OUR STORY
Meet Bob & Helen Jones
Founders and owners, Bob and Helen Jones, developed our driving education school to give students of all ages the skills they need to stay accident-free. We operate under our founders’ philosophy, which holds that we have priorities to God, our families, our country, and our careers as educators. We believe true happiness is found only in what we do for others, which is why we exhibit an unwavering commitment to teaching drivers everything they need to know to drive confidently and safely.
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Our Oregon driver education school has been a locally trusted source for the betterment of amateur and veteran drivers alike for nearly 30 years. Our driver education program is approved by the state’s Department of Transportation (ODOT) and certified by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Fully licensed and sure to meet all insurance requirements, we stand by the quality of our programs and our integrity.
OUR STAFF
Bob Jones | Owner, Senior Training Instructor & Third Party DMV Examiner
Bob is the founder of S.O.D.E. and has been an educator of driving instruction for nearly 30 years. He was a certified public school teacher, most recently at McLoughlin Middle School, with twenty years of special education experience and recently retired in order to place all of his focus on Southern Oregon Driver Education, Inc. Bob is committed to the instruction of youth and adults to ensure our roads are safe and drivers have a lifetime of crash-free driving. He enjoys working with the community and thrives on their success. When not working, Bob enjoys spending time with his family.
Helen Jones | Owner, Administrator & Classroom Instructor
Helen has been a driver education instructor for 10 years and is currently serving as Chair of the Driver Education Advisory Committee for ODOT - Traffic Safety Division. Prior to teaching driver education, she was a middle school teacher and swim instructor for 30+ years. She enjoys volunteering at her church while facilitating small groups of teens. When not teaching she enjoys spending time with Bob, their 8 daughters and families.
Doug Reed | Instructor, Lead Third Party DMV Examiner & Trainer of Trainers
Doug is a seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience teaching STEM in public high schools and a deep passion for teen learning. He began teaching novice drivers with Southern Oregon Driver Education, Inc. in the fall of 2014 and quickly recognized the value and impact of the work. He immediately knew that he wanted others to experience this demanding but rewarding career, so in 2016 he joined the WOU Trainer of Trainers team. He lives in the Rogue Valley with his wife and four children, where he actively lives out his values of faith, family, and a passion for education.
Tim Rupp | Driver Ed Supervisor, Instructor & Third Party DMV Examiner
Tim grew up in the Rogue Valley and is a retired educator of 31 years. He got his first taste of driver education working in Roseburg in the 1990's. He has been teaching driver education for Southern Oregon Driver Ed for nearly 10 years. Tim enjoys sharing his passion for safe driving with our students.
Lorenzo Ridley | Instructor & Third Party DMV Examiner
Lorenzo is a unique and passionate young man with a go-getter spirit to match. He has one year of Logistics Education at the University of Anchorage, Alaska and has started his own part-time delivery business in Medford, OR. He has a natural gift for teaching and enjoys helping others. Teaching for S.O.D.E., Inc. is his first teaching experience in a professional teaching setting, and with his amount of confidence he knows he will prove his self-worth and make S.O.D.E., Inc. proud.
Michael Gomez | Instructor & Third Party DMV Examiner
Michael has been a driving instructor for nearly 10 years, including time spent teaching in Southern California, where he was born and raised. He joined S.O.D.E., Inc. in the summer of 2020 and is passionate about helping students become considerate, responsible, and capable drivers. Michael teaches safe driving techniques both in the classroom and behind the wheel. His cheerful personality puts students at ease, whether he's working as a Third Party DMV Examiner or as a Driver Ed Instructor.
Jonathan Walker | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Liz Harris | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Ashley Canon | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Travis Atterberry | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Lindsey Blesse | Driver Ed Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Teresa Hazen | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Alicia Carte | Third Party DMV Examiner
Bio coming soon...
Brandy Paris | Driver Ed Instructor
Bio coming soon...
Kerry Bunnard | Third Party DMV Examiner & Private Lesson Examiner
Bio coming soon...