Brook

General Manager/Instructor/Knowledge and Drive Test Examiner

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 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

Lead Administrator

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.

Jennifer

Senior Office Manager

Jennifer Shelepet is the one has the answers. She helps you on the phone and via the web with scheduling or anything else you need when you need it. With over eight years at Safety First, she is the backbone of our of office support team.

With degrees in International Studies and Economics and more then ten years experience with providing customer service, Jennifer is the professional calm we need as teens are running in and out of our office.

Dawit

IT Manager/Instructor/Knowledge and Drive Test Examiner

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.

Lydia

Scheduler/Office Assistant

Lydia is the face and smile that greets you at our Shoreline office. "Ask Lydia" is a popular activity for staff and students because Lydia knows what you need to get a license.

Aberra

Instructor/Examiner/Sr. Administrator

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 twelve 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.

Laura

Instructor

Laura Flair is all about helping people develop their own confidence in learning to drive. She has been driving since she was a teen and has had opportunities to drive vehicles of all shapes and sizes. She is incredibly calm and patient in the vehicle with respect for and ability to adapt to every learning style; she is very well liked by our teen and adult students. With a BA in Liberal Studies and a licensed massage therapist, Laura is well versed and very well suited to helping others.

Leyuwork

Instructor

Leyu Ashinay drives from our Shoreline location and offers early morning and late evening drives to accomodate any schedule. Leyu is excellent with first time drivers; he helps them explore the car showing how it will respond to them as he teaches them how to control it. Having lived abroad, Leyu excells in comparing driving environments for new drivers from other countries.

Herman

Classroom Teacher/Instructor/Knowledge Examiner

Herman teaches the teen course and Behind-the-Wheel lessons at our Shoreline location and teaches adults from downtown. Herman has degrees from the Art Institute of Seattle and the School of Visual Concepts in addition to more than twenty-five years experience as a corporate IT guy.

Specifically with the teens, Herman believes it all comes together in the car when he shows them how the "classroom stuff" plays out in real life. Watching his students combine information to become competent and confident drivers, working with their parents to improve each teen's ability to drive, and finally, passing them off to testers at Safety First so they can get their first license -- this is the payoff for Herman and it is why he truly enjoys teaching teens to drive.

For all of his students, Herman enjoys the challenge of learning new names and faces and is always happy when they test well.

Alaina

Classroom Teacher/Instructor

Alaina drives from the Lake City Way, Downtown and Shoreline offices. She is naturally skilled at knowing what a student needs and how to help them. She drives with teens and adults and quickly adjusts to each student's driving needs. Alaina does it all.

John

Instructor

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.

Berhanu

Instructor/Knowledge and Drive Test Examiner

Berhanu Ashinay loves being an Instructor at Safety First Driving School. 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.

Berhanu is always busy teaching and testing adults from our Shoreline location. 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. He enjoys being there when a student reveals they finally feel comfortable learning how to drive.

Abebe

Office Staff

Abebe Abebe is our Accountant. Abebe is well educated with accounting degrees from Central Washington University. With over ten years experience as an accountant/bookkeeper,and more than five years with Safety First, Abebe is a true professional.