Drive Right Academy

Most of my life, I’ve called Coeur d’Alene, Idaho home. Raising four kids gave me firsthand experience with the anxieties of teenage driving. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Idaho and completed a fifth-year teaching program at Washington State University. For over 20 years, I taught elementary and middle school in Walla Walla, Clarkston, and Spokane, Washington. After earning my driver education endorsements in summer 2004, I opened Drive Right Academy that September. Since then, thousands of students have graduated from our program. We take great pride in the curriculum we’ve built, confident that each student leaves with the skills and knowledge to become a responsible, defensive driver. Katie Norman, a teacher through and through, joined our team in 2007. After graduating from Western Washington University, she returned to the area to teach elementary school and now works with Drive Right Academy students during evenings and weekends. Katie regularly attends conferences and professional development to sharpen her teaching strategies and bring fresh approaches to the car. Our instructors use a variety of techniques to keep the classroom engaging. Because students learn best when they’re actively involved, we focus on asking questions that explore, examine, and explain key driving concepts. We follow only state-authorized materials: the Idaho Driver Education Curriculum Manual, the Idaho Driver Education Standardized Skills Guide, and the Idaho Driver’s Manual.