Bjornstad Walks Away From Driver’s Ed

(KNSI) – After 39 years, 4,294 student drivers, and more than 460,000 miles behind the wheel, Bob Bjornstad is retiring as the driver’s ed teacher at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

Friday morning will be his last hour in the car with a student, and he tells KNSI that his last ride should be a good one. “I didn’t tell that student that she would be my last one ever. And as I reminded her that she was going to drive that day, she texted back and said something to the effect that I’m so happy, I’m going to be one of your last students. She’s a good driver, it’ll be a good way to go out.”

Bjornstad will continue as Cathedral’s health teacher, but students will have to take driver’s ed through commercial driving academies.

In his decades-long career, he says there have been quite a few changes on the road. “The thing that has caused the most confusion recently is the flashing yellow light. It does cause concern for students; they’re a little unsure what exactly that means. And then secondly, the shared left-turn lane. That’s always a challenge. Some students, especially in St. Cloud fail the road test because of that shared left-turn lane.”

Looking back, Bjornstad says he’ll miss the one-on-one interaction that isn’t available in the classroom. “To get to know them more than just that student in a classroom desk where there are 20 other kids. I’ve had some great discussions throughout the years, and got to know some neat kids.”

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