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.