Meet Our Team
Joel B. Geller
Executive Director
Executive Director for the Gersh Academy Driver Education Program and the Gersh Academy Driver Education Extended Program which is specifically designed and is a one-of-a-kind program for those who need an extended experience to learn how to drive and ultimately get their driver's license. With over 30 years of sales and marketing experience, Joel has been with Gersh Driver Education since 2014 which is now the largest driver education program in the state of New York. Prior to Gersh, Joel was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the fastest-growing ignition interlock company in the country. "It is my goal to provide each student with the necessary information and techniques needed to be a safe and responsible driver." Joel has a B.S. degree in Marketing and is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Joel has been with his wife of 31 years, has 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
Steve D'Argenio
Certified Classroom Instructor
Steve started teaching driver education at the Adult Driving School in 1979 during his final year at WVU. Since then, he has taught driver education for multiple schools. He is a retired physical education teacher, from the Lexington School for the Deaf. Since 1980, he has coached football and lacrosse. He was a college coach for 23 years and for 19 of those years he was head coach. I am married with two children and a very supportive wife. "I feel a strong responsibility to give my students the best perspective on how to be a safe,defensive driver as well as keep themselves and all who share the roads as safe as possible."
Debbie Mavrich
Certified Classroom Instructor
Debbie has been with Gersh Academy since 2015. She has instructed students both behind-the-wheel as well as in the classroom. She is a single mom living with a teenage daughter, so I know the anxiety of having a beginner driver in the family."Teaching in-car driving lessons gives me abetter insight into what to teach in the classroom as it relates to the actual task of driving. My goal is to keep my students as safe as possible on the road."
Mike Racanelli
Certified Classroom Instructor
In addition to his early career in the business world, Mr. Racanelli has been an educator for over 25 years. He is currently a high school guidance counselor at a local public high school on Long Island. In conjunction with this, he has been working in various capacities in the field of driver education for the past 21 years. "My primary goals as an educator have been to teach young people the importance of being responsible, making good decisions, and maximizing one's potential. These are life lessons that I consistently infuse into each and every one of my driver education lessons."