Contributed DRIVING STUDENTS — Driving instruction for students is accessible through the Road to Success Driving School, sponsored by JCESC and in partnership with area schools. Program Director Nicole McDonald, JCESC director of grants, is joined by Mike Haney, left, a certified driving instructor from Steubenville High School, and driving instructor and training manager Tom Mort, a teacher at Indian Creek High School.

STEUBENVILLE — A new opportunity is available to give teens access to convenient and flexible driving education. The Jefferson County Educational Service Center is tackling this need by launching the Road to Success Driving School.

According to JCESC Superintendent Chuck Kokiko, the issue of transportation had been discussed during several meetings and the Road to Success program was a great opportunity for the JCESC to work with member school districts to create a tool aimed at increasing students’ ability to earn a driver’s license.

“We are assembling a great team of instructors and continue to grow our capacity to serve area youth,” Kokiko said.

Program Director Nicole McDonald, JCESC director of grants, said learning to drive is a significant milestone for teens, but access to driving education often proves a challenge. The innovation of Road to Success is its partnership with local school districts to fit seamlessly into students’ busy lives. Young drivers can get their all-important time behind the wheel directly after school, after practices or during the weekends.

McDonald said the driving instruction is as accessible as any other extracurricular activity. Students are picked up directly from their schools or needed location, removing the need for parents to manage transportation logistics.

“Driver’s education shouldn’t be a burden,” McDonald said. “We’re committed to making it easy for teens to develop the skills they need to become safe, confident drivers.”

Once students complete a 24-hour online course they are eligible for on-the-road instruction. Driving instructor and training manager Tom Mort, a teacher at Indian Creek High School, said 20 students have completed the program since instructors began taking them on the road in early August. Of these, 17 have taken their driving test and all have passed. Each teen spends eight hours behind the wheel in four two-hour sessions.

“We’ve put a lot of hours on the road so far.”

Road to Success operates in Buckeye Local, Steubenville City, Toronto, Indian Creek, Harrison Hills, Edison Local and Southern Local school districts.

New drivers can begin behind-the-wheel lessons at the age of 15 years and six months.

“They have to have their permit for six months,” he said. “By the time their 16th birthday rolls around, they’ll be eligible to get their license.”

Students get experience navigating intersections, entering and exiting highways, driving at higher rates of speed and in other different situations including county roads and back roads. The routes were submitted to the state for approval.

“When we get in the car, our driving instructors always reference back to what they learned in the classroom,” Mort said. “Any scenario that comes up, they are going to learn it in the classroom, but you can’t beat hands-on. The kids really learn the most on the road.”

McDonald secured seed money through the Creating Opportunities for Driver Education grant. This initiative was created to expand access to teen driving programs, addressing a shortage of available options in many communities.

JCESC and individual schools pitched in to purchase nine cars.

“Our concept was each school has participated in purchasing one of these cars,” McDonald said. “It’s the whole education community supporting this project.”

This cooperation strengthened the grant application.

There are three certified instructors and five more are in the process of being certified through the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The goal is to have an instructor from every participating school. The cars will eventually be housed at the schools.

Mort anticipates Road to Success will be a popular program and excitement is spreading.

Anyone interested in Road to Success can learn more at participating schools. They can also register at the JCESC website, jcesc.k12.oh.us/roadtosuccess.aspx.