Ms. Alsairafi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics from Williams College while conducting research on different galaxies and igniting a passion for learning about the universe and how everything in it connects.

Over the past two years, she has taught middle school algebra, astronomy, and physics. Ms. Alsairafi loves sharing her subject knowledge, which helps students acquire crucial problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that are necessary both inside and outside the classroom. Ms. Alsairafi is dedicated to engaging students in discussions about the practical applications of science and mathematics in the real world. Her objective is to boost students’ confidence in tackling challenging topics while also highlighting the inherent beauty and significance of the world’s interconnectedness.

When she’s not immersed in physics, Ms. Alsairafi enjoys painting, stargazing, and playing Sudoku.

Ms. Amy graduated cum laude from Tulane University with a double major in History and Classical Studies, two subjects for which she has great passion. Thereafter, she earned her Master of Education in Elementary Education from the University of Florida. After teaching stints in Florida, Ms. Amy moved to New York and worked as an educator at The Long Island Museum. There, she taught classes of elementary and middle school children about art and history when they visited with their schools. As an Early Learning Teacher, Ms. Amy’s goal is to pass on her love of learning to her students while helping them build long-lasting friendships with their peers. She chose BASIS Independent Manhattan due to the robust curriculum and focus on helping students become well-rounded. “It’s important for students to be challenged academically, but school should also contribute to their social and emotional growth as well”, says Ms. Amy. In her spare time, Ms. Amy loves to read, spend time with her family, and travel. Fun fact: She has visited forty states and their capitals. She hopes to see the other ten in the years to come!

Ms. Andrews hails from Minnesota, where she developed and implemented the Chinese program in Fergus Falls Public Schools in 2009 and has taught Mandarin ever since to students ranging from kindergarten to high school, and into college. Ms. Andrews attended the Startalk program in Fargo as a student in 2015 and returned as a teacher in the immersion program in 2016. Ms. Andrews holds two Master’s degrees, one in English Linguistics from Shandong University in China and another in Publishing Management from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. She is also a freelance translator and has published a number of books, including topics of second language acquisition and traditional Chinese cultures. Ms. Andrew’s strengths include the design of interactive and multi-disciplinary curricula to meet the students’ needs, and integrating technology to maintain interest. She is thrilled to be joining the BASIS Independent Manhattan team as a Mandarin Subject Expert Teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and traveling.

With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a master’s degree in the same field, Mr. Bisarez brings a strong foundation of academic excellence to his role at BASIS Independent Manhattan. He also received the qualification and earned the certification as a Licensed Professional Teacher. Mr. Bisarez began his teaching career in the Philippines in 2003, where he taught middle school science, biology, chemistry, and physics at both private and public schools. His dedication and adaptability resulted in him becoming an advisor for the pioneering Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) class.

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, Mr. Bisarez is passionate about creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment where students can thrive. His goal is to foster a love of biology and to empower students to become critical thinkers and problem-solvers.

Mr. Bisarez is an avid sports enthusiast and in his free time enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, and various ballgame sports.

Ms. Bond, a Chicago native, holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Theology from Dominican University, complemented by a transformative year studying philosophy, religion, and Shakespeare at the University of Oxford.

With five years of dedicated teaching experience at Success Academy, Ms. Bond has honed her craft in English Language Arts across various grade levels. Passionate about fostering critical thinking and a love of language, she is committed to preparing students for academic and personal success.

Drawn to BASIS Independent Manhattan’s emphasis on intellectual curiosity and rigorous academics, Ms. Bond is excited to contribute to the school’s vibrant learning community. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys staying active through running and exploring the culinary world.

Ms. Boscolo is a K-12 New York State certified theatre teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Theatre from NYU, in addition to an undergraduate degree in Child Psychology. Since joining BASIS Independent Manhattan in 2020, Ms. Boscolo has spearheaded a robust drama program. She directs the winter musical which features our grade 1-5 students. Past shows include Seussical, The Magic Tree House, and The Jungle Book! While she values her artistic work, Ms. Boscolo finds the most fulfillment when working with students. She believes the arts are an integral part of any student’s education and development and is thrilled to work with a community that feels the same!

In 2019, Mx. Campos graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a focus on queer studies and women and gender studies. Afterward, she attended Northern Michigan University (NMU) and completed their Master of Arts in English with a concentration in rhetoric and pedagogy as a fully-funded graduate student. At NMU, Mx. Campos primarily taught rhetoric courses. After completing their master’s program, she became a diversity, equity, and inclusion research consultant for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2022, the Florida State University College of Nursing established the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, and Mx. Campos joined the team as a subject matter research consultant as part of a grant from the National Institutes of Health to redesign HIV prevention and care interventions. As much as Mx. Campos enjoyed working in research, she could not ignore their love for teaching and returned to the classroom. She finds it most exciting to strengthen students’ literacy skills and expand their perspectives on language, discourse, and communication. Outside of the classroom, you can find Mx. Campos in the park with their two dogs or spending time with their community!

Originally from Connecticut, Ms. Conway stayed on the East Coast to attend Colby College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education. At Colby, she was a student-athlete on the women’s rowing team and a mentor to a local student for four years. She also assisted in running a mentoring program called Colby Cares About Kids. Most recently, Ms. Conway taught third grade at a charter school in the Bronx. She has also spent many summers as a camp counselor, and she ran her own camp in 2020. Ms. Conway was drawn to BASIS Independent Manhattan for its strong sense of community, its emphasis on social-emotional learning, and its academic rigor. She is thrilled to be part of the Wildcat community, where she can connect with each student on an individual level and help them reach their goals.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brigham Young University. He has a diverse teaching background, having served as a first-year writing instructor and math tutor at BYU, a science and English teacher at a NYC charter school, and a college math tutor at Arizona State University. In his classroom, Mr. Davis strives to ignite curiosity and reward a passion for learning. He is thrilled to be part of the BASIS Independent Manhattan team, believing that our school provides an exceptional environment to achieve his educational goals. When he is not in the classroom, you can most likely catch Mr. Davis reading a book or going to the movie theaters with my friends. Also, he and his wife love to travel. They recently visited Iceland and climbed a glacier, Belize to explore caves and ruins, and Montreal, Quebec, where they hiked Mont-Tremblant.

With a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology and currently pursuing a master’s degree in the field, Ms. Del Valle has a strong foundation in child development and educational best practices.

Ms. Del Valle is excited to return to BASIS Independent Manhattan as a grade 2 Learning Expert Teacher.  Drawing on over five years of experience working in both independent early learning schools and extracurricular programs in NYC, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom. Ms. Del Valle is committed to providing a structured and high-performing learning environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential. She is dedicated to guiding and supporting her students and their families, building strong relationships, and fostering a sense of community within the classroom.

Outside of work, Ms. Del Valle enjoys spending time with her son, exercising, and indulging in a good cup of Starbucks.

Ms. Delaney graduated from Scripps College with a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Studio Art. In 2016, she studied architecture and art history at the Chelsea College of Arts in London, UK. During the summer of 2015, Ms. Delaney’s interest in architecture led her to complete the Career Discovery Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design where she studied design under Harvard professors and graduates. After completing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Delaney worked as a junior architectural designer at Kenneth Boroson Architects in New Haven, Connecticut. Navigating her career towards education, Ms. Delaney is thrilled to be a Subject Expert Teacher who teaches Engineering and Art at BASIS Independent Manhattan. She loves having the opportunity to bring her knowledge of architecture, science, and art into the classroom. “I am excited to encourage my students to make connections between ideas and concepts across different disciplinary boundaries.” It was the collaborative model that initially drew her to BASIS Independent Manhattan. She believes that one of the biggest barriers to interdisciplinary study in education is the necessity for collaboration of educators. BASIS Independent Manhattan offers an unmatched learning environment for students comprised of interconnected subjects and the unique teaching partnership of Learning Expert Teachers (LETs) and Subject Expert Teachers (SETs). When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Delaney enjoys visiting her family’s lilac farm in Bridgewater, Connecticut, trying out new recipes, and boxing.

Ms. Fan earned her bachelor’s degree in English Education from Ningxia University in China. During this time, she found her passion for education upon establishing a tutoring center teaching English to middle and high school students. From there, she began what would become a fulfilling career as an educator. In 2010, Ms. Fan moved to New York and began teaching Mandarin using a series of teaching materials she developed that captivated students’ interest and made language learning a joyful experience. In 2014, she became a founding faculty member at BASIS Independent Brooklyn and proudly served as the first and only Mandarin teacher for all grade levels. She found being part of the school’s inception incredibly rewarding, and that experience solidified her commitment to delivering exceptional education. After returning to China in 2017 with her family, Ms. Fan further honed her skills as an educator by launching two English training schools with an innovative approach that has served over 700 families. She was thrilled to return to the BASIS Independent Schools family by joining the Wildcats in Manhattan, where the school’s emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and a robust curriculum aligns perfectly with her teaching philosophy. As an educator, her goal is to foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment for every student. She is passionate about empowering young minds, nurturing their curiosity, and instilling a love for languages and cultures. Outside the classroom, Ms. Fan enjoys reading, meditation, swimming, and spending time with her family. Cooking is another passion of hers because it allows for creative exploration while nourishing herself and others/those around her. She finds it a delightful way to embrace different flavors and cultures.

Mr. Floyd received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Kentucky. Following college, he pursued an acting career in Los Angeles while working as a personal childcare provider for multiple families. He also produced a children’s obstacle course race at Tough Mudder. These experiences were formative for Mr. Floyd and resulted in his desire to pursue work with children. Mr. Floyd returned to the East Coast and has spent the last three-plus years teaching pre-school in Brooklyn. During this time, he found his footing as an educator and developed his teaching approach that incorporates his other passions, such as storytelling, music, and movement. He is thrilled to join BASIS Independent Manhattan and use these methods in his role as a Teaching Fellow at the Lower School. Outside of teaching, Mr. Floyd likes to unwind with music, whether playing his guitar or attending a concert. He also enjoys playing basketball, either shooting around at the park or cheering from the stands.

Ms. Grigiel received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Loyola University Chicago. She holds certifications in Teaching English as a Second Language and International Baccalaureate. Born in Poland, Ms. Grigiel relocated to Chicago at a young age, where she developed a lifelong passion for working with children.

Her teaching career began in 2012 while assisting at a weekend Polish school. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in early childhood education, working in Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms as a substitute, assistant, and lead teacher. In 2020, Ms. Grigiel moved to New York City, where she continued her teaching journey in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classrooms in Brooklyn.

Ms. Grigiel is thrilled to join the BASIS Independent Manhattan community as an Early Learning Expert Teacher. Attracted to the school’s innovative curriculum and strong leadership, she is eager to foster creativity, inquiry, and exploration in her students. When not in the classroom, Ms. Grigiel enjoys biking, reading, exploring museums and art exhibits, and painting.

Ms. Hadzibrahimi graduated from the University at Buffalo with Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Early Childhood Education. While earning her Bachelors, she worked at her university’s early childhood research centers, where she enhanced her knowledge of childhood development and curriculum design. After graduating, Ms. Arlinda continued to work with children in private school settings within New York City. As a Learning Expert Teaching, Ms. Arlinda strives to support children while they embark on a journey to making discoveries about themselves and the world. She believes children do this best through play. It is Ms. Arlinda’s goal to incorporate play within a challenging, and hands-on curriculum, to foster children’s curiosity and creativity. “I am very excited to join the BASIS Independent Manhattan team,” she says. “The joyful learning culture reflects why I am so passionate about teaching. Learning is fun! With this attitude and some hard work, any child can excel.” Outside of the classroom, Ms. Arlinda enjoys doing yoga, reading, traveling, and spending time with family.

Ms. Hally received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in saxophone in 2020 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently enrolled in a summer-only master’s degree program at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, working toward earning a Master of Music in music education. Before her position as the Music and Band Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent Manhattan, Ms. Hally taught band and general music in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her goal as an educator is to foster a life-long love and appreciation for music with her students through diverse and creative experiences. She chose BASIS Independent Manhattan because of the strong and vibrant culture of learning among the students and dedicated teachers. Outside of school, Ms. Hally enjoys playing the saxophone in community bands, antique shopping, and playing with her cats, Jojo and Max.