That’s why he decided to launch a drivers training program that fits around families’ busy schedules.

“The biggest obstacles for kids are their schedules,” said Adams, who is a high school social science teacher and football coach. “Kids are involved in athletics, they are involved in activities. Then you have church activities and school work. Kids are very busy all year long.”

That’s why seven years ago, Adams decided to open DA Driving School, a driver program that fits around students’ schedules.

“We try to accommodate everyone’s schedule. That’s what separates us from other programs,” said Adams. “I’ve had students with very busy schedules and we try to work around that as much as possible.”

His company motto matches that thinking. It’s “Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.”

Adams said young drivers are required to have both in-class hours and behind-the-wheel hours. He teaches the classes and also behind-the-wheel training. Scott Timmerman, a counselor at the high school, helps with driving sessions.

Adams and Timmerman are both certified drivers’ training instructors through the state of Iowa. Adams said it’s a 15-hour course to be certified to teach both classroom instruction and driving instruction. Teachers can also be certified in just behind-the-wheel training, but they can’t teach any classes.

Adams has been a driving instructor for 18 years. He started working with Jim Duncan in Webster City as a way to supplement his teaching salary.

DA Driving School offers five sessions each year that last around six to eight weeks each. Students get a combination of classroom time and driving time. There are typically 20 kids per session.

In the summer, he offers two sessions and can accommodate up to 40 to 45 students per session.

“I like to keep things light and use humor at times,” said Adams. “We’ll pull up to a farm and I will have the kids switch drivers and tell them to hurry because the dogs might charge them. Or we’ll stop at the automotive shops and I’ll have them ask about blinker fluid.”

While class time is pretty set, Adams does his best to work around students’ schedules for behind-the-wheel sessions.

Adams said students need to have their driver’s permit obtained before taking the class. He also said it benefits students to have some driving experience already under their belts, but he’s willing to work with any experience levels.

“We start with the small things,” he said. “We’ll start in a parking lot and just work on going forward and backward. Just simple things to get them comfortable behind the wheel.

“It’s just a matter of practice. I tell the kids it’s like riding a bike. The more you do it, the better you will be.”

Adams said he likes to remind kids that having a driver’s license is a privilege and not a right. He wants them to take that seriously.

“I remind kids they are sharing the roadway with other people and they have to take that civic responsibility to be a good driver,” he said. “I just want them to be the best version of themselves they can be.”

He said most students have a goal of obtaining a school permit while taking his class. He said students need to have a learner’s permit for at least six months and take drivers training before they can get that.

Adams said he didn’t want to sound like he’s bragging, but he’s had some prominent students go through his classes. That includes 13 or 14 Division I college athletes, including three current members of the Iowa softball team. He also thinks he’ll have his first former student that will go on to win an Olympic gold medal in sophomore-to-be Dreshaun Ross, a state champion wrestler as a freshman this past year.

Adams and his wife, Fort Dodge teacher and softball coach Andi Adams, have three children. Jalen just completed her freshman year at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, while Ty will be a senior and Cael is in middle school.

“I’d just like to thank all the families that I have worked with,” he said. “It’s so nice that they are willing to support a small business like mine.”