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Abie L. Quiñones-Benítez, Ph.D., is a distinguished educator and longtime New Haven resident whose career has been dedicated to educational equity, multilingual learners, and culturally responsive leadership. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez attended public schools on the island and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras—affectionately known as “La IUPI.” She later earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Quiñones-Benítez served the New Haven Public Schools for many years in a wide range of instructional and leadership roles. She spent more than a decade as principal of Columbus Family Academy—now the Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (FAME)—a dual-language school. She also served as Director of Instruction for a portfolio of schools and provided districtwide leadership in meeting the needs of multilingual learners and overseeing bilingual and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programming. Earlier in her career, she worked as a curriculum and staff developer, Title I consultant, guidance counselor, and adult education teacher.
After retiring from New Haven Public Schools in 2019, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez continued her educational leadership as Director of Schools for the School District of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, through 2021. In this role, she supervised principals across half of the district’s schools and supported a linguistically and culturally diverse student population, including many refugee and newcomer students.
Her scholarship and leadership have earned significant recognition. In 2002, the American Educational Research Association honored her with the Outstanding Dissertation Award in Bilingual Education. She was also recognized by the Puerto Rico Legislature as an Illustrious Woman of Puerto Rico. Her additional honors include the Elm-Ivy Award from Yale University and the City of New Haven and the Heritage Award from the Black and Hispanic Caucus of the New Haven Board of Alders.
A trailblazer in Latino educational leadership, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez is the founding president of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS). In January 2022, she was appointed to the New Haven Board of Education, continuing her commitment to serving students, families, and the broader community. Since 2023, she has also supported educational and community-focused efforts in Puerto Rico, extending her lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for students and communities both in Connecticut and on the island.
Dr. Quiñones-Benítez served the New Haven Public Schools for many years in a wide range of instructional and leadership roles. She spent more than a decade as principal of Columbus Family Academy—now the Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (FAME)—a dual-language school. She also served as Director of Instruction for a portfolio of schools and provided districtwide leadership in meeting the needs of multilingual learners and overseeing bilingual and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programming. Earlier in her career, she worked as a curriculum and staff developer, Title I consultant, guidance counselor, and adult education teacher.
After retiring from New Haven Public Schools in 2019, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez continued her educational leadership as Director of Schools for the School District of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, through 2021. In this role, she supervised principals across half of the district’s schools and supported a linguistically and culturally diverse student population, including many refugee and newcomer students.
Her scholarship and leadership have earned significant recognition. In 2002, the American Educational Research Association honored her with the Outstanding Dissertation Award in Bilingual Education. She was also recognized by the Puerto Rico Legislature as an Illustrious Woman of Puerto Rico. Her additional honors include the Elm-Ivy Award from Yale University and the City of New Haven and the Heritage Award from the Black and Hispanic Caucus of the New Haven Board of Alders.
A trailblazer in Latino educational leadership, Dr. Quiñones-Benítez is the founding president of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS). In January 2022, she was appointed to the New Haven Board of Education, continuing her commitment to serving students, families, and the broader community. Since 2023, she has also supported educational and community-focused efforts in Puerto Rico, extending her lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for students and communities both in Connecticut and on the island.
