Meet the Staff - OWNER & INSTRUCTOR

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CLASSROOM and BEHIND THE WHEEL

For many years it has been my dream to open my own driving school. 

I have always enjoyed working with people of all ages and feel  that the new and inexperienced drivers should be taught all road and right-a-way rules versus just "staying between the lines".

Growing up, I lived in Louisiana where you could get your driver license at the young age of 15 years old.  This is when I fell in love with driving. After high school, I accepted a position with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles as a Driver License Examiner. I was later  promoted to District Supervisor where I spent the next 27 years.

After  I retired from DMV, I worked as a driving instructor for over four  years.  My experience as an Examiner and Instructor insures that I understand what is needed for you to become a safe driver and to obtain a driver license.

My students frequently tell me that I am very patient and make them feel at ease behind the wheel. I always try to make my students comfortable and find it very rewarding when I see the look on their faces when they get their first driver license. 

CLASSROOM and BEHIND THE WHEEL

Hi. I grew up in the little town of Four Oaks and graduated in 1983 from South Johnston High School. At that time, I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my future until I met Rodney, the love of my life. Rodney & I spent our first four years living the Raleigh/Wake Forest area. During those four years, I went to Rutledge College in Raleigh, NC for 1 year and received a degree in Secretarial skills. Then, I worked about 3 years as a secretary at Hartford Insurance Company in Raleigh. During this time, we also became proud parents of two precious little boys. In 1989, we purchased our first home in Erwin, NC and lived there for five years. While living in Erwin I was a stay at home mom until 1994, when we moved back to my home town of Four Oaks, NC. My boys attended Four Oaks Elementary School and I accepted a part-time position with Creative Caps. In 1996, I was hired by Johnston County Schools and over the past twenty years I have been a teacher assistant and bus driver. 

I also decided to return to school and attended Campbell University part-time, 

receiving a Bachelor Degree of Science in Education in 2010. 

I became certified to teach drivers education in 2015 and I love

CLASSROOM & BEHIND THE WHEEL

 I grew up in the small town of Angier, NC. I graduated From Harnett Central High School in June of 1989 and began my career with the Division of Motor Vehicles in December of 1989. I held many position at the DMV over that 30 years and mostly were in the Driver License Section.  I retired from the DMV License and Theft Section as a Fraud Analyst on March 1, 2020. I loved working with all the different law enforcement agencies and my plan was to retire, take a few months off then hopefully get a part time job with another law enforcement agency but COVID had other ideas. Basically everything shut down two weeks after I retired so that defiantly changed my plans. I did however enjoy all the time I got to spend with my Grandkids but I knew being home all the time wasn't for me. Well getting to were I am now, I met a Vickey when we both worked at NCDMV and became very close friends around 2004 when both our Dads were battling cancer. She worked in the field offices over the Driver License Examiners and always tried to get me to work with her but I said the one job I could never do was to get in a car with folks that I didn't know if they could driver or not. I would be scared to death! But after many months of asking me to join her team at Learn to Drive I finally gave in. On my one year retirement  anniversary I was back at NCDMV for a 80 hour course and training to become a Driver Ed Instructor. I started in April 2021 and I love it. It's so rewarding to see the kids on day one and see how much they progress by the third day. I have gotten to know some awesome kids in that time. I have now started teaching in the classroom also and love that.  I look forward to driving many many more! 

Crazy how things work out.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

 Born in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, I lived in Hopewell New Jersey, Gaithersburg Maryland and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1976.  Graduated from Millbrook High School in 1981.  Attended American Business and Fashion Institute and graduated in Fashion Design.  Worked in retail designing window, floor displays and dressing mannequins for several years.  Went back to school at Wake Technical Community College and received an Associate Degree and worked for the State of North Carolina in the Department of Historic Preservation.  Moved to King, NC and was able to stay at home to take care of my two daughters.  Moved back to Raleigh in 1999 and when my youngest daughter went to kindergarten started working with the Wake County School System as a Teacher Assistant and then a Secretary. Retired in April of 2020 and in March of 2021 decided to become certified in driver’s education. Married 32 years with 2 daughters. 

CLASSROOM & BEHIND THE WHEEL

When I was asked to write my bio, I felt my mind get stuck. It’s like the song says, “Miracles on miracles A million little miracles Thank you Jesus for the miracles on miracles Count your miracles One, two, three, four, I can't even count 'em all” It’s God’s grace that has allowed me this many years, I really don’t deserve and have now added up to my most gracious years. I’ve been blessed enough to raise three amazing children into adulthood. I have a husband that adores me and is the absolute best helpmate one could ask for. I have been a volunteer track coach for many years which allowed me to coach each of my children until they graduated. I myself have competed in two Olympic Trials as a high jumper and walked through life’s fires along that path. I served the community as a NC State Trooper, Deputy Sheriff and Cop. In my Law Enforcement years I was a member of the Sheriffs Aggressive Field Enforcement (S.A.F.E) team, a School Resource Officer (SRO), Patrol Officer and Field Training Officer (FTO). After two back surgeries I had to hang up the badge and now instead of enforcing the law I teach teens and adults how to avoid collisions and make better decisions that lead to more confident and knowledgeable drivers on the road.

OFFICE MANAGER

I joined Learn 2 Drive Driving School in 2020 as the Office Manager. Prior to Learn 2 Drive Driving School, I drove a school bus for WCPSS for 10 years. While my children were young and in school I served on the PTA for many years at Willow Spring Elementary School as the Hospitality Chairman and I was the PTSA President at Fuquay Varina Middle School for 3 years. While serving as PTSA President, my vision was to help better the school by helping teachers with what they needed “extra” in their classrooms, hosting beautification days, running fundraisers & setting up dances to earn money for the school to purchase new technology. Many more functions were held over the years to help make FVMS a better school, but overall, I left FVMS with many friendships and lots of memories. When I wasn’t driving a school bus or volunteering at my children’s schools, I led a group of women at my church in our SHINE group. SHINE stands for Serve God, Help Others, Inspire, Network Community & Experience Christ. We served food at a local soup kitchen and we ran a clothing closet where we would give clothing to local families in need. After years of driving a school bus and all my extra activities in the community, due to health reasons, I decided it was best to stay home for a while and take care of myself. After a year at home, I was ready to work again. I decided to work privately as a caregiver part-time taking care of elderly. When I found out Learn 2 Drive was looking for an Office Manager, I knew I was up for the challenge. When you call or email the school, I am the one you will be speaking with the majority of the time. I run the office and I schedule all of the students in their classes and their driving schedules. When I'm not keeping busy at the office, you can find me at home in my craft room. I have a small business on the side making and selling custom crafts with my daughters and my mom. I could work in my craft room 24/7 if I was able. I am happily married to my husband Steven, we have been together 20+ years and together we have 3 beautiful daughters. As a mother of 3 teenage daughters, a husband and a house full of animals, I am up for almost any challenge.