About Us — GreenLight Driving Academy

Marcus Webb coaching a student driver in a dual-control vehicle

Our Story

Started in a Parking Lot, Now on Every Road in Springfield

GreenLight Driving Academy was founded in 2012 by Marcus Webb, a certified driving instructor who spent eight years teaching for a large chain school before deciding he could do it better on his own terms.

"The big schools were focused on volume. Get students in, get them through the checklist, collect the fee. I wanted to actually teach people," Marcus said. He opened GreenLight with two cars, a folding table in a rented office, and a clear goal: get his students to pass the first time, every time.

Twelve years later, GreenLight has three full-time instructors, a fleet of six vehicles, and over 2,400 graduates. The mission hasn't changed.

Founded 2012

State-licensed school

2,400+ graduates

95% first-try pass rate

Our Mission

Building Safe, Confident Drivers

We don't teach people to pass a test. We teach people to drive. The license follows naturally when the foundation is solid. Every lesson at GreenLight is built around building skill, building judgment, and building the kind of calm confidence that stays with you for life.

Meet the Team

Instructors Who Actually Care

All three of our instructors are state-certified and trained in anxiety-aware teaching techniques.

Marcus Webb

Founder & Head Instructor

Marcus has 16 years of teaching experience and a specialty in working with adult learners who've struggled elsewhere. He's patient, direct, and genuinely enthusiastic about the moment things click for a student.

State Certified ADI Level 6 Anxiety Aware

Sandra Okonkwo

Senior Instructor

Sandra joined GreenLight in 2016 after a career in youth education. She specializes in teen programs and is known for making younger students feel at ease without lowering her standards for safety.

State Certified Teen Specialist Highway Certified

Tony Reyes

Instructor

Tony brings a calm, methodical approach that's particularly effective for nervous drivers and those rebuilding confidence after an incident. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he serves a wide range of students across the metro area.

State Certified Bilingual Refresher Expert

Our Fleet

Modern Cars, Maximum Safety

Every vehicle in our fleet is under four years old, fully serviced, and fitted with instructor safety controls.

Dual-Control Braking

Every car has a passenger-side brake pedal accessible to the instructor at all times. You drive — the safety net is always there.

Backup Cameras

All vehicles are equipped with rear cameras and parking sensors to help new drivers build spatial awareness.

Full Insurance Coverage

Every lesson is covered under our comprehensive commercial driving school insurance. Students drive with zero personal liability.

Climate Controlled

Air conditioning and heating keep every lesson comfortable regardless of season. No distractions, just focus.

Regularly Serviced

Our vehicles are serviced every 3,000 miles and inspected monthly. Cleanliness and mechanical reliability are non-negotiable.

Modern Automatics

We use current-model automatic vehicles that match the types of cars students are most likely to drive after passing.

Our Record

Safety First, Every Single Lesson

Twelve years of lessons. Zero at-fault incidents. That's not luck — it's a curriculum that prioritizes hazard awareness from lesson one.

95% First-Time Pass Rate

Compared to the state average of 68%. Our students walk into the DMV ready — not hoping for the best.

Zero At-Fault Incidents

In twelve years and over 18,000 lessons, we have maintained a clean safety record. Our dual-control vehicles and careful instruction make the difference.

DMV Test Center Partnership

We work directly with local DMV examiners to ensure our curriculum reflects exactly what's tested. No surprises on test day.

2,400+ Licensed Graduates

Every one of them drove on public roads with an instructor who took their safety seriously. Many refer their own kids back to us years later.

Built by Instructors, for Real Drivers