While Gladys Benitez spent the first six years of her life in her hometown of Guerrero, Mexico, she is just as proud to call Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Texas home. She graduated from H. Grady Spruce High School in 2017, and garnered an Associate of Science in Medical Assisting from Remington College in 2020, as well as an Esthetician’s License from The Ogle School in 2023. Ms. Benitez serves as an K-2 Instructional Assistant in the Mesquite Independent School District.

Gladys joined BOOM in 2019 as a SPARK and currently serves as a Program Manager for BOOM’s summer programs. As such, she supports curriculum design for the K-8 BOOM Freedom Summer program and is a coach to SPARKS in the BOOM Freedom Fellowship. Ms. Benitez shared, “I am passionate about BOOM because it provides so many opportunities for the youth – they experience field trips, STEM activities, have discussions regarding education and its system, etc. It provides a safe space where they are able to fully be themselves.  Moreover, I was personally able to grow and develop my own professional skills. BOOM is such a great program.”

Ms. Benitez’s pastimes include working out, dancing, shopping, and trying new food.