Debra Benitez

Overview

Debra Benitez has engaged in education reform, systems change, and organizational development practices for the majority of her career. Her responsibilities include creating and implementing equitable evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance to support education professionals in better defining organizational values, building capacity in systems change, and developing inclusive programming to address inequities and improve outcomes for migratory students.

As an advocate for educational equity, Benitez is deeply committed to ensuring that communities and education leaders understand the unique assets migratory students and their families bring to education, economics, and society.

As Director of Migrant Education Services, Benitez oversees and contributes to a range of quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation projects. She provides expert technical assistance, guiding the application of continuous improvement methodologies, systems transformation, equity-driven approaches, and resource alignment to SEAs and Migrant Education Programs. This work, performed in collaboration with her team, is essential in supporting educators and professionals who serve diverse children and youth with unique and complex academic and social–emotional needs.

Prior to her role at WestEd, Benitez was a special education teacher in a variety of K–12 settings. She also taught graduate courses in education evaluation, equipping professionals to serve students with the most diverse needs. Benitez is committed to ensuring that migratory students have fair access to essential academic and personal resources, helping to close the achievement gaps that disproportionately affect farm-working families. Through her work, Benitez not only champions the success of individual students but also drives systemic change, working to dismantle the structural inequalities that limit educational opportunities for migratory youth.

Education

• PhD in education reform and special education policy, University of Kansas

Select Publications

Benitez, D. (2024). Agency, identity, and belonging [Conference presentation]. National HEP/CAMP Association, Raleigh, NC, United States.  

Benitez, D. (2023). Utilizing an equitable evaluation approach to guide your MEP evaluation [Conference presentation]. National Association for State Directors of Migrant Education, Albuquerque, NM, United States. 

Benitez, D. (2022). Are we clear on the issue? Professional learning networks to identify and improve our MEP practices [Conference presentation]. National Association for State Directors of Migrant Education, San Antonio, TX, United States. 

Benitez, D., & Jameyson, L. (2022). Identifying students closer to their qualifying move date by utilizing an interactive enrollee form. California Department of Education. 

Benitez, D. (2020). Equitable evaluation in migrant education [Conference presentation]. American University Evaluation Virtual Learning Series, Washington, DC, United States. 

Benitez, D. (2018). California’s Migrant Re-interview Tool [Conference presentation]. National Association for State Directors of Migrant Education, Portland, OR, United States. 

Benitez, D. (2018). Speaking truth to power: Using data to ensure equitable outcomes for diverse students [Conference presentation]. American Evaluation Association, Cleveland, OH, United States. 

Honors, Awards, and Affiliations

Glen Harvey Award for Uplifting and Empowering WestEd Colleagues, 2024