Our Mission
Our mission is to provide inclusive, high-quality driver education that meets every student where they are and gives every driver the tools they need to succeed.
Our Approach
We teach both teens and adults using Washington’s required safety standards, but we go beyond the basics. Each course combines practical skills with situational awareness, decision-making, and real-world confidence. Students don’t just get a license. They develop the mindset for safe, lifelong driving.
Inclusion and Student Support
Shift Happens Driving Academy was created with inclusion at its core. Many driving schools claim to serve everyone, but few create environments where every student feels truly welcome, respected, and supported.
During Jo's previous experience teaching, they saw firsthand how often students, especially young people from marginalized backgrounds, were discouraged, misunderstood, or dismissed by instructors who didn't take the time to meet them where they were.
Shift Happens is committed to changing that. Every class, policy, and teaching method is built around accessibility, patience, and respect. Our instructional approach prioritizes students who may experience anxiety, language barriers, neurodivergence, or cultural differences that impact how they learn. We recognize that not every student begins at the same place, but everyone deserves the same opportunity to become a safe and confident driver.
By fostering an environment rooted in inclusion and empathy, we support students who might otherwise give up. The result is not only better drivers, but stronger, safer communities.
Our Values
Calm Under Pressure – Shift happens. We stay grounded.
Real over Perfect – Mistakes are part of learning.
Growth Mindset – We get better every day, together.
Equity & Inclusion – Everyone deserves a safe space to learn.
Shared Success – We celebrate wins, big and small.
Who We Are
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Founder and Lead Instructor
Jo is a licensed driving instructor with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and more than ten years of licensed classroom teaching experience. Jo previously worked at another driving school in Lynnwood for a year, where they helped run a two-instructor office, taught both adult and teen driver education, and assisted with administrative operations. Jo brings structured teaching methods, curriculum development skills, and an inclusive, student-centered approach to every lesson.
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Operations and Development
Adaline's background in nonprofit management, marketing, and fundraising provides the business with strategic direction and operational strength. Her skills have been instrumental in establishing the school's foundation and will be essential to its continued growth and reputation in the community.