SUPPORT THE P.S. 347 2025 MARATHON TEAM!
P.S. 347 is an official charity partner
for the TCS NYC 2025 Marathon.
We have four runners who together will raise at least $14,400 for our school.
Deaf Educator, Boston University
Originally from Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada, Marshall Hurst is a Deaf educator based in Austin, Texas. After earning his BS and MBA at Rochester Institute of Technology, he followed his heart to Boston University, where he shifted his path toward Deaf Education and earned his Master of Education.
Marshall is a runner, a coffee enthusiast, and a huge fan of thrillers by Frieda McFadden, Stephen King, and Riley Sager. He’s proud to have crossed the finish line at three half marathons, with a fourth on deck, and is now training for his first full marathon in New York City! Marshall is running with a purpose: to champion the power of bilingual education for Deaf children and to help make it the norm, not the exception. He can’t wait to celebrate with the incredible P.S. 347 community at Mile 19, and yes, he’s already looking forward to the victory plate of pasta after crossing the finish line!
Deaf • Mom • Reading Coach
Tara is thrilled to be making her marathon debut, fundraising for PS47—the school that launched her teaching career from 2001 to 2006 and continues to inspire her today. She often reflects on former students who are now parents themselves, imagining them visiting their local libraries, discovering new books, and passing on their love of reading to the next generation
As a proud Mom of two Deaf children in college, one of whom attended PS47, Tara is deeply grateful to the teachers who cultivated their love of reading through rich, accessible language experiences rooted in American Sign Language. She understands firsthand the vital importance of early literacy for Deaf children and continues to carry that commitment and drive into her work with students today
Now a reading coach, Tara is passionate about building lifelong readers and supporting literacy in a whole new way—one mile at a time. She celebrates every mile forward, one page and one word at a time, always on the hunt for her next great read. Through her work, she combines her passion for running with her dedication to empowering young readers.
Come cheer her and the team on at Mile 19!
Deaf • Gay Bar Owner • Drag Queen • Scriptwriter •
Dad of four dobermanns
Born in Compton and raised in Riverside, CA, Lillouie has always dreamed of creating an entertainment space by and for the Deaf community. As a Deaf drag queen, he has faced countless barriers from limited venues to a lack of representation. That led to the vision for PAH! Bar & Grill, a space he and his husband are working on to open in Austin, TX, home to one of the largest Deaf communities in the U.S.
Growing up in a hearing household and performing in hearing bars helped Lillouie realize how deeply Deaf language and culture shape his identity. Without them, he says, he wouldn’t be Lillouie. He’s running to support Deaf students, so they too can grow up with full access to language, culture, and opportunity and become exactly who they’re meant to be, without barriers.
Jenene Johnson is a passionate Deaf science teacher based in Minnesota with over 19 years of experience inspiring Deaf and hard-of-hearing students through hands-on, inclusive learning. She is deeply committed to accessibility in STEM and advocating for Deaf education across the country.
A proud mom of four, Jenene is celebrating a truly unforgettable year for her family. Her youngest son is graduating from high school and preparing to transfer to RIT/NTID. Her oldest daughter, an Air Force veteran, is graduating with a Ph.D. in midwifery. Her second daughter has just returned from deployment in Kuwait with the U.S. Army, and her youngest daughter is graduating from middle school. With all these exciting milestones, Jenene took a brief hiatus from racing to fully support her children during this special season of life.
Although she used to despise running, Jenene ran her first 5K in honor of her mother, who passed away from breast cancer. That race changed her life. She fell in love with running and has since completed six marathons and over 50 half marathons. Now, she's thrilled to return to racing by joining the PS 347 charity team. Running has become a joyful way to connect with her family and the world—and running for PS 347 allows her to uplift the Deaf community while doing what she loves.
Deaf Educator • Marathoner • Mother of Four •
STEM & Accessibility Advocate
The PS347 mission is to provide a bilingual education that values American Sign Language and Deaf culture and to help bridge the Deaf and hearing communities in New York City.
P.S. 347, The American Sign Language & English Lower School, is a Dual Language PreK-to-8 public school in NYC serving d/Deaf, hard-of-hearing (D/HOH), CODA (children of deaf adults), and hearing students. We are a non-zoned mainstream school centrally located in Manhattan.
Our families come from all over NYC to be a part of this special place - a place where hearing differences are the norm, and everyone feels like they truly belong. We are on a quest to become the most inclusive school for the Deaf community, and strive to create a new generation of hearing allies and advocates.