Marlana Benzie-Lourey
English 11/12
Media Studies
College in the Schools Composition, Literature, and Film as Art
email: [email protected]
I have been teaching English at East Central since 2015. Working with students to help them become the best they can be is my passion, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to work with such great young people and their families. My three children are East Central graduates and I am proud to be back home as an Eagle!
Prior to teaching, I worked in journalism and public relations and I am excited to bring this experience to the classroom. I have worked as publisher and editor of the Askov American newspaper, as a news reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, and as the CEO of my own public relations and marketing company. As one can imagine, effective writing skills are a priority in my classroom, and I strive to have students practice authentic writing on a daily basis.
My educational background includes a BA from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Teaching from Hamline University. Prior to teaching full-time, I worked for several years as a substitute teacher at East Central and did my student teaching at Harding High School in Saint Paul.
I am a new, but avid quilter, and have been beading for about 15 years. I also paint and do a lot of printmaking. My favorite thing to do is to teach these hobbies to young people. I also love spending time with grandchildren, camping, making art, and of course, reading.
Thank you for this opportunity to work with your students. Feel free to stop in or contact me at any time to find out more about what we are doing in class!