About Us

As you navigate through trying to decide on which school to attend, you’ll want to know some important facts before making the final decision. Ask question such as “are your driver training cars all dual controlled with both a gas and brake pedals on the instructors side”? The state of California only requires by law, an extra brake on the passenger side. Gerald Cullison, the owner of Alliance Defensive Driving School simply believes this is unsafe practice. Why? Because you as a student want your teacher to be able to keep you safe in any situation you might encounter on the road. Don’t let other drive schools fool you into thinking otherwise. It is not worth the danger to you for them to save a few extra dollars. All of our cars our dual controlled with both gas and brake pedals on the passenger side to insure complete and total safety for each student. Ask the drive schools policy towards a ride along in the back seat. Mr. Cullison believes that team work is important to help promote the success of each student. When you decide to work with Alliance Defensive Driving School, you are building an alliance together with us to achieve your goals. We are committed to your success and look forward to answering further question you might have.

Our Staff

Gerald Cullison
Has trained with CHP Officers to become a driving instructor in the city of San Francisco. With a population of over one million people, it is one of the most difficult cities in America to drive in. He has worked all over the bay area traveling between San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco teaching 1,000 of students from ages 15 ½ to 90 yrs how to drive accident free. To this date Alliance Defensive Driving School had not had one single injury accident that we are aware of.

Gerald was born and raised in Solana Beach, California . He grew up playing tennis in San Diego and most proud of his accomplishments of becoming an “All American” tennis player ranked in the top ten nationally in singles and doubles in 1984 and 1985 and earning the prestigious Ward-Ballinger Outstanding Player Award, signifying the National Associations Intercollegiate Athletics best all around tennis player, in 1985. U.S. Professional Tennis Player Association certified, he went on to play in Europe on the Adidas satellite tour. Some of the professional players he has played with include Jimmy Connors, Roscoe Tanner, and Sandy Mayer.

In 1992 Gerald finished graduate school and received his Masters Degree. He was called to work with youth specifically troubled kids. He has been in the teaching field for over 27 years and brings a wealth of diverse experience to Alliance Defensive Driving School. His degree in psychology is always effective in helping understand each students needs and he also understands the “stimulation threshold” of teaching.

Currently Gerald owns and operates Alliance Defensive Driving School. He is a tennis coach for San Diego County, a member of the Driving School Association of Americas, and a Traffic Safety Commissioner for the city of San Marcos. In his spare time he enjoys helping kids learn to play tennis.

chris Chris Riffel
Since graduating from Cal State San Marcos in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Economics, Chris has been working with local businesses as a benefits consultant with Colonial Life. Currently, Chris develops and trains new insurance professionals as part of his team. For the last 3 years, Chris has been working with students as their "Academic Coach" (tutor), helping young students from 5th grade to seniors in math and other subjects. Chris has a natural ability to relate to and communicate with students of all ages to help them better understand and learn the subject at hand. As a commercial driver for 4 years with a local delivery company, Chris brings a unique skill set and knowledge to Alliance Defensive Driving School.

A native San Diegan, Chris grew up in Ramona and enjoys surfing and playing baseball in his free time. He has been married for 6 years to his wife Molly whom he has known since middle school. They just welcomed their first child to their family in March. As part of a 43 day, 12,500 mile vacation in 2007, Chris & his wife visited 20 baseball parks around the country.

Kim Brookes Elmer Fonseca
Born in Orange County and speaks fluent English and Spanish. Graduate of Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California.In my spare time I enjoy playing indoor soccer, mountain biking, volleyball, tennis, baseball, and golf. I am also learning a new language, Japanese.I have the desire and passion to teach driving instruction along with the rules and laws of the road. I have the ability to analyze and problem solve to give my students the best chance for success. I am patient, understanding, and compassionate. I look forward to working with you in the car.

Michael Caffin
Michael has over 20 years of experience in driver education, training, and the development of such. He operated his own driving school for 5 years and has recently joined forces with Alliance Defensive Driving School. His primary experience, however, comes from work in the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces, where he served as a Staff Sergeant Driving Instructor on a number of different types of motor vehicles. He served in this role for more than 12 years, including 4 years of work with a local driving school during weekends and after hours. Alliance Defensive Driving School welcomes Michael to "Team Alliance".

Christopher Yim
Assistant to the Office
Born in Woodland, California, Christopher has spent his life traveling up and down the West Coast of America. He now lives in North County, attending a small charter school as a senior at Classical Academy High School. He plans on graduating this year and attending a University to major in math. He enjoys playing guitar, writing songs, hanging with friends, cooking food, and more so, eating food. His favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings series. He hopes to one day learn the saxophone.

Kim Brookes Kayley Sirrine
Assistant to the Office
Born and raised in Escondido, California, Kayley is an avid writer and artist who one day aspires to compose and illustrate a children's book. She is very interested in various cultures and loves to learn about them as well as their languages, especially loving Japanese cartoons. Her hobbies include (and of course are not limited to) video games, hanging out with friends, browsing the internet, singing, reading, writing, drawing, and then more video games. She also wishes to eventually learn how to program and animate said video games.

Dog Poppy “popstarr” Cullison
Public relations coordinator
Born Aug. 1st 2005 in Modesto California
Lives by the motto “I have never met a human I didn’t like”
Hobbie’s include singing, dancing, and eating shrimp

Dog Margret Jensen
Special Projects Manager/ Newsletter Editor
Grew up in San Francisco, California. Spent the early years of her childhood primarily in Venice Italy. She is fluent in Italian and the Venetian dialect and goes back to Italy when she is able to. As a lover of history, when she is not helping improve driver safety, Margaret likes to read and research the past. Other hobbies include reading, writing, cooking, and needlework. She likes to spend time with her boy friend Benny.

"Benny the Boy friend"

Testimonials

Gerald's the best instructor I am so happy - Student

"Gerald's the best instructor I am so happy!"

I will recommend Gerald to all my friends - testimonial

"I will recommend Gerald to all my friends, even my girl friend"

Thanks Gerald - Marcie R.

“Many of the kids at my school failed the test before they passed. I am so glad I came to Alliance Defensive Driving School because I got a perfect score of 100% the first time I took the driving test!” Thanks Gerald.
Marcie R.