Ep. 23: 2022 Texas Teacher of the Year - Ramon Benavides

What this episode covers

Ramon Benavides is the son of migrant farmworkers who dropped out of school at a young age, only to return and become educators in South Texas. He followed in his parents’ footsteps and entered the education profession. For the last 12 years, he has taught in the Ysleta Independent School District. He teaches high school biology, AP biology, and dual-enrollment biology at Del Valle High School in El Paso, TX. He is also a part-time biology adjunct instructor at El Paso Community College. Ramon holds multiple degrees – a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of Texas at Brownsville and Master of Arts in teaching science in biology from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is in the midst of completing his doctorate from Texas Tech University in education leadership and policy. His passion for education and serving his students is not limited to the classroom. He sponsors the school’s anime, medical sciences, and environmental stewardship clubs. Additionally, he oversees a new chapter of the Science National Honor Society at Del Valle High School. He is a member of several professional organizations and has two publications. During his summers, he usually participates in Research Experiences for Teachers, which has allowed him to conduct scientific research with Rice University from 2017-2019 and the University of Texas at El Paso in 2015 and 2021. Ramon’s goal is to create as many opportunities as possible for his students in every position he serves. From being a biology teacher to a club sponsor, all that he does is for his kids. His objective is never to be satisfied with who he is as a teacher. Teaching is his passion, and the classroom is his refuge, but he acknowledges all that he does would not be possible without the love and support of his wife and son.

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