Meet Your Instructors

Experience Matters

Meet Our Experienced Instructors

Frankie Fopiano

Instructor and Office Administrator

A.A.S. College of Southern Nevada, Auto CAD
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Angelica Baltodano

Instructor

Certified Instructor NV, DMV

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Brittany Brooks-Castillo

Instructor

B.A. Cal State Long Beach, Multicultural Studies
M.S. UNLV, Science
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Brittany Brooks-Castillo

Instructor

Education

B.A. Cal State Long Beach, Multicultural Studies
M.S. UNLV, Science
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

Hi! My name is Brittany Brooks-Castillo. I have always loved helping people, especially in the field of education. I am the friend or family member called when someone needs help with their math homework. I have had multiple jobs involving education and driving. I have worked as a grocery delivery driver, Tutor, Teacher's assistant, Driving Instructor, and Amazon driver. So, I’m well-versed in driving and teaching.

My Driving Instructor career began in March of 2021 in California, which is where I am from. I am fairly new to the state, my family and I moved here in January 2023 from Long Beach, California. My hobbies are skating, dancing, baking, and karaoke. My homemade chocolate chip walnut cookies are the best!

I’m excited to help you all learn and improve your driving skills. Navigating the road can be dangerous, but we can enhance safety by embracing a defensive driving approach equipped with a deep understanding of road rules and adept skills to confidently tackle diverse driving scenarios.

Christopher Genovese

Instructor

B.A. Rhode Island College, History and Political Science
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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David Cook

Instructor

M. Ed Music University of Oregon
B.A. University of Oregon, Music
Certified Instructor, CA DMV
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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David Cook

Instructor

Education

M. Ed Music University of Oregon
B.A. University of Oregon, Music
Certified Instructor, CA DMV
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

David Cook was raised in the State of Oregon and graduated the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s and master’s in music education. David moved to California and taught music in the public schools for several years and then moved into the administrative side of education. David was first an Assistant Principal at Pleasanton Middle School and then moved to the role of Principal of Oakdale Junior High School.

David’s love for teaching music continued with his involvement in directing church choirs. He is currently singing with the Epiphany Episcopal Church choir in Las Vegas. David is an avid sports fan and enjoys watching football, basketball, baseball, track and field sports events. Dave’s love of sports includes sailing on lakes in the central valley of California and on the San Francisco Bay.

After retiring from the public-school system, David began to teach behind the wheel driving lessons in Modesto, CA.

David became a senior instructor and soon was receiving requests for his driving instruction from his now teen-aged former 5th, 6th and junior high band students.

Since arriving in Nevada, David joined the Northwest Driving School family and is excited to teach Las Vegas students how to drive. David is a very patient and caring teacher who is committed to helping students pass their drive test and become safe drivers.

Debra Settle

Instructor

Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Debra Settle

Instructor

Education

Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

Hello, my name is Debra Settle, I am a native of Las Vegas and a graduate from Ed W Clark High School class of 1980. I have been married to the love of my life for 33 years. We have three grown children who have given us eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. My husband and I take care of a feral colony of cats in our neighborhood. We worked with rescues to get them TNR'd and became their caretakers. The joy of taking care of our furbabies is a lot of work but makes us feel prosperous.

I am a retired drive examiner and have years of experience with being a part of the behind-the-wheel process. As an examiner, I have watched students pass and fail their drive test. I am excited at the opportunity to be a part of the instructional training. Being an instructor has taught me patience and to trust in people who want the opportunity to learn defensive and safe driving. I love saying "There is a reason and rhyme for what is implemented on our roads". As you learn, I learn...every day. Let me help you to help me! Have a fantastic day!

Margaret Estrada

Instructor

Certified Instructor NV, DMV

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Marisa Thomas

Instructor

Certified Instructor NV, DMV

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Pedro Lopez-Sandoval

Instructor

Certified Instructor NV, DMV

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Professor Dennis Jantz

Senior Instructor

M.A. University of Nevada Las Vegas, Educational Leadership
B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara, English, Psychology and Drama
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Professor Dennis Jantz

Senior Instructor

Education

M.A. University of Nevada Las Vegas, Educational Leadership
B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara, English, Psychology and Drama
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

Dennis grew up in San Diego but attended high school in Las Vegas at Valley High. Dennis attended the University of California, Santa Barbara with a triple major in English, Psychology and Drama. After college, Dennis worked as a legal assistant and then as a secondary English teacher with the Clark County School District.

While teaching, Dennis went on to complete his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from UNLV. Dennis then accepted a position as Professor at UNLV, where he continues to teach to this day, teaching Business Composition. Along the way, Dennis’ interest in education branched out to include teaching students to drive. Since 2007, Dennis has taught people of all ages from high schoolers to adults how to drive safely, follow the rules of the road and become responsible when behind the wheel.

Northwest Driving & Traffic School recruited Dennis to teach over seven years ago. After a brief hiatus, Dennis is back and has assumed the position of senior instructor.

Roy Johnson

Instructor

Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Roy Johnson

Instructor

Education

Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

Hello! My name's Roy Johnson, and I was born and raised in Knoxville Tennessee. I attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville for three and half years where I majored in English - Secondary Education. After leaving Tennessee, known as the Volunteer State, I moved to Los Angeles and graduated from New Horizons Technical College. I became a Certified Microsoft Hardware Technician, where I repaired over 360 PCs. and built five Processors. During this time, I also served the Department of Social Services as an Eligibility Worker II for fifteen and a half years. I worked in the community to help provide food stamps, cash aid, medical, mental health, and children's services to those in need. I have 37 years of driving experience with no accidents, speeding tickets, and a clean driving record. I worked for Las Vegas Valet Parking and McGhee Tyson Airport, parking several hundred cars professionally for three years in total. I'm an Author, Music, and Film Producer who also loves to build artificial intelligence software for fun. I have lived in Las Vegas for four years, and I am the happy father of two boys, a girl, and five pets. I love to help people. Happy people smile all the time!

Simone Ranson

Instructor

Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Vicki Williams

Instructor

Certified Instructor NV, DMV

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Zachary Curtis

Instructor

M.M. University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
B.M.Ed. Music Education - University of Nevada, Reno
A.A. Music - College of Southern Nevada
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

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Zachary Curtis

Instructor

Education

M.M. University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
B.M.Ed. Music Education - University of Nevada, Reno
A.A. Music - College of Southern Nevada
Certified Instructor, NV DMV

Details

Zachary Curtis was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV where he graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in 2009. Upon high school graduation, Zachary pursued a role in the field of Music Education by attending the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Reno inevitably serving as a certified educator in the State of Nevada. Zachary served as a Music Educator at both the primary and secondary levels for the Washoe County and Clark County school districts and continues to actively participate in community and professional musical ensembles.

Accumulating over fifteen years of behind-the-wheel experience enables Zachary to translate his knowledge in curriculum design and lesson structure into both academic and practical advice for students looking to pass their Drive Test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Students should be prepared to receive a textbook education reflecting Nevada’s comprehensive rules of the road while drawing from a pool of practical knowledge accumulated from experience as a food delivery driver, casino/hotel valet attendant, long road trips through a wide range of in-climate weather and owning vehicles of both manual and automatic transmissions.

What Are You Waiting For?
15% OFF On All Driving Courses!

Meet Your Instructors

Meet Our Experienced Instructors

Frankie Fopiano

Angelica Baltodano

Brittany Brooks-Castillo

Christopher Genovese

David Cook

Debra Settle

Margaret Estrada

Marisa Thomas

Pedro Lopez-Sandoval

Professor Dennis Jantz

Roy Johnson

Simone Ranson

Vicki Williams

Zachary Curtis

What Are You Waiting For? 15% OFF On All Driving Courses!

What Are You Waiting For?
15% OFF On All Driving Courses!