Get to know our instructors
Jeffrey Benes
Jeffrey is a middle school social studies teacher. He has been a schoolteacher since 1998 and is currently teaching American History. He has coached in the past and is currently busy with school gardening.
While Jeffrey is newer to teaching driver’s education, he is not new to teaching or time behind the wheel. He drove a Humvee while he served in Iraq and used his GI Bill to become a certified driver’s education instructor. What he enjoys most about teaching driver’s education is that the students really want to learn and improve themselves. “They want to be here; they want to do well, and they are willing to listen.”
Jeffrey’s tip to new drivers – Always be aware of the situation. When behind the wheel, things change quickly, so always be scanning.
Vanessa Fernandez
Vanessa Fernandez is a Library Media Specialist in the Blue Valley School District and has been an educator for over 30 years. She previously taught English at both the middle and high school level before transitioning to her current role.
Vanessa has been teaching driver’s education for over 10 years. She enjoys teaching driver's education because she gets to help a diverse group of individuals as they learn to drive.
She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle, traveling and exercising in her free time.
Vanessa's tip to new drivers – Practice! Driving in different situations and weather will increase your chances of being a safe and experienced driver.
Lisa Jackson
Lisa Jackson is a middle school social studies teacher and coach in the Blue Valley School District, with over 20 years of experience as an educator. She previously taught and coached in Texas before relocating to Kansas.
Lisa taught both of her children to drive, and has been teaching driver’s education since the summer of 2025. She enjoys teaching driver’s education because she has a captive audience of learners with diverse experiences.
She enjoys exercising, attending her son’s sporting events, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
Lisa’s tip for new drivers – Practice and scan. Practice driving at various times. While driving, scan. Scan the area in front of you and beside you.
Barb McEntire
Barb has been teaching since approximately 2004 in Oklahoma and Kansas. She’s taught science, social studies, physical education, gifted education, and computer education. She also coaches basketball for her school.
Barb started teaching driver’s education in the summer of 2025. To master driving, she encourages new drivers to practice as much as possible.
Barb’s tip to new drivers – Drive anywhere and everywhere; it will make you a better driver!
Jim Oatman
Jim is a full-time instructor at Van Horn High School, where he teaches construction trades and woodworking. He has over 35 years of teaching experience and has taught a wide range of subjects, including welding, automotive, computer-aided drafting and more. He also has a great deal of experience coaching youth sports, including more than 20 years as a high school girls basketball coach.
Jim decided to teach driver’s education when he was a college student. He has taught the subject for more than 35 years and still enjoys it. He is most proud that he has never had an accident or citation after all these years. He enjoys working with parents and students to help them develop a pathway for their student’s driving success.
Jim’s tip to new drivers – Repetition, repetition, repetition! Driving is a life skill; it takes practice and lots of it. Every time you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you will learn something new, and your skills will improve.
Kathy Sawyer
Kathy is a Blue Valley teacher. She enjoys all sports and has coached volleyball, girls’ basketball, track and softball. She also enjoys traveling with her family.
Kathy has been teaching driver’s education since 2017. What she enjoys most is helping young drivers learn the life skill of driving.
Kathy’s tip to new drivers – Practice as much as possible. The best thing you can do to become a strong driver is to practice, practice, practice.
Chris Sawyer
Chris works professionally as a Licensed Physical Therapist at Children’s Mercy Hospital. He started at CMH immediately after graduating with his Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center in June 2002. In addition, Chris has coached both of his sons in basketball and baseball.
Chris has been a driving instructor since March 2020 and a member of the JCCC team since May 2024. Chris feels that his career at Children’s Mercy and the coaching experience he’s had in youth sports has given him the ability to effectively teach students with a wide variety of driving skills and learning styles.
Chris’ tip for new drivers – Practice, practice, practice. You cannot expect to be good at anything without practice. Getting out to practice driving will not only help with your skills, but also help lower any anxieties that you may have about driving.
Melissa Schafer
Melissa Schafer got her start in education with a Master's in Teaching from K-State as a mid-life career change in 2018. Prior to that, she worked in project management at KU.
As a teacher, Melissa taught fifth grade before getting her certification as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. She currently works with students aged 5-21 who have blindness or visual impairments within the Olathe School District. She loves getting to work with this population, teaching braille, assistive technology, and compensatory skills to help them be independent.
Melissa taught her own children to drive, one of whom has Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is passionate about driver's education, because she has seen how the ability to drive has allowed her son with ASD to live and work independently.
Melissa's tip to new drivers – Be cautious, but decisive on the road!