Drivers Ed Direct believes that our quality instructors are a vital part of the learning experience. Therefore, we follow the most rigorous screening standards in the industry to determine which instructors are suited to make your teenager's driving experience successful. In addition to hiring our instructors by committee, we conduct Department of Justice background checks, third party drug tests, and, we require that our instructors have all had prior experience working with teens in an educational capacity.
To see what we demand from our highly qualified instructors, or to inquire about becoming an instructor yourself, read our instructor requirements here.
THE CALIFORNIA CREW
(Los Angeles area... specifically.)
LEAD INSTRUCTOR/TRAINER
Movie: The Great Escape, Tommy Boy, Wedding Crashers, Donnie Darko & Breaking Away
Music: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Killers & Frank Sinatra
Hobby: Surfing, playing basketball and hiking with the family.
Meet Tom:
Tom and Conan in the Prius on the Tonight Show
Check out Tom giving lessons on Dr. Phil
Tom gives Dr. Phil a hand with a tire changing competition
Teaching/Mentoring experience: With over 8 years experience behind-the-wheel and in the classroom, I have taught over 4,000 teenagers how to drive here in the greater Los Angeles area. I have also coached soccer and track to grade school kids and when I was in high school I coached football to 3rd and 4th graders. I have also instructed many teenagers on how to surf, especially the summer that I lived in Hawaii. The summer I lived in Hawaii was spent instructing kids, teenagers and young adults on how to surf-that was totally gnarly!
Thoughts on teaching: Whenever you are able to impart knowledge & skills to somebody, that is satisfying; but when this knowledge and skills can actually make a difference in that person's life, then that's truly rewarding!
Thoughts on the environment: Mother Earth is beautiful and I would love to keep it that way for my kids; so, remember to always respect the outdoors and clean up after yourself!
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Movie: True Romance, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, American Beauty, Super Bad
Music: Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys, The Doors
Hobby: Basketball, going to the movies, barbequing, tennis, making movies
Meet Ben:
Check Ben out on NBC's YourLA
Check Ben out on NBC's YourLA (again)
Teaching/Mentoring experience: After teaching a few hundred of California's finest young drivers how to curbside park and back up in a straight line, I've learned that there's only one constant: no two students are exactly the same. Thus, I do my best to teach everyone based on their individual needs. I have also been a substitute teacher with the LAUSD, a Big Brother with Big Brother/Big Sisters for three years when I lived in Minnesota, coached little league baseball, basketball, and mentored youths in a Jr. Business Partners program.
Thoughts on teaching: Don't take yourself too seriously and listen to the person you are teaching. The ability to adapt your teaching methods for each individual is important, because every student is different. And if you can have a good time doing it, all the better.
Thoughts on the environment: The environment's cool. It'd be a lot cooler if it were cleaner, smelt better, and everyone took care of it as if it was their own backyard (unless of course your backyard is a cesspool). Just pick up after yourself, be respectful, and use common sense – then we'll all be fine.
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Movie: Batman, Matrix, Enemy of the State, Anchorman
Music: Outkast, The Roots, Kanye West
Hobby: Photography, reading, and music to name a few
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I have many different ages and levels of expertise (from novice to advanced) in the art of Photography and Photoshop. I have come to the realization that helping people get the right picture is the first step, but with patience and editing, you can really enhance the shot to become amazing!
Thoughts on teaching: Everyone learns at their own pace, and will process new information in their own way. Good teachers are aware of this, and treat each student as the individual they are.
Thoughts on the environment: We only have one planet, and I think that everyone should do their part to keep it clean. With having as many people on the planet as we do, the statement "Every little bit helps" really does go a long way. Do your part!
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Movie: The Dark Knight, Gladiator, Ace Ventura, The Usual Suspects
Music: Coldplay, Muse, Linkin Park, Maroon 5
Hobby: Playing baseball/softball, walking my dog, going to movies, hiking
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I mentored an at risk teen professionally for 3 years. I enjoyed helping him and watching him progress from an awkward sophomore to a confident high school graduate. I am currently involved in the Big Brother program.
Thoughts on teaching: Teaching can be very difficult, especially when you feel like you are going nowhere. But being persistent and never giving up is the key. When the student does have a breakthrough, it is one of the greatest feelings of accomplishment you will ever have.
Thoughts on the environment: We can see the effects of pollution every day. Fortunately, advances in technology are making it progressively easier to help out the environment. If everyone does even a little, we will see great changes.
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Movie: Tombstone, The Godfather series, Pirates of the Caribbean
Music: U2, Offspring, Fuel
Hobby: Beach volleyball and watching college football & basketball games
Teaching/Mentoring experience: Over the last couple of years, I have taught more than 700 students on their way to becoming safe drivers. I take a focused but relaxed approach to driver training, tailoring each lesson to the needs of that driver. I've had a range of students, from teens or adults that were very nervous about driving for the first time to some who already had their licenses but wanted to brush up with more practice on defensive driving techniques, the freeways, canyons or traffic. Whatever your situation, you'll definitely learn something, develop more confidence and improve at a pace that's right for you.
Thoughts on teaching: When you're trying something new, it's important to relax, have a sense of humor about it and be patient with yourself. One of the best things about teaching is being a part of someone's break-through moments and cheering them on as they improve these skills that they'll use for the rest of their lives.
Thoughts on the environment: There's so much beauty in our environment I think sometimes we don't even notice it. Don't say, "Someone else will do that." We all live here. Take responsibility and respect what we've got.
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Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Aliens, The Big Lebowski
Music: Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Tool, Soundgarden, The Cult
Hobby: Surfing, Guitar, Working out, Reading, Writing
Teaching/Mentoring experience: After school programs for elementary, middle, and high schools. Also, I've participated in hospital education programs and have been a teaching assistant.
Thoughts on teaching: Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
Thoughts on the environment: Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites.
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Movie: The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, BIG Daddy, The Hurricane, and Schindler's List
Music: Dru Hill, Jeremy Camp, Jagged Edge, Fred Hammond, and Ne-Yo
Hobby: Basketball, Football, Playing XBOX 360, and watching cartoons.
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I've worked with kids for about 10 years at the San Fernando's Boys and Girls club's wrestling program.
Thoughts on teaching: It's a rewarding experience watching young people mature and succeed at something I contributed to. It's an opportunity to impart knowledge and experience that I posses to others in an effort to better equip them in life.
Thoughts on the environment: Continuing to neglect our responsibility as care takers on this earth will inevitably result in crisis' that we can not overcome. So, lets do what we can to make a difference.
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Movie: Bowfinger, Dogma, The Birdcage, Bubba Ho Tep
Music: Pink Floyd, Guns N Roses, U2
Hobby: Running, Hiking, Sailing, Paintballing, Musician
Teaching/Mentoring experience: As a volunteer with the D.A.R.E. Plus program, I was able to build rapport with various under-privileged young minds and quite possibly altered their future just by mentoring and keeping them off the streets and showing them that there is a future to strive for.
Thoughts on teaching: Anyone can show you where the water is but no one can make you drink it. A great teacher can mold minds. Done right and it can change a life.
Thoughts on the environment: With limited resources on the horizon, we all need to make small changes that will bring a greener future. Save the cheerleader, save the world.
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Movie: Ghostbusters, Leon: The Professional, Conan the Barbarian, For a Few Dollars More, Kill Bill
Music: Primus, Nirvana, Isis, Queens of the Stone Age, Wu Tang Clan
Hobby: Improv – I'm a company member of ComedySportz and LA Theatresports, Music – I play bass, guitar, drums, French horn, and piano
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I've been teaching improv to teens for two years. I find that it allows kids to more effectively and efficiently tap into their creative resources, whether it is for acting, writing, singing, or any other endeavor.
Thoughts on Teaching: I believe the essence of teaching is reciprocal communication. Philosopher Martin Buber theorizes that the only effective communication is a dialogue. Every student employs a different methodology when learning. It is because of these differences that the teacher must study the student to fully understand his or her needs. When each meets the other half way, the teacher and the student can then proceed on to a mutually beneficial dialogue that allows the greatest degree of success. That's my degree from Pepperdine paying off.
Thoughts on the environment: I believe we are entering a new phase in our society. Green, a term not in our vernacular a year ago, is now attached to everything from "green concerts" to "green toothpaste." While some debate the cause, the temperature and climate changes throughout the world are irrefutable. It is the responsibility of each person to contribute what he or she can to rectifying this situation. Sacrifice is an unfortunate burden which we must all shoulder, but it is necessary to rectifying the damage already done.
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Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Matrix are by far the best movies ever made.
Music: I am pretty diverse. I listen to all genres of music. I usually have a favorite song that I may like at a particular time.
Hobby: I have two loves in life: Poker and Acting. I would thoroughly enjoy pursuing a professional career in either.
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I have experience teaching and mentoring kids and teenagers from the ages of 4 to 18. I used to teach elementary school children how to read Hebrew. I have also directed many chess programs for different junior high school systems.
Thoughts on Teaching: Although at times teaching can be very tough and demanding, I thoroughly enjoy it. I love the idea of being able to impact someone else's life (especially kids) in a positive and enlightening way.
Thoughts on the environment: I am definitely an environmental friendly type of guy. I try to uphold my share of maintaining a healthy and clean environment by performing duties such as recycling and refraining from littering. Besides, the Earth is the place in which we live. We should take care of it in such a way that we would our own personal homes.
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Movie: Pride & Prejudice, Moulin Rouge, Forest Gump, Romeo & Juliet & Gladiator
Music: Paramore, Everclear, My Chemical Romance, Carrie Underwood, & Ne-Yo
Hobby: Hiking, Baking, Softball and Watching Movies
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I have taught softball to younger kids for 5 years. I am also a teacher’s aide at a high school program for at-risk teens and I love every moment of it. Lastly, I am currently enrolled in college courses with a goal to become a history teacher.
Thoughts on Teaching: The number one reason why I love teaching so much is that moment when the student “gets it”. It’s like a light bulb goes off in their head and they understand what I’m teaching and are so proud of themselves. I enjoy sharing information that I have learned and passing it along to someone so that they can gain knowledge and grow as a person.
Thoughts on the environment: Our earth has so much natural beauty that is getting destroyed every day. I believe that if we collectively unite to improve the state of our planet, we can make a difference.
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Movie: Gladiator, Basketball Diaries, Walk the Line, Mean Girls, The Matrix
Music: Bright Eyes, Ani Difranco, The Killers, Hole, Rihanna
Hobby: Skiing, Horseback Riding, Pool
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I taught acting at a drama camp and was an SAT tutor.
Thoughts on Teaching: Teaching is a great opportunity not only to help enrich the life of someone else but also to learn more about yourself. :)
Thoughts on the environment: We share the planet with many other creatures and owe it to them and ourselves to take better care of our home!
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Movie: Amadeus, The Princess Bride, Pretty In Pink, Waking Life, Stranger Than Fiction
Music: Depeche Mode, U2, Zero 7, Goldfrapp, Mozart
Hobby: Ice skating, DJ'ing, playing guitar, singing, dancing with fire (seriously)
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I completed 45 prerequisite hours (for the teaching credential program at SFSU) of participatory in-class observation in a high school. I also have worked with youth at a summer drama program, doing choreography, singing, playing improv games, etc., as well as volunteering for a show cycle with the All Stars Talent Show Network in San Francisco/Oakland, CA.
Thoughts on Teaching: A teacher gives the gifts of inspiration, experience, and knowledge, which are the foods of wisdom and success. A student will flourish when allowed to grow on their own with guidance and care. A good sense of humor is key, too!
Thoughts on the environment: I could go on and on about this, but… Earth is the only home we have, and there are consequences for every action we take while we live here. We are responsible both for ourselves and the billions of species we share our home with. We can change negative actions, and prioritize positive actions. In order of importance: Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle. Google "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch." Then, watch Leonardo DiCaprio's "The 11th Hour," Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," and Edward Norton's "Strange Days on Planet Earth." Then consider LED light bulbs over fluorescents: mercury is bad, mmmkay.
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Movie: Super Bad, Talladega Nights, Dumb and Dumber, Knocked Up, Remember the Titans
Music: The Roots, Deftones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dilated Peoples, Michael Jackson
Hobby: Snowboarding, surfing, traveling, and going to sports events/concerts
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I have several years experience working with children ages 5-16 years old as a summer camp counselor. In addition, I have also volunteered at Van Nuys High School and Van Nuys Adult School. I am currently a Soccer instructor teaching basic soccer skills to kids 3-12 years old and I’m also earning my teaching credentials so I can become a teacher.
Thoughts on Teaching: The reward of teaching is being able to enrich someone else’s life and truly make a positive difference. Since teaching is not easy and can be difficult at times, it requires a lot of patience, understanding and care. However, it is the best feeling when you help a student and this is what keeps me encouraged to never give up.
Thoughts on the environment: We have to preserve what little we have on our wonderful planet and work at making it a better place for all of us. Reducing, Reusing and Recycling…every little bit helps.
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Movie: Heat, Forrest Gump, Scarface, Stripes
Music: Moby, Crystal Method, KLF, Bee Gees
Hobby: Car Shows, AutoXing, Unicycling, Rollerblading, Hiking, Movies
Teaching/Mentoring experience: Being a Camp Counselor/Director for 10 years at Park Districts has been quite a ride for me. Currently I'm involved with the Acting Community and work Part-time for Discovery Channel. I also enjoy participating in performance driving schools in my free time.
Thoughts on teaching:
What I love about Teaching: I'm already big fan of sitting behind the wheel of a car and enjoying the simple pleasure of being free and in control of a machine that we think of as a good friend taking us on a desired journey… now it's Your Turn!
This is a wonderful chance for me to share my experience and passion for driving. It's rewarding to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the driver they want to be. It's about helping you direct your life in the direction you decide, rather than leaving it to chance. How cool is that... who says my job is hard... it's up to you, after all, I'm just the copilot!
Thoughts on the environment: The environment to me is like a Pet Dog named “Tink”…it has its good and bad days, but most of the time it depends on your actions on how it's going to behave at that moment.
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Movie: Shawshank Redemption, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Longest Day, Big Fish & The Pursuit of Happyness
Music: Guster, Foo Fighters, Beatles, James Taylor & the Cobra Starship
Hobby: Tennis, Hiking, Card Games, Traveling, Baseball
Teaching/Mentoring experience: The last four summers I have taught tennis to beginners of all ages. I have also been a Teachers Assistant at my university and was the assistant coach for the Oswego University Division III tennis team for a year.
Thoughts on Teaching: Teaching is more of an art than a science and is both more effective and rewarding when conducted one on one. Each student has their own needs and pace of learning. Everyone is capable of learning any skill; it is just a matter of finding the right way of communicating the "how to" so it clicks in the students head. There is nothing more rewarding than the moment that it clicks and the immediate confidence and additional easy learning that follows.
Thoughts on the environment: It is the small things that matter. One does not need to devote their life to cleaning up the Earth, but picking up one piece of trash off the ground each day or taking the extra steps to recycle can go a long way over the course of a lifetime.
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Movie: Up, The Pursuit of Happyness, In to the Wild, The Devil Wears Prada & Goodwill Hunting
Music: Journey, Van Halen, Muse, Rolling Stones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hobby: Working out, Enjoying the outdoors, All sports
Teaching/Mentoring experience: Right after high school, I home schooled high school students for 2 years mainly helping them with their Math and Science classes. I not only helped them with their course work but helped them get into colleges and excel in school.
Thoughts on teaching: It is such a great opportunity to inspire an individual and watch them use the tools you taught them in their school work and their life.
Thoughts on the environment: Earth is a great gift to each one of us and we are obliged to take care of it in return.
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Movie: South Park, Super Bad, 3:10 to Yuma
Music: Smashing Pumpkins, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas
Hobby: Hiking, Cycling, Movies, Reading Magazines on the Beach
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I've taught thousands of teenagers how to become safe drivers for the better part of 15 years. I've also been a Defensive Driver Trainer for the State of California for the past 6 years.
Thoughts on teaching: Good teachers recognize and adapt to their students' individual needs, and make their students feel comfortable and relaxed. They are patient, caring and good listeners.
Thoughts on the environment: The environment is our habitat which is responsible for the existence and future well being of our planet's many different life forms. If we all do our part, we can collectively make our planet a greener place and ensure that earth's species can continue to flourish.
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Movie: Shawshank Redemption, Garden State, Blue Streak, The Departed, ...
Music: Pearl Jam, Postal Service, Foo Fighters, I hate Kate, ...
Hobby: Skiing
Teaching/Mentoring experience: I've been with Drivers Ed Direct for nearly three years as a behind the wheel instructor. The hundreds of students I've taught in turn have taught me a lot about the process and have made me a better instructor. I also have experience substituting grades 3rd through 5th, worked as a camp counselor when I was younger, and have taught kids at the YMCA.
Thoughts on teaching: Teaching is one of the most important things one can do for another. The knowledge passed along and the way in which it is presented to the student are both critical in creating a successful teacher student relationship. I will always have bigger ears to listen with than a mouth to speak.
Thoughts on the environment: Be responsible for yourself and encourage those who aren't. Never throw trash on the ground, be smart with water and energy consumption. It all comes down to common sense, use it freely and we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier environment.
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Movie: Jaws
Music: Creedance Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan
Hobby: Running, hiking, books, and movies.
Teaching/Mentoring experience: For two years I assisted with the Special Olympics program, which was both rewarding and fun.
Thoughts on teaching: When teaching, I think that it is always important to recognize and accommodate each student's specific needs. Getting behind the wheel is exciting, but also a great responsibility. When preparing a student it's important to adapt to the student's learning process, but also keep it fun. Learning anything new is a challenge, so keeping a good sense of humor about it is integral.
Thoughts on the environment: We only have one and we should take care of it.
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Movie: The Notebook, Little Miss Sunshine, Legends of the Fall, Hotel Rwanda, Pay it Forward, Saw (from Little Miss Sunshine to Saw??). I could go on, but I won't.
Music: Flight of the Concords
Hobby: Traveling, Rollerblading, Shopping, perezhilton.com (I know, shameful), Movies, Game Nights
Teaching/Mentoring experience: Teaching students to drive is such a rewarding experience. Seeing the look on a student's face when they finally get that turn right or that stop nice and smooth is one of the most satisfying moments in teaching. It's so amazing what can be accomplished within a 2-hour lesson, and at the end the student beams with pride at their behind-the-wheel accomplishments. Sometimes being taught by fantastic teachers is all the experience one needs to be just as fabulous. I've had some pretty incredible teachers in my life – actually I still do. I'm learning something new everyday, and I plan to use those experiences to teach others just as fantastically (yes, fantastically is a word – and kinda' fun to say)!
Thoughts on teaching: When I thought back to the subjects in school that were the most interesting and fun to learn, I realized that it wasn't so much the subjects as it was the teachers. It's amazing what a difference the right kind of teacher can make. Learning should be fun, no matter what the subject. I'd like to be remembered for making learning an exciting and fulfilling experience.
Thoughts on the environment: Have you ever gone for a drive right after a really windy day and thought you were going the wrong way because things didn't look familiar? Then you realized that you're not on the wrong freeway or street, it's just that it's so clear outside that you can actually see a lot farther and things look, well, different? Well, if we don't clean up our acts and begin to cherish our environment, the next generation won't even have that!
