Dr. Alda Benavides:A committed leader

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Dr. Alda Benavides: A committed leader for LJISD

By Mary Nichols

LA JOYA — In the hot summers of the 1970s, migrant workers would hit the fields to pick cotton. One girl was lazy when it came to fieldwork; in fact, she hated it. She preferred to have her head in books, learning about the greater world outside the cotton fields. One day, the girl’s mother asked her to fetch water to drink. Upon returning, the girl began giving water to everyone around her, leaving her mother waiting until a second trip to refill the jug. She felt inclined to give others working around her water first. The water girl was La Joya Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Alda Benavides. This was one of the many moments that led to her discovering her passion to serve and help others.

Benavides has worked within the education system for over 30 years, and for the last four, she’s served as LJISD’s superintendent. Committed to her job, she serves the community and helps students succeed in their education and life.

“The job is very challenging, but also very rewarding to know you can help kids. I have always been an advocate for kids and for those having trouble in school,” said Benavides. “I have wanted to make sure they are successful and realize the importance of having an education. I’m honored to be in the position that I am.”

Benavides graduated from La Joya High School in 1971 and attended the University of Texas-Pan American where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and English. She has a superintendent certification and other certifications for mid-management administrator, counselor, supervisor, elementary self-contained and bilingual/ESL.

Her drive to continue learning and enhance her education allowed her to also earn her Doctorate in Education of Leadership in 2001 from UTPA.

Benavides’ experience has been varied and allowed her to perform her job well. She has been a teacher, a migrant specialist, a counselor, an alternative coordinator, an assistant principal and a principal. She served as principal at E.B. Reyna Elementary for seven years. Under her leadership the school was named a Blue Ribbon School, a National Drug Free School and a National Title 1 school. For her excellent work, she was named a National Distinguished Principal for the State of Texas in 1997.

Finally, in June 2006 she was named superintendent for the district.

“I’ve had good training and years of experience and utilized it here with my job. Both my parents were instrumental to my success,” said Benavides. “Both of them wanted my siblings and me to attend school and value school. It wasn’t a question if we were going to school. It was we are going to school.”

Benavides is the proud mother of two boys, who are both attending college. She is the daughter of Brijida and Pablo Treviño, and one of three siblings. Benavides’s father was a postmaster for 18 years in La Joya. Her mother worked hard in the household to provide for the family and teach important lessons of life to her children.

Brijida Treviño said one of those lessons was the importance of being educated. She herself was only able to earn a fifth-grade level education.

“I always thought to myself that if I got married and had children, I would prefer that my children got an education,” she said. “We would tell them, ‘We don’t have money or inheritance to give you, but we can leave you to have an education.’ We worked hard so the kids could focus on studying.”

Benavides’ mother said her husband was very stern when it came to education, as well.

“My husband didn’t want them working. He said once they got a taste of having money, they wouldn’t want to go to school,” she said. “So working hard on their studies was what was expected.”

During the summers, Treviño would take her children to McCook. She felt having her children working and witnessing how hard it was to work without an education, they would strive to have an education and a better way of life.

Benavides lost her father after a sudden heart attack when she was 25 years old. She said her mother is a counselor without a degree, and has been the strong rock of keeping the family united.

“My mother taught me if you’re not going to do something right, then don’t do it at all, even something simple as washing dishes. If I left a dish dirty, she would make me wash all the dishes all over again,” she said smiling. “Now she complains we work too hard. I say, ‘Well it’s your fault because you taught us to have a strong work ethic and be responsible.’”

Treviño said she remembers her lessons of tough love. She even recalls that Benavides knew she wanted to be a teacher at a very young age.

“She and her sister, Alma, would wrap towels around them as skirts and attempt to write on boards and play teachers,” she said chuckling. “They would put high heels on, flowers in their hair, to dress and imitate teachers.”

Playing teacher was fun for Benavides and it felt natural. At the time, she thought the only choices she had as a woman for a career were being a nurse, secretary, or teacher. She became fond of the idea of learning and teaching others. So getting a degree in education became her goal.

Benavides said she had started college with the intent of becoming a school counselor.

“I have always enjoyed working with people and felt it is a very rewarding job. I felt counseling would be ideal to do that,” she said. “Even if I didn’t become a counselor, I felt the skills learned from it would be good for any job.”

Benavides also had dreams of being a home economics teacher, but is satisfied with the direction her career took.

“I’ve tried to live my life well and as a role model by the examples my parents laid out for us. By being honest, respectful, mindful of my elders and always trying to do a good job,” she said. “My mother never praised us a lot. It was just expected that we do well. It was clear we had to have goals and we had to accomplish them.”

Treviño said her daughter used to work three jobs and go to college full-time. Benavides was so determined to not let anything get in her way of her education; she would drive an old car to college that would often overheat. This left Benavides carrying a water jug in the backseat and stop so often to pour water into the vehicle to cool it down.

“She is just driven and determined. She has worked so hard to be where she is today. Studied and worked many hours,” said Treviño. “She studied and studied, night and day. She loves to learn. I am so very proud of her.”

Benavides was able to overcome adversity and get an education and a passionate career. That same determination and strong ethics she has applied to her work

Maria Flores-Guerra, principal at Leo Elementary, has known Benavides for 10 years. Flores witnessed Benavides’ dedicated work ethic when they worked together at E.B. Reyna Elementary where staff joked that Benavides nearly lived on campus.

“I don’t think too many people know this. She is a work alcoholic,” said Flores-Guerra. “She would put in 14-hour days and even come in on the weekends, as an elementary principal.”

When someone loves what he or she does, it’s not considered to be work. Benavides can hold truth to that. However, when things do get stressful, she has hobbies to help her relax.

“I enjoy home decorating. It’s an expensive hobby. I feel if I hadn’t joined the education system, I would have been an interior designer,” she said. “I also love to read and walk. This summer I hope to be able to walk more. Shopping is another guilty pleasure I have.”

Benavides has a shelf of books at home and in her office. Knowledge is power and she said the best way to achieve that is through books. She reads many self-help books, particularly those having to do with leadership.

“A passion of mine is to be a good leader. Most books I read are on leadership, and motivational,” she said. “I even order books for the district’s principals to help them become better leaders. We have book talks ever so often to discuss the books and their ideas.”

Being superintendent, Benavides doesn’t have much time to work in her garden or take part in other hobbies.

“My whole world revolves around God, my family, and then my work. When I have those three things in order I don’t do a lot of things,” she said. “My work involves me being in so many places. But, I love it because being involved in the world of education is giving back to my community.”

Ronnie Cabrera, director of La Joya’s College and Career Center, has known Benavides for five years.

“She is a person that is passionate about education, reading and our kids succeeding beyond expectations,” said Cabrera. “She has taught me leadership, kindness and in order to succeed in life, you have to work very hard and set your goals and achieve them. She has provided leadership to the district and been a great example to all of us.”

Setting goals has been the key to La Joya’s success. Three of the most important goals Benavides set for the district is to improve attendance, have every child become a successful reader, and to have every child graduate.

“I really believe in the importance of reading. I have a minor in English, and it was my second language. I went to school knowing only Spanish,” she said. “So I know the importance of being a good reader. I have instilled that into all the school principals. Reading will open the world for our students.”

The biggest challenge Benavides has faced is keeping up with the growth of the district. LJISD has 2,800 kids enrolled in its schools. There are 25 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and three high schools.

“It’s been quite a task to get the schools built and staff them properly with teachers, especially in these hard economic times,” she said. “We have been able to get those bonds with the help and support of the school board and community. It allows us to make sure our kids have adequate facilities and teachers have the right resources to do their jobs.”

Though the district has had its challenges, big accomplishments have been made. Two in particular, Benavides is proud of. One achievement was helping the community realize the district needed to split into three different high schools to give kids better opportunities. The second was the 2008 opening of their College and Career Center. The centers help provide classes for the community and students who had difficulty finishing high school, and are now able to begin their college careers in the program. Since its opening, they have graduated a total of 323 students.

“Thanks to her tremendous support, we have been able to graduate many students who had already given up and thought they couldn’t succeed beyond high school,” said Cabrera. “She was a major influence so that this center could reach a high level. She works daily and diligently so the district can improve.”

LJISD can only continue to improve with hard work, said Benavides. She sees great things for the future of the district, and hopes to team up with the community and prepare for more growth and the plan for the next five years. She also wants to continue to focus on academics and have every child graduate.

“She is a great role model. I aspire to follow in her foot steps and also get my doctoral. She is also a great role model as a Hispanic woman,” said Flores-Guerra. “I know that anytime I have any questions or concerns I can pick up the phone. She always offers advice or guidance and that’s open for anyone in the district.”

Benavides said she doesn’t want to take full credit for the success of the district. She said nothing would have been able to be accomplished without the help of teachers, staff, the school board, and the community.

“You can’t do anything alone, you need other people. I am very grateful for the loyal staff that I have and that’s important for a leader,” she said. “I’m very grateful to our school board for giving me the opportunity to be a superintendent.”

Benavides doesn’t see herself retiring anytime soon. If she does retire, she will find a way to continue to passionately serve the community.

“I still feel the sky is the limit,” she said. “When one window closes another one opens. I hope I continue to work here or in another district. My passion is the same and my commitment to children and serving them.”

Lt. Gen. Sanchez highlights Memorial Day ceremony

In the true spirit and tradition of Memorial Day, citizens and leaders of Mission and surrounding communities will gather at the Leo Peña Plazita Park Veterans War Memorial Monday to honor the young men and women who gave their lives as soldiers serving their country.

While all fallen soldiers from all wars will be honored, a special tribute will be paid to those most recently lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Sgt. Javier Marin, Jr., Staff Sgt. Omar Flores, Cpl. Jose A. Rubio, Spc. Alex Daniel Gonzalez, and Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza.

The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the downtown placita, located on Conway Avenue across from H-E-B.

Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, Ret. will be the keynote speaker for the tribute to fallen soldiers, said Adela Ortega, director of the Mission Historical Museum. Ortega has worked closely with Ofelia Peña Perez, of the ACE Club, in planning the program.

Fr. Roy Snipes will offer the invocation and blessing on the Wall of Honor for Fallen Soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, where the soldiers’ names and photos have been engraved as a remembrance.

Catholic War Veterans Roberto Gonzalez Post will perform a 21-gun salute and the National Anthem and other patriotic songs will be performed by Crystal Cavazos.

A reception will be held afterwards, at 7:15 p.m., at Mission Historical Museum where Sanchez will greet guests and sign copies of his book, “Wiser in Battle: A Soldier’s Story.” Copies of the book will also be available for purchase at the museum for $20. The museum is located at 900 Doherty.

Sanchez is a retired general who served as the V Corps commander and commander of coalition forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004. He was the highest-ranking Hispanic in the United States Army when he retired on Nov. 1, 2006.

He began his Army career as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. His assignments included tours in the United States, Korea, Panama and Germany. He served as a tank battalion commander during Operation Desert Storm, was promoted to Colonel and given command of an armor brigade, served as the Director of Operations for U.S. Southern Command; was promoted to General in 1997, commanded TF Falcon in Kosovo and then was assigned as Director of Operations, U.S. Army Europe in 2000. He assumed command of the 1st Armored Division in Germany in 2001 and deployed the Division to combat in Iraq. In June 2003 he assumed command of V Corps and became commander of coalition ground forces in the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq until June 2004. He was the longest-serving V Corps Commanding General.