DHS Spanish Teacher Supported Strongly by Community

DEERFIELD, IL - Support for a longtime popular Deerfield High School Spanish teacher accused of placing her hands around a student’s throat in November is growing as more than 1,500 people have signed an online petition requesting charges against her be dropped.

Carrie Benito, who has taught at DHS for 23 years, was charged with misdemeanor battery last month after an investigation into a November incident in which she allegedly placed her hands over a student’s throat following a school safety drill and during a discussion on what the class would do if there were an active shooter situation on campus.

But many in the community are calling the investigation and charge an overreaction.

“‘Señora’ Benito has been a creative and enthusiastic Spanish teacher at DHS for more than 20 years,” wrote Rebecca Crystal of Chicago, who drafted the Change.org petition that has garnered 1,631 signatures as of 10:30 a.m. Monday. “To have her career and reputation be tarnished because of such an accusation is absurd. Students and alumni who had Benito as a teacher remember her as a humorous and out-of-the-box instructor, but never once as a violent person.”

The petition seeks 2,500 signatures, and has reached more than half that amount in just a few days.

Crystal described Benito’s popularity among students who have learned from her over the past two-plus decades.

“Benito performed cartwheels in the classroom, threw blank test papers on the floor and encouraged us to “tear it up!” and played Eye of the Tiger Before final exams,” according to the petition. “Benito was always inventive and vivacious in the way that she spoke, passionate about Spanish language and culture, and clever in her assignments. She effectively prepared her students for honors and Advanced Placement levels. Anyone who has experienced Benito’s classroom would know that this incident must have been out of jest and void of any true malice.”

Petition supporters weren’t shy about offering their support for the teacher.

“I worked with Sra. Benito for 23 years, and she would never even harm a student,” wrote Beth Sanchez of Highland Park. “These charges against her are ridiculous, humiliating and blasphemous.”

Others wrote of Benito’s role in bettering their own lives.

“She is one of those kinds of teachers that students still talk about as one of their greatest learning experiences at DHS,” according to Nick Roseth of Deerfield. “Personally, she is the person who inspired me to continue studying Spanish during college. She has given me the motivation to study abroad for a semester in Spain.”

One signer claimed to be in the class during the time of the incident, which involved a junior male student who has since been reassigned to a different Spanish class.

“I was in class (when) this incident happened and it was only a joking gesture, she didn’t intend to harm him,” wrote Julia Harlan of Deerfield.

The petition is addressed to Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim.

Benito is scheduled to appear in court on the battery charge on Jan. 15.