About Us

Margarita is a lifelong educator and the owner of Colonial Driving School, where she brings her passion for individualized instruction to every aspect of her work. She holds a master’s degree in intercultural studies and teaching English as a foreign language, and spent many years teaching English and training teachers before shifting her focus to homeschooling her four children. Three of them had academic learning disabilities, giving her deep experience in adapting to diverse learning styles and needs.

In 2013, after purchasing Colonial Driving School, Margarita began developing personalized methods for teaching students with special needs. As someone with Asperger’s syndrome herself, she brings a unique and empathetic perspective to working with autistic students—an insight that inspired the school’s enhanced instruction curriculum for neurodivergent learners.

Tobias is the Chief Operating Officer at Colonial Driving School, where he oversees daily operations and leads efforts to expand and improve the school’s services across Virginia. He originally helped with the school’s early growth nearly a decade ago, before leaving to attend business school at the University of Virginia. After graduating, he founded and ran a successful digital marketing company for six years, helping numerous businesses achieve dramatic and sustained growth.

In early 2025, Tobias rejoined the Colonial Driving School team with a mission to streamline operations, modernize systems, and build scalable strategies that allow the school to better serve more students. He brings a sharp eye for efficiency, a strong foundation in strategic planning, and a deep respect for the mission of helping people become safe, confident drivers.

Tobias is passionate about building teams, solving problems, and creating systems that empower both staff and students. He finds great satisfaction in combining data-driven strategies with a human-centered approach to leadership.

Michelle is an experienced instructor and branch manager at Colonial Driving School, where she combines her background in psychology, international teaching, and curriculum development to support students of all backgrounds. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of William & Mary and a TEFL certification from Oxford Seminars. Before joining the school, she spent three years teaching English in Japan, where she gained valuable experience working with neurodiverse students and adult learners. Her time abroad also gave her firsthand insight into how challenging it can be to learn to drive in a foreign country—an experience that fuels her passion for helping international students build confidence behind the wheel.

Michelle is especially dedicated to teaching defensive driving and working with anxious or trauma-affected students, finding deep fulfillment in helping them grow in skill, self-esteem, and independence. Beyond instruction, she manages office operations, fills in for classroom teaching, and helps train new driving instructors.

Mari is a passionate driving instructor at Colonial Driving School, where she has been shaping confident, safety-conscious drivers for the past five years. Originally from Brazil, she has lived in America for 14 years, spending eight years in Massachusetts working in life insurance. During that time, her exceptional performance and ability to connect with people led her to train employees on customer relations, focusing on building genuine, trust-based interactions.

When she moved to Virginia during COVID, Mari knew she wanted to continue working in a role centered around people and education. She was drawn to Colonial Driving School’s mission—not just to teach driving, but to prioritize student safety through defensive driving techniques. Seeing the school’s commitment to making high-quality driving education accessible and affordable, she knew she had found the right place.

Mari loves the warm, family-like atmosphere of the school, where respect and camaraderie thrive. Her accent often brings laughter to the classroom, and she embraces those lighthearted moments just as much as she values the serious responsibility of teaching.

Amaury is a dedicated instructor at Colonial Driving School, bringing over four years of experience to his role. Originally from California, he spent 25 years in Hawaii before settling nearby—just a seven-minute drive from the school. He teaches private lessons, Behind-the-Wheel training, Driver Manual Course (DMC), Driver Improvement Course (DIC), and RADEP classes in both Spanish and English. His bilingual skills allow him to connect with and support the Hispanic community, making a meaningful impact on his students.

Before joining the school, Amaury ran his own food distribution company, managing 16 employees. His background in sales and business ownership has given him strong communication and leadership skills that he now applies to teaching.

Amaury enjoys the flexibility of his schedule and keeping the office staff on their toes with his humor—especially Heather, who never knows what joke is coming next!

Mason brings nearly four years of experience to Colonial Driving School, along with a passion for helping students become safe, confident drivers. Originally from Brazil, he speaks Portuguese, English, and a bit of Spanish, making it easy for him to connect with students from a variety of backgrounds. For Mason, the most rewarding part of the job is helping build a stronger, safer community—one student at a time.

Before joining the school, Mason worked as an English teacher, a role that sharpened his communication skills and prepared him to teach with clarity and patience behind the wheel.

When he's not working with students, Mason loves meeting new people and enjoying life to the fullest. He’s a DJ, karaoke singer, movie fan, and sports enthusiast who enjoys soccer, volleyball, the beach, and traveling whenever he can.

Laurie was born in Pennington Gap, Virginia, and raised in Chesterfield—so she knows the area like the back of her hand. A recent addition to Colonial Driving School, she works both in the office and as an instructor, bringing a warm, people-centered approach to everything she does. Her favorite part of the job? The amazing team she works with and the chance to meet new people every day.

Laurie’s professional background spans everything from the financial industry and banking to school cafeterias, general office work, and even owning her own driving school. She’s worn more hats than most—and brings a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom and beyond.

Outside of work, Laurie is most at peace on the trails.

Heather is a dedicated office assistant at Colonial Driving School, where she brings a calm, helpful presence to everything from answering phones and processing paperwork to keeping the office organized and welcoming. She’s been part of the team for one year and loves being able to help people who truly need support—whether it’s answering questions, guiding them through the process, or just offering a friendly smile when they walk through the door.

Originally from North Carolina, Heather has lived in Virginia for the past ten years. Before joining the school, she spent 12 years as a homeschool mom, a role that gave her strong organizational skills and a deep understanding of how to support people in their unique learning journeys.

Erica is a friendly and dependable office receptionist at Colonial Driving School, where she has been supporting clients and staff for over three years. With a strong background in customer service and inventory management, she plays a key role in keeping daily operations running smoothly and ensuring every client feels welcomed and cared for.

Her favorite part of the job is helping clients with their needs and seeing them leave happy and satisfied. She takes special pride in assisting Spanish-speaking students, helping to ensure their experience is seamless, comfortable, and stress-free from start to finish.

Charles is a driving instructor at Colonial Driving School with a passion for helping students develop safe, responsible driving habits that last a lifetime. He brings a calm, encouraging approach to every lesson, creating a positive environment where students feel supported and confident behind the wheel.

With a background in customer service and client consultation across various retail settings, Charles is skilled at making people feel at ease and meeting them where they are. He values clear communication, patience, and consistency—qualities that make him a natural fit for guiding new drivers through one of life’s big milestones.