Meet Your Instructor
All of our Instructors are DMV licensed and bonded, but we go far beyond minimum requirements. Each Instructor is trained according to our internal Training Program developed over our years of experience, with continuous review at regular staff meetings and during training conferences with the Driving School Association of California. Many schools have just a few Instructors; we are proud of our experienced and diverse team whose commitment is to provide you with skills that will last a lifetime.
DAN TACKETT - PRINCIPAL INSTRUCTOR
Dan has
devoted over 25 years to teaching precision driving, from European
racetracks to California teenagers, from evaluating the driving
abilities of seniors to winning a racing class championship. His
background combines a Marketing degree and career in finance with a
deep passion for driving to set very high standards as the Owner of the
driving schools. Dan is the primary teacher of our Drivers Education
classroom and also volunteers as Chief Instructor for the Tire Rack
Street Survival® teen driving program and for the BMW Car Club.
Dan's students get to learn their driving skills in a BMW 330i,
probably the only BMW used for Driver Training in the San Diego area.
CESAR TACON - DMV OPERATOR
Cesar had a
long career in automotive customer service before he applied his strong
people skills to teaching new drivers the finer points of car control.
As a long-time East County resident, Cesar is active in the community
and has a good following due to his cheerful demeanor. He serves as the
School's DMV Operator, with a special license to assure compliance with
all regulations. Se habla Español. Cesar teaches in a 2010
Hyundai
Elantra from our Green Teen fleet
PENNY ANDERS - DRIVING REHAB SPECIALIST
With 38
years of experience as a Physical Therapist, Penny is devoted to
creating new possibilities for people with physical disabilities. For
the last 11
years she has focused on training disabled drivers with a wide variety
of special
needs as part of the Sharp Healthcare network. Penny is DMV-licensed
through
American Driving School and teaches in both a Buick Park Avenue (with
hand
controls and a left-foot accelerator) and a new minivan equipped with 3
styles of
hand controls and a wheelchair ramp.
DEMETRIUS ANDERSON
Starting
when
he
was
just
21
years
old,
Demetrius gets lots of referral requests
due to his relaxed but thorough style of teaching. He is recognized at
East County high schools, speaking the language of teens and inspiring
them with his positive attitude. Demetrius teaches in a 2007 Toyota
from our Green Teen fleet.
LYN BURNES
Lyn enjoys
teaching driving skills to people of all ages. Her love for driving
spans
30 years, including managing a driving school office nearly 20 years
ago. For
Lyn, driver education is part of her family: her husband is a high
school teacher
with a driver’s education credential, and she is currently teaching two
of her own
teenage sons. Her passion is to help others to achieve their highest
potential
in their driving skills. Lyn instructs mostly in the inland North
County in a 2010
Hyundai Sonata from our Green Teen fleet.
PRENTISS DAVIS
Prentiss
blends his experience in corporate training with his love of all things
automotive to teach teenagers driving skills in all types of weather at
our Lake Tahoe branch. His talent for car control was refined on race
tracks and snowy roads and over one million accident-free miles on
Southern California's freeways, giving Prentiss the skills to pass
along through this school and as a volunteer for the Tire Rack Street
Survival® teen driving program. Prentiss teaches in a BMW 325xi
all-wheel drive.
JIM GLEASON
Jim has
spent his many years as an Instructor developing a versatile approach
to teaching drivers with widely different needs. As our in-house expert
on disabled driver training, Jim's mid-sized Hyundai Sonata is equipped
with removable hand controls. He understands the special requirements
of senior drivers, providing patient instruction throughout San Diego
County for seniors, teens and disabled drivers. Jim also teaches some
of our Drivers Education classes.
MICHAEL MANZI
Originally
from
the
Buffalo
New
York
area,
Michael
has many years of experience
driving in snowy, inclement weather conditions. He has completed High
Performance
Driving Schools as well as working for Mercedes Benz driving high
performance cars
on closed circuits. Michael’s automotive knowledge and a love for
driving in sunshine
or snow come out in every lesson. His devoted following in North County
brings lots of new Students who request Michael for his friendly and
encouraging approach. He also instructs for advanced car control
clinics, and teaches in a 2010 Hyundai Sonata from our Green Teen
fleet during driver training
lessons.
RICK MILFORD
As the
original founder of the American Driving School, Rick's vast experience
as a professional instructor spans 30 years. He has personally
instructed thousands of teenagers, plus commercial drivers of
tractor-trailers, busses, passenger vans and limousines. Rick has
developed programs for seniors and disabled drivers and currently
manages our fleet driver training. He has taught Traffic Violator
classes and Drivers Education, and is Board Member for training of the
Driving School Association of California. Rick uses a Toyota Corolla or
actual fleet vehicles during driving lessons.
CONNIE PATTERSON
Before
starting with American Driving school, Connie pursued her interest in
driver training through the BMW Car Club in both Autocross and High
Performance Driving Schools. The techniques she learned there have
directly helped her be a better driver, and more importantly a better
instructor. Connie also is a professional graphics designer and has
designed much of the specialized training material used by all the
instructors. Connie uses a Volkswagen Jetta turbodiesel from our
Green Teen fleet, the 2009 Green Car of the Year.
DOUG SPENCER
A 20-year
veteran of the US Navy, Doug has been a licensed driving instructor for
nearly 10 years. Doug has great experience with drivers of all ages,
but he has
developed a special bond with senior drivers who need encouragement and
a brush-
up to extend their driving freedom in their golden years. He and his
wife are also very
involved with their church. Doug teaches throughout a wide area of
North County in a
Hyundai Elantra.
DANA WILLISON - DRIVING REHAB SPECIALIST
Dana has
specialized in teaching disabled drivers for 4 years, providing them
with new skills to bring mobility and freedom back into their lives. As
an
Occupational Therapist for 16 years, Dana has worked with drivers from
16
to those in senior years and many combat-wounded veterans. With her DMV
license at American Driving School and association with Sharp
Healthcare, Dana
teaches in both a Buick Park Avenue (with hand controls and a removable
left-
foot accelerator) and a new minivan equipped with hand controls and
wheelchair
access.
RYAN YOST
With over
ten years of driving experience, Ryan has the right combination of
strong skills for teaching and his youth to relate well to new teenage
drivers . Ryan is quite accomplished with advanced car control,
actively participating (and winning) in competitive driving
events. Ryan volunteers as an Instructor for the Tire Rack Street
Survival® teen driving program. He also has a motorcycle
license and enjoys rides through San Diego's back country. Ryan
uses a 2012 Ford Focus from our Green Teen fleet to teach good habits
to new drivers.
OFFICE STAFF
Our Business
Office is open weekdays from 9-5 to answer questions, schedule lesson
appointments for all Instructors, and process credit card
payments. Our Office staff includes Tina Morgan, Ryan Yost and
Danielle Bybee, who work on different days to provide helpful
support to our
Driving School clients, and they are ready for your call.