiring for students, encouraging them to be curious, try new things and always put forth their best effort. I wanted to be part of a school that believed students were capable and pushed them to their fullest potential! From the two-teacher model at the primary level to the spiraled curriculum in middle school, I loved that BASIS was doing things differently than other schools and was getting incredible results.”

Her goal is to develop a school with a strong sense of community where students are well-known, well-cared for, and pushed to their fullest potential. “I want BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower School to be a place where students explore, learn, try new things, and develop the skills that they need to succeed throughout their educational careers.”

When she’s not on campus, Ms. Titus loves to be outside. If she’s not hiking or paddle boarding, you can find her sitting outside with a historical fiction novel. Fun Fact: Ms. Titus is a major history buff! She knows and loves learning fun facts about U.S. Presidents.

Mr. Ulloa is the Operations Coordinator at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Jose State University. In his role, Mr. Ulloa is focused on providing logistical and administrative support to teachers, helping to ensure that the school’s operations run smoothly and efficiently.

He chose BASIS Independent Schools because he wanted to contribute to the development of young minds and values the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with teachers, staff, and parents, all of whom play a role in raising and educating students.

Outside of his work, Mr. Ulloa enjoys photography, watching sports, and playing golf in his free time.

Mr. Valdivia earned his Associate of Science in Engineering from Canada College in Redwood City, California. He is the Facilities Manager at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower campus and oversees the cleanliness and maintenance of the school grounds. Mr. Valdivia enjoys drinking his morning coffee and working on projects around the school campus. He makes it his priority to ensure that students and staff have a clean learning environment and working hardware in their classrooms.

Mr. Vergara is a Campus Assistant and Sports Coach at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He is currently coaching various teams in basketball, volleyball, and cross country at the Upper School campus. His main goal as a Campus Assistant is to make sure students have a safe yet enjoyable environment.

In addition to being a Campus Assistant and Coach, Mr. Vergara is also pursuing his college degree. He is currently working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.

As a former high school athlete, Mr. Vergara was very excited to be given the opportunity to coach. He has played basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, making short films, writing and recording music, hanging out with friends, and playing with his dog.

Ms. Wood earned her Early Childhood Development units at De Anza College and then taught preschool for several years. Ms. Wood has been working in education for the last 12 years, and loves seeing students every day. As a Curriculum Coordinator, Ms. Wood acts as a support system to help students, faculty and administration achieve their goals. Carla chose BASIS Independent Silicon Valley because she wanted to work with an amazing group of students and teachers. When Ms. Wood is not at school, she spends time with her family, and enjoys reading a good book.

Mr. Wood holds a Bachelor of Arts in General Business with an emphasis in finance. While studying finance, he led many team projects and actively found new ways to solve problems, create effective presentations, and coordinate many successful activities. It was during these years that he spent many hours working for after-school programs. After graduating from San Jose State University he taught for six years, and in true Mr. Wood fashion, he kept it exciting by teaching grades ranging from grade one to grade 12!

In his role as Head of Operations, he uses all of his skills running a classroom, and his ability to problem-solve most any situation, and applies them to the real world. He can support teachers, administrators, and students; helping all of them create lasting memories. Of his role in Operations he said, “I strive to ensure students have all the resources and procedures they need to take home memories that will hopefully stick for a lifetime. ”

When not on campus, you can find Mr. Wood enjoying the outdoors. Whether he is hiking, camping, or exploring trails in his Jeep, you can bet that his husky mix, Mishka, is right there with him. Additionally, he is an active host of weekly husky meet-ups at dog parks across the South Bay.

Ms. Wood earned her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from De Anza College. While completing her coursework, she also studied child development which continues to be an area of interest. As the Summer Program Coordinator, Ms. Wood is in charge of creating fun and interesting programs for students during the summer that keep them active and learning. Outdoor activities and adventures are a student favorite and Ms. Wood enjoys planning these summer itineraries. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley was enticing to her as the community values diversity and encourages self-expression. The ability for students to embrace their own personalities at school combined with a great combination of cultures, personalities, and ideas makes for a fun and engaging environment. Ms. Wood values creative thinking almost as much as content mastery. “I believe students should value their own ability to think creatively, and I encourage them to use new ways to show and express their knowledge.” She also feels strongly that social and emotional development of students is also incredibly important, continuing with, “Learning happens best when children feel safe in the school environment.” In her down time, she enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her pup. Whether it’s hiking or going camping, she enjoys capturing the beauty of the world through a lens. If Ms. Wood is not outside, she is writing stories or being creative to do some kind of art.