With 14 years of teaching experience in Montgomery County Public schools, one of the most beloved teachers in the language department is Sra. Benitez. In her class, conjugations and Spanish vocabulary are no longer mundane.

Growing up in the Silver Spring area, Benitez attended Montgomery Blair High School. At MBHS, she had a very memorable time with one of her teachers, which inspired her to become a teacher herself.

“In my senior year of high school, I had an amazing AP Psychology teacher,” Benitez said. “Her instruction and approachability helped me choose a career that would allow me to share my love of psychology. I looked forward to being in her class each day.”

After graduating high school, Sra. Benitez attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. At this point, her liking for psychology was very clear, and her good intentions guided her through school.

“I always knew I wanted to work with children in some way,” Benitez said. “So, when I [went to UMBC], I decided to teach psychology and I became a social studies teacher.”

Sra. Benitez completed her degree in American Studies in college and was on the path to becoming a social studies teacher. She returned to MBHS and completed her student teaching internship with her favorite teacher as well. There, she realized that she had more passions than just psychology.

“I grew up in a home where I only spoke Spanish, so I decided to also teach Spanish,” Benitez said. “I loved the language and wanted to share it along with the rich culture. In high school, there were so few Hispanic teachers and in college few Hispanic students seeking higher education. That left an impact on me.”

Because of her decision, she has had an expansive teaching career, teaching courses in Spanish 1-4, AP Psychology and even middle school World Studies at a variety of schools. Although she has endured all that, this year, she chose to teach a simpler schedule because her home life matters a lot right now.

Now being a mother, Sra. Benitez’s main goal recently has been to separate work from home and “be present” at home.

“I decided to teach part-time this year to be able to spend more time with my daughter, Eliana, who’s almost one year old,” Benitez said. “My priority has always been family, but being a parent has given me a new perspective.”

“It’s been a learning experience to balance home and work and I’m still trying to make it work, especially trying to take less work home,” Benitez said. “[It’s just that] babies change so quickly and I don’t want to miss anything.”

Sra. Benitez’s motherly nature has helped her at school, allowing her to talk to students personally and listen to their challenges when they are struggling; she learned to put herself in their shoes and work with them to help give them more opportunities to be successful. WCHS freshman, Kevin Dong, strongly agrees and has benefited greatly from this teaching style.

“She is really good at conversing with students and breaking the ice early on,” Dong said. “I don’t think anyone really feels awkward or is afraid to ask a question in her classroom because she can get anyone to talk and participate. If you’re a student of Sra. Benitez, it’s practically impossible to get on her bad side.”

Dong’s perspective makes a lot of sense when one realizes how much Sra. Benitez loves her job and enjoys teaching.

“[A] benefit of being a teacher is working with students each day; no two days are ever the same,” Benitez said. “Being able to teach something that is personally important [and] seeing personal and academic growth in students is very meaningful.”

At the end of the day, Sra. Benitez wants all her students to remember room 264 as a place that was positive, and enjoyable, where they had a teacher who, although demanding, cares about them.

“Students may not remember what they learned on any particular day, but they will remember the interactions they have with teachers,” Benitez said. “My goal is not just to leave them with more than just knowledge. [Trying to acknowledge] students’ efforts, and struggles, and recognize their growth can help them feel ‘seen’ and feel that they have a teacher who cares. Having them leave my classroom with more confidence, a willingness to try new things and an appreciation for different cultural perspectives, to me, are ways I can make an impact on students in the long run.”