Maria Benzon

Maria Benzon is a member-elect of the Houston Independent School District in Texas, representing District V.

Benzon ran for election to the Houston Independent School District to represent District V in Texas. She won in the general election on November 4, 2025.

Benzon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Maria Benzon was born in Manila, Philippines. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1997 and 1999, respectively, and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston in 2013. Her career experience includes working as an assistant principal, a professor at the University of Houston, and a math teacher.^[1]

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Houston Independent School District, District V

Maria Benzon defeated Robbie McDonough in the general election for Houston Independent School District, District V on November 4, 2025.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Maria Benzon (Nonpartisan)	63.1	12,310
	Robbie McDonough (Nonpartisan)	36.9	7,214

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 19,524
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Benzon received the following endorsements.

Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

2021

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston Independent School District, District V

Incumbent Sue Deigaard defeated Caroline Walter in the general runoff election for Houston Independent School District, District V on December 11, 2021.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Sue Deigaard (Nonpartisan)	63.9	8,584
	Caroline Walter (Nonpartisan)	36.1	4,851

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,435
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Houston Independent School District, District V

Incumbent Sue Deigaard and Caroline Walter advanced to a runoff. They defeated Maria Benzon in the general election for Houston Independent School District, District V on November 2, 2021.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Sue Deigaard (Nonpartisan)	49.5	7,921
✔	Caroline Walter (Nonpartisan)	36.3	5,814
	Maria Benzon (Nonpartisan)	14.2	2,276

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,011
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Benzon's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

Maria Benzon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benzon's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud graduate of Houston ISD, having attended Booker T. Washington High School and the High School for Engineering Professions. I went on to earn a B.A. in Plan II-Liberal Arts Honors, a B.S. in Elementary Education, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin, where my research focused on equity and inclusion in schools. I later completed my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Houston, studying how teacher beliefs about student motivation affect their classroom practice.

My career has spanned teaching math in Houston and San Antonio ISDs, serving as a district math specialist, assistant principal, and later returning to HISD classrooms. I also trained future teachers as a professor at the University of Houston and currently serve as the Assistant Director of Assessment in the College of Science and Technology at UH-Downtown.

Beyond my professional experience, I have been an active leader in Community Voices for Public Education, the Houston Federation of Teachers, and Bellaire Young Mothers (president), Bellaire Recreation Youth Volleyball (coach), and my homeowners association (president). I am a committed parent and advocate for strong public schools.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

1) This position may not have voting power (yet), but I’m running to use my voice for educators, families, and students. Even without a vote, by showing up, asking tough questions, and speaking the truth, I can amplify what matters most to our community.
I’m running to ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely. That starts with a full financial audit, so we can finally understand the true cost of the NES model and hold decision-makers accountable.
I’m running to rebuild HISD with leadership that puts students first. That means having leaders who are qualified, compassionate, and deeply connected to our schools. We need people who can rebuild trust with families, empower teachers, and restore a culture where everyone feels valued and supported to help our students flourish.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m deeply passionate about education policy that ensures every child has access to excellent teachers, safe schools, and meaningful learning opportunities. I believe in policies that address inequities in resources and elevate schools that have been historically underfunded. My focus is on empowering educators, supporting families, and giving students the tools to think critically, solve problems, and thrive beyond the classroom.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

As a Houston ISD trustee, my role is to set district policies, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and ensure every student receives a high-quality education. Trustees approve the budget, curriculum materials, and major decisions about personnel and facilities. We also engage with families, listen to community concerns, and advocate for our schools. Ultimately, it’s about being a responsible steward of public education and ensuring Houston ISD truly serves our students well.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I’d be Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. She’s fearless, creative, and always puts her students first. She takes learning beyond the classroom and shows kids that curiosity and courage can open any door. That’s the kind of educator and leader I strive to be: someone who makes learning an adventure and helps others see their own potential.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Harris County Democratic Party

Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
AFL-CIO
Houston Federation of Teachers
Houston Education Association
Texas Democratic Women - Harris County Metro Area
Harris County Tejano Democrats
Asian American Democrats of Texas
Community Voices for Public Education
Molly Cook, State Sen. Dist. 15
Lauren Ashley Simmons, State Rep. Dist. 146
Alma Allen, State Rep. Dist. 131
Penny Morales Shaw, State Rep. Dist. 148
Christina Morales, State Rep. Dist. 145
Jon Rosenthal, State Rep. Dist. 135
Ana Hernandez, State Rep. Dist. 143
Ron Reynolds, State Rep. Dist. 27
Staci Childs, State Board of Ed Dist. 4
Lesley Briones, Harris County Commissioner Pct. 4

Win Frazier, City of Bellaire Mayor Pro Tem

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2021

Maria Benzon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benzon's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience ranging from teacher to university professor to an administrator. I began teaching in San Antonio ISD at Wheatley Middle School. Then, I taught at Lawson Middle School (previously known as Dowling MS) and served as a Math Specialist for the Madison High School Feeder Pattern. I wanted to better understand how teachers could help students learn better, so I pursued a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology while I taught pre-service teachers at the University of Houston. Currently, I am an Assistant Principal at Southwest Schools. I am also a parent of an HISD student, a Girl Scout troop leader, and the President of the community organization, Bellaire Young Mothers. I am dedicated to helping all students learn.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Fix the COVID-19 Academic Gap through Equitable Education, Wraparound Services, and Restorative Practices.
Address Teacher Shortage through Better Pay, Benefits, and Professional Development for Diverse Learners
Lessen the Emphasis on Standardized Testing with More Emphasis on Projects and Creative Problem Solving

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about 1) supporting teachers through high-quality professional development for diverse learners, 2) recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers at every school, 3) ensuring counselors and wraparound services are available in all schools, 4) interrupting and fighting the school to prison pipeline through implicit bias training and restorative practices in schools.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

While there are many people in my life who I respect and admire greatly, a public figure who I look up to is Elizabeth Warren. She is smart, compassionate, and a former special education teacher. She had a plan for everything!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I think a good book that reflects my philosophy about governance and serving the community is Elizabeth Warren's book, Persist.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have worked hard in the trenches and the ivory tower to ultimately help ALL kids learn and grow. I have had to make tough decisions and have had hard conversations with adults for the sake of the students. I would make a successful officeholder because I am a servant leader, a strong collaborator, an effective communicator, a responsible decision-maker, and a life-long learner dedicated to helping ALL kids have a high-quality education.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger when I was in middle school. At 12 years old I remember the teachers talking about it and being able to watch the news for a little while during the school day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working at the family donut shop and Filipino bakery. I had it from middle school, through high school, and when I came home from college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Martian by Andy Weir. It is a book about struggling against all the odds, hoping and working toward that hope when there is no sign of ever being helped. It is about thinking outside of the box to solve problems. It is about resilience in light of insurmountable circumstances.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary job of a school board member is to represent the district to create policies that support high-quality learning for all students. Therefore, a major task as a school board member is to hire and, if needed, remove the Superintendent. A school board member is also a person whom the community can speak to directly about concerns.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

To support HISD's diverse needs, I would support wraparound services at schools with more counselors to support the mental health needs of students. Also, I would provide more educational supports to schools whose community schools have traditionally been under-resourced. I would support more training for faculty and staff that focuses on working with diverse learners especially special education students.

Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?

Houston ISD's sudent body consists of about 60% Latino students, 20% Black students, and 10% White students. About 33% of students are identified as English Learners and almost 80% are identified as Economically Disadvantaged. Therefore, I believe that the school district should have teachers and leaders that reflect the student body. We should hire more Spanish-speaking staff as well to support our students and to improve communication to Spanish-speaking families.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Houston Independent School District, District V

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2021

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2021

[1]

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Maria Benzon

Contents

Biography

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Houston Independent School District, District V

Endorsements

2021

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston Independent School District, District V

General election

General election for Houston Independent School District, District V

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

2021

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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