BHM Driver’s Education Instructors Prepare Students for What’s Next

Throughout most BHS students’ early years of high school, they will go through Driver’s Education in both the classroom and six hours of behind the wheel training. Guiding them along this journey is a team of devout instructors. 

Driver’s Education instructor and 5th grade teacher at Hanover Elementary, Jeff Kyllonen, credits his students’ high success rates to BHM’s program being extremely well built. 

“We hold the students accountable for their work and for their learning,” Kyllonen said, “and make sure when they walk out after their 10th class with us, they are prepared and at least know what they need to keep studying if they don’t quite know it yet.”

Former Driver’s Education instructor of 12 years and BHS Art teacher, Jon Holtz started teaching Driver’s Ed after retiring from being a gymnastics coach. He enjoyed the more individual teaching style of Driver’s Ed. 

“It’s kind of like coaching, it’s just you don’t have a whole team,” Holtz said. “With classroom, you’ve got a lot [of students]. But you know, the car is just one on one, so you get to know kids a little differently.” 

Both instructors have had incidents with a student that have taught them a lesson that stays with them until today.

Holtz reflects on his experience taking a student on the freeway and seeing first-hand how speed can make a student panic and do unexpected things behind the wheel. That lesson stayed with Holtz throughout his many years of teaching and taught him the importance of knowing the driver he was with and their limitations. 

Kyllonen experienced a shocking accident with a behind-the-wheel student while driving at night that involved a deer sprinting onto the road, he is certain that driving is a test of reaction time. It requires being able to scan for any possible hazards while maneuvering a massive machine. Kyllonen recognizes that any person, such as his student that night, may be doing everything correctly but no one can control every situation. 

Although getting out onto the open street is nerve-wracking for many, Kyllonen is a firm believer in practice and consistency resulting in confidence and safety on the road. 

“All the work that you’re going through, and all the times that you’re driving and you’re questioning if you’re doing it right, will be worth it,” Kyllonen said.

With many high-school students just starting to operate vehicles, Driver’s Education is a critical step in staying protected and dependable while traveling. Instructors play a crucial role in building skills to help students’ drive smart and safe. Furthermore, these instructors leave an impact far beyond the time spent with their students, they build the foundation in creating considerate and accountable drivers.