LINDA S. BENITEZ – Co-Director

Born in Connecticut, my family transplanted to Florida when I was 14 years old.  Shortly after my high school graduation, I married my sweetheart, who I had met in my freshman year, and we started our family.   While raising two little ones, I earned a degree in Business Administration and secured a position in a major utility company where I managed offices in several departments over the course of 15 years.  

Longing for a change and bigger and brighter opportunities, I landed in New Mexico in 1997, where my oldest sister, a teacher, had recently relocated and become “enchanted”.  Having worked in the corporate world, I was convinced I needed to change direction in my career and was determined to find a place that felt more like home.   As fate would have it, and with my sister’s invitation to explore the wonders of the west, I found myself at La Mariposa Montessori and knew instantly I was in just the right place at just the right time.  Although I had never worked in a school environment before, I had always loved school and learning, and even remember entertaining the idea of being a teacher when I was a young girl, helping my younger siblings and classmates with their assignments.

I cherish the joy I have found in working with such a dedicated and committed staff and in supporting such an incredible community of students and their families. I was not familiar with Maria Montessori or her work when I arrived at La Mariposa 23 years ago and the philosophy naturally resonated within me and my understanding and belief in its value to each child fortunate to experience this kind of child-centered education, continues to grow exponentially on a daily basis.    

At La Mariposa we take great pride in providing a warm and loving environment in which children can grow and learn, and it is my pleasure to share a bit of the Mariposa magic with everyone who enters our doors!