Roosevelt General Hospital has a new Board member

PNT staff writer

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Paul Benoit will be tackling new challenges as a newly elected Roosevelt General Hospital Board member. The superintendent of Floyd Schools is venturing into an unfamiliar territory for the lifetime educator..

I understand that the hospital board seat is a volunteer position. Why did you want to run?

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Paul Benoit, superintendent of Floyd schools, was recently elected to the Roosevelt General Hospital Board.

Our Democracy is designed to thrive and grow based on people’s willingness to give of themselves in service to our communities. This type of service is important from the local, county, state, and federal level. Serving on the hospital board will provide me an opportunity to contribute to the general welfare of an important piece of our community. Having a viable hospital is vital to the continued success and growth of Roosevelt County.

I have committed my life’s work to education: Working with students, teachers, school boards, legislators, and other constituents has taught me the importance of giving back to the community. I have been blessed, in 27 years of education and the last 13 working directly with volunteer members of school boards, to work with men and women who have unselfishly served to better public education. Because of the example of these people, I believe it is time to contribute my time and efforts to improve my community outside of my own “vocational circle”.

What goals do you have for this position?

My first goal is to learn the role and expectation of members of the RGH hospital board.

While I have worked with the school board of education in my own community, I do understand that being a member of a board, reviewing policy and budget issues, is different from being in the day-to-day operations of the institution. This will be a challenge, to serve in the capacity of observer and advisor, rather than “doer.”

My second goal will be to learn to discern the needs of the community, related to the hospital, and to apply that information in working with the other board members to develop short-term and long-term goals that will guide the hospital to maintain and improve the services it provides to Roosevelt County Citizens.

Sports fan? What's you Super Bowl prediction?

I love to watch football on TV! I am a lifelong New England Patriots fan. My prediction? Go Patriots!

I am passionate about the sport of baseball. Also a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, World Series Champions, 2013!

Where did you attend school?

I attended public school all over, as my dad served 28 years in the U.S. Air Force. I attended school in Connecticut, Mississippi, San Antonio, Hawaii, Florida, Maryland, and I graduated High School in the Republic of the Philippines. I also attended my first year of college at the University of the Philippines.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in psychology in 1986 from the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe. I received my Master’s Degree in Education administration from our very own Eastern New Mexico University in the summer of 1991.

Name your favorite film.

My favorite mindless film is “Happy Gilmore.” My favorite film of all time is “The Passion of Christ”.

For fun, my family gave me the Rocky series (all of them) for Christmas one year and the rule is that I can only watch them when I am home alone!

Tell us about your family. Wife? Children?

I have the greatest family in the world! My beautiful wife, Lucia, is a life-long educator, as well. She has positively impacted the lives of many students over the last 27 years, beginning with our three children, Matthew (25), Alexis, (24), and Hannah (23). All three are successful graduates of Floyd High School, here in Roosevelt County, where my wife and I have served and lived for nine years.