Our Staff

Brook Ashinay is the General Manager and Lead Instructor at Safety First Driving School. He is also a Lead Tester and Trainer, licensed and certified by the State of Washington. Brook obtained his driving instructor certificate while pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Safety and Health Management with a minor in Business Administration from Central Washington University. It was after he received his degree that he realized how fascinated he was by the attitudes, values, and risk behaviors of his fellow drivers. Because he also worked on various projects studying the learning patterns of different personalities and age groups, Brook was able to quickly apply the theoretical knowledge to practical life creating a positive atmosphere for learning and connecting almost immediately with his students.

Susan Grayce has been with Safety First for over ten years. She has a BA in Communications and enjoys working with new drivers of all ages. A former classroom teacher who now focuses on managing the teen courses and assisting other instructors, Susan misses the behind-the-wheel lessons and working downtown with new drivers.

With more than four years additional experience teaching defensive driving techniques to teen drivers for the National Safety Council, she is well-versed on the subject of student drivers and how to teach them good driving habits.

Bella Briskorn is our Office Manager and ‘know-everything’ person with a degree in Communication Studies, so she believes there is always a way to connect with a student.

She manages the daily operations at our Shoreline and Seattle offices with humor and professionalism. Equal parts creative and technical, Bella brings a unique perspective to Safety First and our approach.

Scott Phariss is all about relationships. With an intense background in law enforcement, education, and real estate, Scott applies all his experience to helping new drivers.

Scott teaches the teen class, instructs teens and adults behind-the-wheel, and conducts the final skills test. As an educator he brings his ability to connect one-on-one with everyone he meets, looking for and finding common ground to assist the learning process. He believes the student is only as good the teacher and he strives to be the best he can.

Harlie Litton leads our Lake City Way, Seattle office teaching and testing teens and adults. He has a BA in Liberal Arts as well as a Post-BA as a Health and Wellness Coach which fits in very well with his one-on-one approach to his students.

He understands how stressful learning to drive can be and is a calm and caring personality in the car. His consistency and support help each student learn to overcome their own stress by learning the rules of the road.  He enjoys being there when a student reveals they finally feel comfortable learning how to drive.

Aberra Adera has been a teacher throughout his life. He acquired his Master of Science degree in Forestry Education from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His world-wide travels make him an open and accessible individual able to communicate with anyone. His unique talent for employing effective teaching strategies is evident in his ability to engage students and foster a fun and thriving learning environment.

Aberra has been a certified driving instructor for the last twenty years. His teaching expertise is apparent as he explains complicated concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. He is calm on the road and his trusting demeanor allows him to build relationships with his students. He is also bilingual and works with others who speak multiple languages.

Dawit Ashinay is a software developer who also teaches and tests news drivers. He likes the personal daily interaction of teaching safe driving to others. Dawit is from our Lake City Way location.

As our IT Manager, Dawit keeps everything running and helps introduce new products. When he teaches lessons navigating through busy one-way streets, pedestrian-heavy areas, and hilly intersections, Dawit is able to connect with each new driver to help them learn and apply safe driving techniques.

Berhanu Ashinay loves being an Instructor at Safety First Driving School and is busy teaching and testing teens and adults from our Lake City Way location. Berhanu has a degree from Seattle Central Community College but is really drawn to the individual relationships he is able to create while teaching someone to drive. He spends his day either teaching the basics of driving or testing to see how well he taught the basics of driving!

Berhanu understands how excited and nervous new drivers can be, no matter their age. His patience, friendly demeanor and positive attitude help calm every student driver he comes in contact with.

John Lange has been driving and teaching on Seattle roads for a very long time. With over twenty years at the Seattle School District – and teaching Driver’s Ed as long as the program was offered – combined with teaching at both Sear’s Driving School and Munro’s Driving School, he could probably describe any local intersection by memory. While with the District, John taught the drama class! So, he’s not a shy instructor and his technique is (obviously) engaging, interactive, humorous, and instructive. His students respect and listen to him which makes the teaching and the learning so much easier.

Kathy Jones comes from a corporate-heavy environment with a lot of volunteering included proving that driving instructors come from all backgrounds but have one thing in common; they help others around them.

Kathy teaches the teen course as well as teens and adults behind-the-wheel. Incredibly calm and patient, she uses her experience to help each student find their pathway to learning how to drive.

Kateryna Popovkina is the one who greets you in person and on the phone with a smile. Friendly and understanding, she is there to help you. Speaking multiple languages and being a classically trained musician and former violin teacher are just some of her many talents.

Kateryna will help you with questions, DOL forms, and making sure everything is ready for you or your teen’s classes and drives.