Passionate, Proactive, Persistent
ACTION DRIVEN LEADER
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
ABOUT BIANCA BENAVIDES ANDERSON
Passion in Action
I was born in Oak Cliff, Texas, and my family moved to DeSoto, Texas, in 1979. My parents, Oscar and Rhonda Benavides, continue to reside today. My father was born and raised in West Dallas near downtown Dallas. My family has owned and operated several Mexican restaurants called Benavides, their last name, throughout my life. My father still owns two restaurants featured each year at the State Fair of Texas - where he was written up in the Wall Street Journal and was one of the judges on Deep Fried Masters.
I moved from DeSoto to Mansfield over 20 years ago when my oldest daughter, Samantha, began middle school at Brooks Wester. The sole reason for moving to Mansfield was the city's outstanding public education offered to all children. I believe in robust public education and researched several school systems in cities throughout Dallas and Fort Worth communities. I concluded Mansfield was the best choice to raise my growing family as the city had exemplary academic and accountability scores in all schools (that were open at that time). I was also very impressed with the large number of college placements by Mansfield’s high school graduates and the notable percentage of these students who remained enrolled in college. The excellent work done by the Mansfield schools that serve students from low-income families was also important to me.
My oldest, Samantha is a 2014 graduate of Texas Tech with a degree from the RIM School in Hospitality Management. She was the first student ever to hold a gala with a silent auction, which was a critical factor in her final grade. My son, Garrett graduated number 4 in his class from Mansfield High School last May 2024. He is attending the University of Texas in Arlington for Aerospace Engineering. He also will begin a seminary program as his ultimate goal is to be a Pastor. My middle daughter, Abigail graduated a year early from Mansfield High School, in the summer of 2024. She will be attending college for a Criminal Justice degree and would ultimately like to be in the FBI as a serial killer profiler. Lilly is in ninth grade at Mansfield High School, where she excels in her classes. Currently, Lilly wants to be an Anesthesiologist.
I have an executive master’s degree from Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Business Administration. I have remarkable and extensive knowledge of the business world. I have worked in many industries, from restaurants to computers to alcohol to medical to wellness, holding executive positions in accounting, sales, and marketing, as well as running 600 million dollars of business. I spent ten years at LVMH – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company – where I traveled internationally and was responsible for business results in 15 states. I was featured in DFWChild magazine. Currently, I consult on projects for startup brands and companies.
From when the children were in preschool, I have been an active, involved parent. I have been a member of each PTA of all my children's schools. Even when they were in three different schools, I prioritized being involved and present. Education is the critical foundation for all children. To continue to grow as a responsible contributor to society, children must have a firm educational foundation. Mansfield offers this for all children district-wide. My goal is to be the conduit and voice for all students, parents, and teachers, growing the city’s reputation and commitment to the best public education in the region.
PRIORITIES
I am committed to improving the quality of education in our district. I am an active listener and have the confidence to make decisions. I will support and defend local students and educators. I have the skills to incorporate the community's consensus, needs, and priorities into strong policies.
Education Opportunities:
All children deserve a high-quality education. In Mansfield, we need to continue reducing the opportunity gap by increasing academic rigor and inclusive opportunities. We need to develop trusting and productive relationships with the parents and family as a community for students with disabilities as well as students.
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From special needs children with disabilities to the special needs of gifted and talented children we need to develop trusting and productive relationships with the children, parents, and families. Educational opportunity programs principally engaged in the provision of education help develop intellect, serve social needs, and prepare students for a job or career to contribute to the economy/society. These same programs keep children challenged and engaged as well as keep students committed to creativity and achievement for a lifetime. They are critical in helping kids socially adapt to a world of peers and adults. The larger triumph is they prevent early dropouts and support long-term career success. Education is essential to the growth of the economy.
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Areas to continue focus and grow to continue to bridge gaps: Special Needs with Disabilities, Special Needs Gifted and Talented, Accelerated Growth, and Discipline.
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Teacher Retention:
Teachers are the single most impactful in-school factor in determining student achievement. A truly great teacher can have a transformative impact on a student’s academic and life trajectory. Increasing teacher retention can support greater equality across the district. Improving teacher retention can directly benefit our schools and students.
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Turnover undermines quality especially when there is an inadequate supply. Experienced teachers who are familiar with the needs of a school and its students are best poised to provide advice on how to meet those needs. When they leave, these voices are lost, and education policy suffers, as senior education administrators no longer receive their feedback on different initiatives' success (or failure). Small changes in turnover rates can have big effects on the adequacy of supply. Reducing turnover and reliance on temporary substitutes is an integral step toward shaping scholastic policies informed by firsthand insights into our local community.
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Three areas we can build on: Stability, Accountability, Mentorship, Compensation, and Teaching Conditions.
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Safety First:
Safety and learning go together. The safety and security of schools are on the minds of everyone today, as plans, processes, and systems are put in place to protect the children, staff, and property. Providing a safe and secure environment at school is imperative to helping students succeed academically, and students and educators socially as well as emotionally.
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Safe schools promote the protection of students from violence, exposure to weapons and threats, theft, bullying, and the sale or use of illegal substances on school grounds. School safety is linked to improved student and school outcomes. Emotional and physical safety in school is related to academic performance.
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Keeping schools safe allows children to look forward to being in an encouraging environment that promotes social and creative learning. A safe learning environment is essential for students of all ages. Without it, they are unable to focus on learning the skills needed for a successful education and future. Policies on school safety promote increased learning, feelings of school unity, higher levels of pro-social behavior, and decreased levels of violence.
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Areas to continue to improve: Physical Security, Visual Security, and Emotional Safety.
Financial/Enrollment:
School finance is something that affects us every day. Dollars must be at the start of every conversation around equity. Funding is a central component to providing high-quality education and often leads to improved outcomes.
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Schooling resources that cost money are positively associated with student outcomes. Resources such as class sizes, additional instructional supports, early childhood programs, and more competitive teacher compensation, permit schools and districts to recruit and retain a higher-quality teacher workforce.
Sustained improvements in the level and distribution of funding across schools lead to improvements in the level and distribution of student outcomes, ranging from graduation rates to educational attainment and wages. Appropriate combinations of funding with standards and instructional supports for learning are the most promising.
Concentrating dollars on Educational Opportunities, Teacher Retention, and Safety will allow for growth in the city and strengthen the reputation of the best public education and place to live in the region.