Dr. Steven Morandi serves as a Subject Expert Teacher in Chemistry at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where he is passionate about guiding students in developing a deeper understanding of the world around them through the lens of chemistry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, a Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology from Boston University, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, California.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

Dr. Morandi chose BASIS Independent Schools for its unique curriculum that encourages students to move beyond rote learning and develop critical thinking skills, self-confidence, and a curiosity for exploring the world around them. He values the opportunity to engage deeply with subject matter while supporting students in reaching high levels of academic achievement.

His teaching philosophy is student-centered and grounded in the scientific process. Dr. Morandi believes students learn best when they are challenged, inspired, and supported, allowing them to develop the confidence to explore new ideas and make meaningful discoveries. In his classroom, students learn to form hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions while understanding that unexpected outcomes are valuable opportunities for growth and expanding knowledge. Through laboratory experiments and hands-on investigations, students explore chemistry as a dynamic field where curiosity and discovery drive learning.

One of Dr. Morandi’s favorite classroom experiences is an interdisciplinary series of lessons focused on nuclear medicine, nuclear power, and nuclear weapons. Through student reports and presentations, students explored the biological, physical, chemical, and historical perspectives of nuclear technology while examining both its possibilities and challenges.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Morandi enjoys art, reading, writing, playing guitar, running, cooking, gardening, and spending time with his family. A fun fact: he has excavated ancient Maya archaeological sites in the jungles of Belize and can read Maya hieroglyphs.