Third Grade Team
Mrs. Wendlandt
Hello and Welcome Benchmark Families! My name is Khrystal Wendlandt. I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education with a reading endorsement. This is my second year at Benchmark, however I have a total of 11 years of teaching experience. I taught Kindergarten for 7 years where I found a passion for foundational learning. Kindergarten will always have a tiny piece of my heart. After my first 7 years of teaching, I decided it was time to make a change and challenge myself, which is when I found myself moving to Third Grade. I like to describe early childhood as learning to read and third grade and above as reading to learn. Third Grade has also found a special place in my heart as a testing grade. It's amazing to see the incredible growth that the students make from the beginning of the year to end. I'm lucky enough to live only a block away from Benchmark School and will be even more lucky if my future children attend here as well. I am happily married, and we have a spoiled dog named Riley with a baby girl on the way, due December 29th of this year!
Mrs. Fitch
Hello, Benchmark Families! My name is Linda Fitch, and I have been with Benchmark since Benchmark began, in 1998. I am married and have three grown children, three grandchildren, and five cats. Does that make me a childless cat lady?
My first role at Benchmark was as a parent and volunteer. My second son, Austin, joined the first grade the year Benchmark began as a charter school. My daughter Victoria enrolled two years later. Both would go on to graduate from Benchmark. During those early years, there were many opportunities to volunteer and to assist our school to grow in success; a place where children were happy, challenged, and breaking preconceptions about what could be achieved in elementary education in Arizona.
My professional career began in corporate America. After a decade and a half in that environment, I decided to change careers and spend my days with children rather than adults. I have never regretted this decision.
I taught at the community college and high school levels prior to taking advantage of an opportunity to teach at Benchmark in 2003. I spent four years in third grade before moving to sixth grade for 12 years. It was not a change I wanted, but one that I quickly came to love. In 2019, I returned to third grade, which I consider the real “sweet spot” of elementary school.