Diane Benson

HomeLife Academy

graduated from Adrian College in Michigan with a degree in Psychology and continued on to earn a M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. As a new grad, I was certain that my life would be focused on climbing the corporate ladder and, in fact, I spent nearly ten years in that corporate world and climbing that ladder. But God had other plans for me.

In 1999 Greg and I got married and commenced planning a family. After our son’s birth in 2002, my goals began shifting; I left the corporate world and started teaching psychology part time at Pellissippi State Community College. At that time, I also became interested in educational theories and approaches, brain development, and especially the different developmental timelines of boys vs. girls. I was concerned about the number of boys being held back in school and the numbers dropping out of school entirely. The more I learned, the more I was convinced that homeschooling was the best option for our son and our family. And it has been.

Because our son Emery is an only child, it was important to us that we connect with other homeschoolers. Our family became active members in the local co-op, BHEA (Blount Home Education Association) and Boy Scouts. As part of BHEA, I have taught co-op classes, facilitated roundtables, training, and presentations for parents, and coached students on transitioning from high school to college.

We are primarily eclectic in our homeschooling style. Character and faith have been a top priority, as well as letting our son grow into the man that God created him to be. We have encouraged exploration and getting dirty and have been blessed with a child who, now a high school student, loves reading and the outdoors.

Workshops from Diane Benson ( may vary by event location )

Preparing Your Student for College

Just when parents are getting the hang of homeschooling High School – College hopes and fears begin to loom on the horizon. What, really, do College Profs expect from students? With over 17 years experience teaching Psychology at a local college, Diane Benson provides insight into what professors want from students, how to be better students and ways to make freshman year (or Dual Enrollment) easier.

Your Kids Don't Have to Go To College

I may seem like an unlikely person to present a workshop on this topic. I love college. loved being a student and I love teaching. I’ve taught Psychology at a Community College in Knoxville for over 17 years. But it is precisely because I’ve seen what happens to kids who are told that college is the ONLY answer; kids that are smart and hardworking but whose passions and gifts are neither rewarded or encouraged. Some of these are kids end up taking out loans to pay for college — but in the end drop out and end up with the debt but no degree. And college is not the guarantee to success that it was in the past. But there are other options.