instructors

Julia is an owner/instructor here at Panhandle Driving School. She is passionate about helping North Idaho’s youth become safe, knowledgeable and confident drivers. She grew up here in Sandpoint and feels this profession is the perfect way to give back to the community that helped raise her. The safety of Idaho public roadways is a top priority for the Klontz family and they are excited to help your teen gain the knowledge and experience they need to succeed. 

Mike is a retired Sandpoint High School teacher and baseball coach who has been a drivers education instructor for over 30 years in the state of Idaho. He brings extensive knowledge and experience to the PDS team and a great passion for safer roadways. 

Robert is currently an English teacher for Sandpoint High School and is involved in many youth organizations such as Cub Scouts and SAFL Football programs. He has been a drivers education instructor since 2005 and teaching at the secondary level since 1999. 

Ken is a former employee of the City of Sandpoint and Cold Water Creek who joined our team in 2017 to continue helping this community. With three teenage kids of his own he is passionate about helping to provide a fun, safe and efficient learning program for our young drivers. Ken helps PDS as a valued in class and behind the wheel instructor bringing extensive knowledge and experience to our team.

Rick recently retired from Litehouse Foods after over 35 years of dedication to the company and this community. He has been a Sandpoint resident for over 40 years, raising his family and coaching countless baseball teams here. Rick joined this team in 2020 bringing a spark of excitement for teaching our student drivers. He has quickly become one of the students favorites on our team helping new drivers gain knowledge and confidence behind the wheel.

Dave was a Sandpoint Police officer from 2001 to 2023 and brings professional, working knowledge of Idaho code and rules of the road to this team. In his final years with SPD he was the School Resource Officer for Sandpoint Middle School and the local elementary schools too. When Dave fully retired from SPD summer 2023 we were fortunate to have him full time on our team. He brings many years of experience as a trainer / instructor and now as added "driver education instructor" to his long list of skills and ways he contribute to our community.

Scott is a recently retired UPS driver after about 32 years with the company, 27 of those driving! He is a long time Sandpoint/Laclede local living here with his wife and two sons. Scott spends his free time coaching snow boarding lessons, helping neighbors with handyman work and spending time with his family. PDS is very excited to have his long time driving expertise added to our team helping us with classroom and behind the wheel lessons for our students. 

 Erica is a history teacher at Sandpoint High School, where she has been working with teens in our community for over 20 years.  Erica is also a 6th-generation local who loves sharing what she knows about our area and sights to see while out on drives.   She is married with two teenage boys and brings to the team a plethora of instructional methods that help meet the needs of our diverse young drivers.