About Us
Who is Mr. Bentley?
Welcome! My name is Eric Bentley. I first discovered my passion for teaching as an 18 year old resident camp counselor in Holly, Michigan. I took the job because 80 bucks a week, plus room and board meant I got to move out on my own. At the time, I had no idea that I was about to happen upon my life’s calling. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Michigan, my Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Teaching from Michigan State University, and a special endorsement in Educational Technology, also from MSU. Perry Public Schools welcomed me as a middle school math teacher in 1994. In 1999, I began teaching 3rd and 4th grade. Identifying the growing need for technology instruction, I created and became the teacher of an elementary technology course, which later transitioned to a STEM/STEAM course, that now all Perry Kindergarten through fourth grade students participate.
Throughout my career as an educator, I have sought out people in need and opportunities of service. Such opportunities have included…
Empowering all children, including those identified (or not) as having special needs, by providing a variety of experiences that fosters and supports all learning styles, Tutoring home-bound high school students in core academic areas, Facilitating support groups of at-risk pre-teen and teenagers, and Teaching writing at MSU’s Spartan Writing Camps and being inducted as a Fellow of the National Writing Project
So…Why Driver Education?
Kids in our area have fewer options for driver education than that of kids in Lansing and Flint. As residents of this area, my wife Cheryl and I became aware that existing schools were not providing students with the minimum number hours of class and/or drive time and/or were not teaching the driver education curriculum mandated by the state in its entirety. I could not ethically work for these schools.
Therefore, my wife and I opened Mr. Bentley’s Driving School so that families in Perry and neighboring communities had another option. Our work has been acclaimed and awarded by Michigan’s Secretary of State and the Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association. We were also featured on the front page of the Argus Press of Owosso.
At Mr. Bentley’s Driving School, we fully prepare teens and adults to be…
knowledgeable, skilled and safe drivers.
Chance favors the prepared mind.