The Huntington Driver Education Program offers students comprehensive driver training through classroom lectures along with experiences on the road and in the high school simulator facility. To be eligible, students must be 16 years old and possess a valid learner’s permit. Upon fulfillment of program requirements, students receive a certificate of completion qualifying them for a senior license at 17 years old and providing a discount on their car insurance.
Students are required to complete 12 hours of sessions in a car, 24 hours of lecture and 12 hours of simulator training for a total of 48 program hours. Three month sessions are offered during the fall and spring semesters and a six week summer session is also scheduled. A firm commitment to the program is required since students may miss a total of three classes, but according to state law those classes must be made up immediately. Classes usually fill up on the first day of registration. Call 673-2018 for more information about the next registration.
Michael Marinello has been the district’s coordinator of physical education, athletics and driver education since July 1, 2021. He has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 1995. He earlier taught at Western Suffolk BOCES for five years.
A graduate of Sachem High School, Mr. Marinello earned an undergraduate degree at Springfield College in physical education and a master’s degree at Stony Brook University in liberal studies with a concentration in health science. He has coached high school golf, high school and middle school wrestling, JV tennis and middle school baseball and boys’ track and field.
Currently the head coach of the Huntington High School varsity golf team, Mr. Marinello is also an assistant varsity wrestling coach. He has been a well-known and well-liked faculty member and athletic coach who also lives in the community and has sent his own children through Huntington High School.
Mr. Marinello is a CPR and First Aid trainer. He has also been a volunteer emergency medical technician. He has taught driver education for many years and he leads the district’s program.
