Ashley Benitez-Smith

Ashley Benitez-Smith

Fellowship Placement: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Hometown: Frederick, MD

Ashley Benitez Smith, a Maryland educator with over 12 years of experience, specializes in instruction, curriculum design, professional development, and project management. She taught computer science and cybersecurity to grades 9-12 at Brunswick High School, Maryland, coached robotics teams, and advised the Computer Science Honor Society. Originally a middle school English/Language Arts teacher, she moved to Career and Technology Education in 2016, pioneering computer science in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS). She was a lead curriculum writer, piloting the first middle school and cybersecurity courses for high school, and participated in FCPS Vanguard, a teacher leadership program in blended learning. Since June 2021, she has facilitated for the Maryland Center for Computing Education, developing cybersecurity and computer science curricula for STEM teachers.

Ashley earned her Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Hood College in 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in 2008. Ashley earned her certification in Cybersecurity Training as part of the inaugural National Cybersecurity Teacher Academy from TeachCyber and DePaul University.

During her fellowship, Ashley served as a subject matter expert at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), supporting national K12 cybersecurity initiatives, products, and activities. She offered guidance on cybersecurity education, fostering outreach, regional partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. She researched emerging technologies like machine learning and AI and their impact on cybersecurity and computer science education. Ashley was part of the original advisory team for the Maryland STEM Education to Employment Ecosystem, a learner-centered hub aimed at bridging Maryland's educational and employment gaps.

Post-fellowship, Ashley continued with the Maryland STEM Ecosystem as their Academic Coordinator before transitioning to an Advisory Council Member in the spring of 2025. She was a co-organizer for the Future Ready Maryland: AI in Education Summit, an AI summit bringing together K12 educators, higher education, industry, and other organizations from across Maryland to collaborate and hear from students using AI in the classroom and their lives in June 2025. Ashley is currently serving as a Training Specialist in the Department of Defense (DoD), where she will continue her work to inspire the next generation of security professionals and educate others to prepare them for an ever-changing digital landscape.