Office of the Superintendent
SUPERINTENDENT MOUNT-BENITES' BIOGRAPHY
Chris Mount-Benites is the Superintendent, is currently out on leave, and Marla Silversmith is acting as the Interim Superintendent. Mr. Mount-Benites comes to Burlingame to serve prepared with decades of public education experience in both New York and California in both large and small districts. As a classroom teacher of nearly a decade in both English and the Social Sciences, Superintendent Mount-Benites built a strong reputation for innovative, integrated curricula while teaching in New York and Los Angeles which led him to leadership roles in labor-management collaboratives, as a site principal for both elementary and high schools and to the role of Director of Curriculum and Instruction for K-12 districts. The focus of Superintendent Mount-Benites' curricular structure is innovation and access for all in diverse schools while maintaining high levels of rigor and academic achievement. He firmly believes in keeping to these educational values while maintaining the model of access and success in public education as a right for all children and educators as important public servants and facilitators.
Superintendent Mount-Benites operationalizes his practice through a leadership style that is focused on coaching and the development of individuals to realize the potential they bring to their roles. This mentoring approach is coupled with a Problem of Practice methodology, Socratic dialogue, strong systems analysis and improvement, and a genuine care for the students, community, faculty and staff. All of these aspects, which were reflected in Burlingame, drew Chris to serve as the Superintendent.
In addition to serving as a teacher, principal and district administrator, Superintendent Mount-Benites served as an Educational Policy Analyst and then as the CFO/COO for the Division of Equity & Inclusion at UC Berkeley and, most recently, has served as a Chief Business Official and Associate Superintendent for two California school districts while completing his certification in School Business Administration from USC. This most recent addition to Chris' formal education follows his completion of his MA in Educational Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills, an MA in European and Asian HIstory from SUNY Cortland, and a BA in Secondary Education and History from SUNY Oswego.
When not working, Superintendent Mount-Benites enjoys hiking and backpacking, gardening, reading, traveling, and cooking. He and his family have long been Bay Area residents and continue to enjoy exploring and enjoying all that it has to offer.
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Interim superintendent silversmith's biography
Dear Burlingame Community,
It is a privilege to have been asked to serve as the Interim Superintendent of our amazing school district that genuinely celebrates each student, staff, and community member.
As an educator for 21 years, I take my responsibility to provide a quality and well-rounded education for each student very seriously. I believe students deserve at least a year's worth of growth not only academically but also social-emotional and behavioral. It has been an honor to serve in a district that strives to work with parents/guardians and community members to ensure that each child reaches their potential. This news comes today, December 9, 2022, on my fifth anniversary of joining the Burlingame School District as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. Together, as a district, we have done unbelievably great things during extraordinary times, and I cannot wait to see what we do together going forward.
Many of you have gotten to know me professionally over the last five years; however, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself personally and my family. I was born and raised in Sacramento. My oldest sibling, Amber, has Down Syndrome, which became the catalyst that has always pushed me to ensure each person has what they need to be successful.
My husband, Jeff, and I met while attending CSU Sacramento for undergraduate before placing roots in the Bay Area. Ava (18) is a freshman at SDSU as a Spanish major, Peyton (16) is a junior in high school and loves playing varsity girls' basketball, Rylan (14) is a freshman in high school and plays football and rugby, and all three of our kids have had the opportunity to attend school in a dual language Spanish/English Immersion Program.
I have earned my administrative, multiple subjects, mild/moderate, and moderate/severe credentials, along with my Master’s of Education. Currently, I am finishing my Doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University.
While serving as your Interim Superintendent of Schools, I plan to be accessible to educational partners and maintain an open-door communication practice. I cannot wait to listen and learn with you and have multiple opportunities for conversation and dialogue through positive collaboration. Our dedicated team educates each student at the highest level as we strive to make a positive difference in the life of each student entrusted to us. I encourage and welcome any questions, comments, or thoughts you have and can be reached directly at msilversmith@burlingameschools.org.
Chris Mount-Benites
Superintendent
650-259-3805
Interim Superintendent
650-259-3828
Coordinator of Projects for the Superintendent
650-259-3805
