Members of the Board of Trustees govern and oversee the school district, set the vision and goals for the district, oversee the superintendent (who they can fire and hire), and adopt the annual tax rate and operating budget. This is an unpaid, nonpartisan position. The board comprises seven members. The district currently enrolls 49,000 students and adopted a budget of $542 million with a $18.5 million deficit for this school year.
EPISD District 1 encompasses the areas around Bowie and El Paso high schools.
Who’s running for this seat?
Leah Hanany, 42, is a financial advisor and EPISD District 1 trustee
Monica Elena Benjamin, 50, is a stay-at-home mom and office administrator
Nelson Bank, did not respond
Candidate Questionnaires
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been lightly edited for grammar.
What is your short- and long-term vision for the district, and how would you measure success?
Leah Hanany: My short-term vision is stabilizing enrollment and strengthening academic programs across all schools. Long-term, I envision EPISD as a model of equity and excellence, where every neighborhood offers high-performing, well-resourced schools. I measure success through improved student outcomes, strong teacher retention, and increased public trust in our system.
Monica Elena Benjamin: My short-term vision is to work with the staff and my community to ensure students are attending school. Success is measured by increased attendance percentages. My long-term vision is to improve the district’s rating. We improve this by allowing the teachers to teach with minimal disruption to their work day. We need to make sure the teachers are set up for success in order to see improved rating in our district.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
What experience do you have with curriculum, overseeing budgets, or setting and implementing policy?
Leah Hanany: As trustee, I’ve reduced class sizes, expanded high-impact programs and advanced data-informed policy. I’ve overseen a $600 million budget with a focus on equity and measurable outcomes. As the only trustee with classroom experience, I bring firsthand insight into how policy impacts students and teachers — ensuring decisions are grounded in the realities of our schools.
Monica Elena Benjamin: My experience is from the last 29 years of working in the private and public sector. During my time in the military, I served in leadership roles where I developed training plans and policy toward mission accomplishment. In the last 16 years of serving on various not for profit boards of directors, budgeting is the cornerstone of success. For my second bachelor’s, I majored in biology and minored in chemistry and secondary education, and hold a teaching certificate for science 8-12 grades.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
What are your budget priorities and how would you balance funding those priorities while keeping property taxes in check?
Leah Hanany: My priority is putting students first — funding what directly impacts learning: teacher pay, classroom resources and strong programs. I’ll keep pushing for smarter spending, shifting dollars from bloated overhead to campuses, so we meet student needs without raising taxes.
Monica Elena Benjamin: The main priority is student education. When addressing budget items, we need to ask ourselves, “How is XYZ going to enhance student outcomes?” Of course, no one wants to pay more in taxes. At the same time, no one wants the students shorted of potential success. If the time comes when we need to make a change, in taxes or programming, I will have exhausted all potential avenues before entertaining the change. I can only promise you I will do my best.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
What strategies do you propose to make your district schools a more attractive option for families who might be thinking about enrolling their children in other school systems?
Leah Hanany: To keep families in EPISD, we must raise the academic bar and ensure tax dollars directly support classrooms. That means investing in teacher recruitment and retention, expanding access to rigorous programs, and prioritizing resources that impact students daily. Strong academics and well-supported educators make our schools the first choice.
Monica Elena Benjamin: First of all, the geographic footprint of this district is enormous. Redundancy or equitable programming throughout the district is key to retention. This includes expanding popular programs throughout the district.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
How would you promote transparency and accountability in board decisions?
Leah Hanany: I am currently the only trustee to hold regular community meetings open to the public, ensuring stakeholders are informed and involved. Additionally, I advocate for public dashboards tracking significant investments, promoting transparency and accountability in district operations.
Monica Elena Benjamin: I pledge to keep my constituents informed of issues in District No. 1. I pledge to challenge the staff and fellow trustees, if necessary. When making a decision for District No. 1, I will be 100% confident in my vote. Accountability is one of the main tasks of the trustee; to ensure the superintendent is accountable for the decisions made by the school board. I take this very seriously because this is one of my main tasks as a trustee.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
What’s the next big challenge for EPISD following the first round of school closures this fall and how would you address it?
Leah Hanany: The next big challenge is elevating academic outcomes post-closures. We must reinvest in neighborhood schools with strong programming and raise the bar academically so every child has access to an excellent education close to home. I’ll fight for equitable resources and academic opportunities that rebuild trust and elevate outcomes across the district.
Monica Elena Benjamin: The next issue for this district is funding. This includes dollars from property taxes, state and federal funding. Keeping track of state and federal legislation is necessary for the board’s decisions. As a trustee, it is our duty to keep our communities abreast of the situation. It is our duty to work with the staff and leadership to determine the best outcome with the least disruption to the students. The standards of education and safety must not be compromised.
Nelson Bank: did not respond
The post Q&A: EPISD District 1 Trustee Candidates in May 3 Uniform Election appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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