Mark Abulencia appreciates Mrs. Benedetta Dalbesio, a teacher at SINALOA MIDDLE in Novato, CA

I’ll never forget when Benedetta approached me after the 5th grade talent show and said she looked forward to having me in band at Sinaloa Middle School the following year! The next 3 years in Concert Band and Jazz Band were life-changing. She inspired me and countless other students to become not only the best musicians we could be, but to strive to be decent humans, too. There are the teachers you remember, the teachers you appreciate, and the teachers that you wanna be like. She’s always been all three to me!