Ms. Rachel Mageean serves as a Subject Expert Biology Teacher at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where she is passionate about inspiring a love of science and helping students see themselves as confident, capable scientists. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a focus on marine science.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

Ms. Mageean chose BASIS Independent Schools for its collaborative environment, which allows educators to grow professionally while encouraging students to think critically and explore science in meaningful ways. In her classroom, she strives to spark curiosity and create engaging learning experiences that connect biological concepts to the real world.

Her teaching philosophy centers on curiosity-driven learning and real-world relevance. Ms. Mageean believes students learn best when they feel both supported and challenged, and when they are given opportunities to explore ideas through discussion, hands-on activities, and practical applications. To maximize engagement, she frequently incorporates labs and real-world investigations that encourage collaboration, questioning, and scientific thinking. Some of her favorite lessons involve laboratory activities that allow students to try something new, step outside their comfort zones, and discover the excitement of biology.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Mageean enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, scuba diving, and spending time outdoors. A fun fact: she holds an advanced scuba diving certification.