A Valpo Life in the Spotlight: Cara Brown-Benjamin
- By: Jovi Taylor
- Last Updated: February 9, 2022
Cara Brown-Benjamin is an eighth-grade grammar teacher at Union Township Middle School (UTMS). Before being a teacher in the Region, Brown-Benjamin spent her adolescence in Oak Park, Ill.
In 1995, Brown-Benjamin graduated from Queen of Peace High School (QPHS) and embarked on a journey of higher education at DePaul University. After a few months at DePaul, she transferred to Northern Illinois University where she obtained her bachelors in family and individual development and then received her master’s in marriage and family therapy. In 2001, Brown-Benjamin had graduated from college with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in therapy.
After graduating from college, Brown-Benjamin became a therapist in Illinois for troubled youth. She specifically worked with teens in foster care or in rehabilitation for drug usage.
Two years later, Brown-Benjamin decided she wanted to become more involved with young adults through school systems instead of the government system and started a new career as a school counselor at QPHS.
During Brown-Benjamin’s time at QPHS, she realized that she loved working with young adults and decided to get a teaching certificate. Her transition of careers brought her to her first student teaching job at Grissom Middle School (GMS) in Tinley Park, Illinois. After her student teaching at GMS, Brown-Benjamin accepted a full-time job at the middle school teaching seventh-grade Language Arts.
After five years of teaching at GMS, Brown-Benjamin decided to move from Dyer, Ind. to Valparaiso, Ind., and start a new chapter in her career and life. Since 2016, she has been a societal member of Valparaiso and since 2018 has been an eighth-grade grammar teacher at UTMS.
Although Brown-Benjamin educates along the literary path, she is also certified in history and music. For Brown-Benjamin, music and singing have been a part of her life since middle school.
“I sing because I feel like I’m called to do it. I’ve sung at weddings and funerals and have been doing so since eighth grade.” Brown-Benjamin said.
To further her passion for music, Brown-Benjamin also has a part-time job at her local church as the Director of Music Ministry at Saint Teresa of Avila. As Director Brown-Benjamin assists with choral repertoire, runs the college student center service for catholic worship, and helps run the music department.
At UTMS Brown-Benjamin not only teaches grammar, but she is also an administrator for the UTMS student council and has been doing so for two years. In Brown-Benjamin’s opinion, being an administrator for the student council is super fun and a great way to meet students before being their teacher.
“It’s fun and it’s a way to give back to the student body. Being a part of something for the students is great,” she said.
When reflecting on the best parts of being a middle school teacher, Brown-Benjamin comes up with multiple answers.
“I like being able to work as a team with all of the teachers, I love the schedule, I like being able to see every single student I have every day,” she said.