Instructors

Caldwell School District takes great lengths to make sure teens learn how to properly drive before they earn a license.

Our instructors are all certified teachers with many years of experience. They are familiar with the behavioral patterns of students from their time in school. Classes are adapted to students' special needs. The final drive will include the parent with the student. This allows quality time for the instructor to explain the students' driving skills and those issues that need some attention prior to obtaining their license.

Not everyone finishes with a 100 percent driving ability. Students need more practice after they graduate from our program and parents need to be informed. Our instructors are always willing to spend time with parents/students for any questions.

Lisa Velasquez - Director

Ms. Velasquez is currently the dean of students at Canyon Springs High School. She has her Masters degree in Physical Education Administration. Lisa is very active with student athletics, coaching both basketball and softball. Lisa has been with the Drivers Ed group for over 15 years.

Linda Cooper - Driving Instructor
Linda Cooper has taught behind-the-wheel Driver Education for the Caldwell School District since the 1970's. Some of my current students have parents who took Drivers Ed from me. I love teaching Drivers Ed even though it is often seen as a challenging subject to teach. I recently retired from 35 years of teaching Family & Consumer Science at Caldwell High School. Currently in addition to teaching Drivers Ed.

Margo White - Classroom Instructor
Margo is a retired teacher with 36 years experience. She enjoys time with her two grandsons, traveling and the outdoors. Margo is one of the classroom teachers for the Caldwell School District Drivers Education Program and takes pride in her work to help our students.

Bruce White - Driving Instructor
Bruce is a retired teacher and coach of 35 years. He enjoys photography, motorcycling and RVing. He has taught drivers education since 1975. Bruce is proud to be a part of the outstanding drivers education program that Caldwell School District has put in place for their students.

Mario Betancourt - Instructor
I have been teaching drivers education courses for more than 13 years. I have taught at Wilder High School, Caldwell High School and Safe Start Driving School. Working with teens is nothing new to me and I enjoy it very much. I have a degree in mathematics from Boise State University and have been teaching it for over 25 years.

Tim Dranginis - Instructor
Born and raised in Southern California for 27 years. Graduate of Fresno Pacific College in 1980. Taught in California and Nevada from 1982 - 1989. I have been teaching and coaching at Notus High School from 1989 to 2019. I have been head football coach at Notus for 17 years and head boys basketball coach for 18 years. I have taught drivers education in Nampa and Melba from 1991 thru 2001. I joined the Caldwell Drivers Ed team in 2004. I have been married to my wife, Julie for over 30 years and we have raised 4 successful children: Cody, Cammy, Carly, Kyle.

Luke Bishop - Instructor
Mr. Bishop is a former middle school science teacher and has been involved with the Caldwell School District Driver Education program since 2011. He always looks forward to helping students become safe and responsible drivers.

Betty Riley - Classroom Instructor
Mrs. Riley is retired from Caldwell School District. She is a classroom only instructor.

Lachelle Wood - Instructor
Mrs. Wood has been with our program since 2016. During the school year she is busy teaching at Marsing Middle School.

Jon Cooper - Instructor
Mr. Cooper is a teacher at Elevate Academy. In his free time, he enjoys coaching and spending time with his family.

Eric Lacy - Instructor
During the school year, Mr. Lacy is busy teaching and coaching at Nampa Christian High School.

Jeff Kloetzer - Instructor
During the school year he is busy teaching at Syringa Middle School and coaching wrestling at Caldwell High School.

Heather Ramos

Mrs. Ramos is joining our program in 2019. During the school year, she is busy teaching at Elevate Academy.

Becky Bridgewater

Ms. Bridgewater is joining our program in 2019. During the school year, she is busy teaching at Elevate Academy

Jon Hallock - Mr. Hallock is currently the Athletic Director at Caldwell High School.

Kathy Vadapalli - Ms. Vadapalli is an elementary teacher at Wilson Elementary School.

Zach Dwello - Mr. Dwello is a 5th Grade teacher and middle school athletic director at Nampa Christian Schools.