Analysis on the annual National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey which found six students were killed by school buses over the 2024-2025 school year, a safety PSA in the works around the upcoming Super Bowl, and new plans to dismantle the Department of Education.

We are joined by the two youngest transportation directors in Washington state, Cassidy Miller (22) of Cashmere School District, also a Child Passenger Safety Technician and a 2024 STN Rising Star, and her boyfriend Bowen Mitchell (24) at Entiat School District. They discuss leadership strategies, operational insights, TSD Conference attendance and more.

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The post (STN Podcast E285) This Is My Path: Washington State’s Youngest Transportation Directors appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — STN Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin sat on a panel discussion Saturday afternoon with peers Julie Hrebicek of Magnolia Independent School District in Texas and Quanika Dukes-Spruill of the Newark Board of Education in New Jersey.

Dukes-Spruill said she contracts with 63 providers, which requires a lot of management, oversight and compliance checking. The district transports 4,500 students in-district with another 600 students transported to and from out-of-district programs. She said last year a large undertaking was updating routes to adhere to a new district policy of universal bell times. In house, Newark has a small fleet of school buses operated by 19 drivers.

Meanwhile, Hrebicek said Magnolia ISD north of Houston has a district of 152-square miles, 115 routes, 85 of which are regular and 30 are special needs. She said Magnolia does contract out some Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act students and some students with high-intensity behavior. After a $4 an hour pay raise, she said her district went from being 20 drivers short to having 12 currently in training.

Hrebicek said Magnolia is growing, and staff are seeing a lot of behaviors and various levels of those behaviors exhibited by students with disabilities. However, she said, what she’s finding is that instead of placing students in the least restrictive environment, transportation defaults to placing students in the most restrictive due to accommodating parent requests.

She continued that drivers are provided with high-intensity training to handle behaviors, as there have been several physical altercations with drivers and aides.

Dukes-Spruill said bus aides are an important part of transporting students successfully and safely. “It’s the driver’s responsibility to get there but not necessarily manage behaviors on the bus,” she said in terms of transporting students with special needs.

Written into the contracts with transportation providers, she said that each route must have an aide. Plus, she said, the district also has transportation inspectors that ensure every guideline and rule in the contract is being carried out on the road.

Baldwin, the director of transportation for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, added he, too, has seen a growth in the number of students with IEPs and transportation as a related service. He said when it comes to IEP, transportation needs to have a seat at the table. He said with the various disabilities served, transportation depends on and collaborates with its special education teams to guide the decisions.

Dukes-Spruill agreed that collaboration is key. She said that Newark has monthly mandatory partnership meetings that are designed for two-way communication, where the district and contractor partners share expectations and things that are working or not.

Hrebicek said if transportation isn’t present at the IEP meeting, service requirements could be put in the contract that may work in the classroom but are unsafe when on the school bus. She underscored the importance of a transportation employee’s perspective.

Dukes-Spruill added that vendors are required to provide incident reports on anything that happens on the bus. Plus, transportation employees request GPS location if buses are late and camera footage, if needed. She said it’s in the contract that they will request this information.

Related: Legal Keynote Opens Attendees’ Eyes to Federal Special Needs Transportation Laws
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Discusses Tragedy Planning for Students with Disabilities
Related: Transportation Director Shares How Propane Buses Benefit Special Needs Routes
Related: Case Study on Data-Driven Technology Presented at TSD
Related: Safety Expert Shares Transportation Social Story Strategies for Students with Disabilities

Baldwin said one benefit has been pulling camera footage remotely but also viewing live feeds. Driver and dispatcher communication is crucial, he said, because the dispatcher can log in remotely to see what the situation is and then decide next steps and communicate it to the driver and others who need to be involved.

He noted it’s important to go back to the basics and build relationships with students as well. “There is always other ways, you can’t depend on one way to do something, you have to have multiple options to serve students,” he said, adding the student may have had a terrible day at their school, and now they’re going to be on a school bus for an hour, which could lead to dangerous situations.

He said they encourage drivers to ask, “How are they, today?”

Hrebicek noted that safety is paramount, and while her staff tries to convey to a student that what happened at school, happened at school, “let’s have a new time on the school bus.” If the student is deemed to be unsafe on the school bus or another vehicle, the parent would be called to transport them and receive the necessary expense reimbursement.

Dukes-Spruill said Newark’s transportation department has a strong partnership with the office of special education. She noted a child who is experiencing dangerous behaviors will not be placed on the bus without intervention.

The post School District Directors Share Strategies for Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — Keba Baldwin accepted the 2025 Transportation Director of the Year award Saturday during the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference, prior to sitting on a panel relating to safely transporting students with special needs.

Baldwin, the director of transportation and central garage at Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland, thanked his mother as well as past and present transportation families.

“I’ve worked in North Carolina. I’ve worked in Virginia. Now, being in Maryland, I cannot go without saying thank you to those team members because what they provided to me was the willingness to share their thoughts, their honesty, their collaboration to help me grow, help them grow,” Baldwin said during his acceptance speech. “There’s a little saying that I always have kept in mind, from my athletic days, ‘you’re only as strong as your weakest person.’ The goal is to build everybody together.”

He thanked those team members for their collaboration and dedication. Addressing his current transportation team at PGCPS, he shared the slogan, “Gorgeous, Prince George’s.”

Baldwin added his team at PGCPS has challenged him to do good things.

“It’s really through your resilience that you have the perseverance,” he said. “These are folks that have been in this industry since day one, since first job out of high school. This is what they’re done for 15 years to 48 years of service. Folks that are in our transportation field and have a strong passion, just like you [all in the audience] have, and so all of this goes to them, because without them, their effort and their push, I’m not here doing this.”

He said it’s the support from various departments that helps drive what transportation does every day. He showed appreciation for his administrative support team, many of whom were in the audience to support him when receiving the award.

Related: Safety Expert Shares Transportation Social Story Strategies for Students with Disabilities
Related: Legal Keynote Opens Attendees’ Eyes to Federal Special Needs Transportation Laws
Related: NAPT Speaker Shares Strategies to Boldly Approach, Overcome Fear
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Discusses Tragedy Planning for Students with Disabilities

“Then finally, to all of you, this is a great venue. I want to say thank you to STN. Thank you to Blue Bird for just creating an opportunity for us to continue to come together, to network, learn from one another,” he concluded. “Each time we come, you meet new people, you learn new ideas. We need that. That’s how we get stronger. So again, thank you to Tony, STN and Bluebird for all that you do for us, it just makes me feel incredibly humble to accept this award, not only for myself, but for my team members past and present. Even with all of you, we’re going to this work happen for our students that we serve.”

Steven Whaley, alternative fuels manager of award sponsor Blue Bird, introduced Baldwin as a data-driven, technology-savvy director. “It’s my honor to present this award to someone whose career journey is as inspiring as his leadership” he said.

PCGPS transports over 85,000 students, over 4,500 of which are students with special needs transported on the school bus. it is the 10th largest school district in in the U.S.

Baldwin is featured in the November edition of School Transportation News magazine.

The post Baldwin Accepts STN Director of Year Award at TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

At the National Association for Pupil Transportation Annual Conference and Trade Show (ACTS) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, keynote speaker Darryl Bellamy inspired the audience with creating transparency around common fears and how to move forward from fear paralysis.

Bellamy said during his Nov. 1 presentation that over his career he has collected 75,000 fears handwritten by individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and careers. He explained that across the ages, from 8 years old to 80, the fears seem to fall into the same categories. He led attendees through multiple interactive exercises to analyze their individual reactions to fear.

After the first exercise, where attendees closed their eyes to visualize what thoughts the word “fear” triggered, Bellamy explained that generally people have a negative feeling when it comes to fear. However, he said, fear is not the enemy. Inaction is. Fear is a natural response, a check-engine light to signal us that we are feeling discomfort or unsafe and is something we need to survive as humans. But it cannot stop us from pushing through.

“What I truly want is for you to not feel fearless, but to fear a little less,” said Bellamy.

The next exercise had each member of the audience write down their greatest fears on pieces of paper and then place them in a symbolic fire on the stage. Bellamy read aloud some of these written responses, noting the common themes and statements made. These included fear of how we are perceived, fear of not accomplishing goals, fear of appearing incompetent, fear of not being good enough, fear of losing a job or income, fear of making mistakes and fear of letting others down.

Volunteers from the audience stood up to voice their biggest fears, and Bellamy asked the rest of the attendees to affirm their agreement with each fear by snapping their fingers. This demonstration, he said, proves that while fear can feel very isolating, oftentimes we are facing similar fears as do the people around us.

One attendee said, “My biggest fear is that someone is going to outwork me, that they’re smarter than me.” Another said “People who know me see me as strong, powerful but inside I feel like an imposter. I’m so scared, so anxious.” Many of the attendees nodded in agreement with the statement, “I fear that I’m not being an effective enough leader for my team,” and “I fear that my best won’t be enough.”

“You’re never alone in your journey. We just don’t talk about it enough. The fears we hide are the ones that connect us the most. Don’t keep it in your head, talk with someone about it, you give it less your power and we can work through it a little bit easier,” said Bellamy.

Bellamy said the first step is to “trace” or identify the fear, name it and break out of the “fear loop,” which he defined by feelings of stress, helplessness, distrust, dread, panic and anxiety. The next step is to “embrace” by managing your response and taking action.

He explained his 5-Second Rule. “When a thought comes into our head, we usually talk ourselves in or out of it in five seconds.” He used the metaphor of a retreat, where individuals were on a high-ropes course, and one woman was too afraid to let go of the rope to get back off the course. Bellamy said he counted out loud from five to one, and her instinct helped her let go. He explained that when we’re in a fear loop, our bodies often show physical signs of tension. Making a small change, such as deep breathing or smiling, can unlock the ability to take action. This action, Bellamy explained, may not always be perfect, but it promotes learning and growth as opposed to inaction.

Bellamy gave his list of the five questions he encourages attendees to ask themselves in a moment of fear:

1. What exactly am I afraid of?

2. What if it goes well?

3. If I failed, how would I grow?

4. What would be my first steps?

5. What regret would I have if I didn’t take action?

The final step, said Bellamy, is “grace,” being kind to yourself and bouncing back when things don’t go perfectly. He said reminds himself that we’re all on the same journey of life iwith the statement, “I made the best decision with the information and who I was at the time.”

Often, the uncertainty and the regret of inaction is what will cause more stress in the long run, he said. He referenced a study that asked subjects to write down all the things they were worried about and then track those events over the next 30 days. The study found that only 15 percent of the worries came to fruition while 79 percent turned out better than expected. He ended with words of encouragement. “You’ve survived 100 percent of your bad days. The goal is not perfection, it’s progress,” he shared.

Related: Gallery: NAPT ACTS 2025
Related: NAPT Announces More Annual Award Winners for 2025
Related: WATCH: South Carolina Bus Driver and Monitor Save Children from House Fire

The post NAPT Speaker Shares Strategies to Boldly Approach, Overcome Fear appeared first on School Transportation News.

Discover the new STN Transportation Director of the Year featured on our November issue cover. Other headlines include a NHTSA investigation after a driverless Waymo car illegally passed a stopped school bus and NTSB recommendations on seatbelts following a Texas school bus crash.

Frank Girardot, senior communications director for RIDE, discusses the electric school bus manufacturer’s School Bus Safety Week efforts.

Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation for Rockwall Independent School District in Texas and a 2025 STN Rising Star, discusses her childcare background, improving student relationships, training staff and receiving inspiration from fellow student transporters.

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Images courtesy of Jennifer Gardella. 

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The post (STN Podcast E281) Catalyst for Change: Electric School Bus Safety, Inspired Texas Rising Star appeared first on School Transportation News.

Leadership is one of those words that has been defined, debated and dissected in every business book, training session and coffee shop conversation. At its core, leadership is about the ability to influence others toward achieving a common goal.

But here’s something worth noting: The word leader contains the word lead. Lead means “first,” “ahead,” “top,” and yes, “followed.” That last one, followed, is important. John Maxwell puts it bluntly: “If you are leading and no one is following, then you are not actually leading; you are simply taking a walk.”

That quote captures the essence of leadership, especially in pupil transportation. It is not just about the title, the office or the years of experience. It is about whether your people are choosing to follow you. Because leadership, at its heart, is influence. And in our line of work, that influence can inspire the best in our teams or bring out the worst.

Whether we realize it or not, we set the tone. How we show up directly impacts how our drivers, aides, mechanics, dispatchers, and office staff show up for each other and for the students we serve.

Leading vs. Managing: A Crucial Difference
One of the most common misconceptions is that leadership and management are the same thing. They are related, but they are not interchangeable. Leaders lead people. They inspire, influence and set the vision. Leadership is inherently strategic. It is about where we are going and why. Managers manage things: Tasks, schedules, projects and resources. Management is tactical. It is about how we are going to get there and making sure the wheels, literally and figuratively, keep turning.

The best leaders in transportation know when to step into tactical operations. Yes, sometimes you have to jump in and route a bus or cover a driver shortage. But their greatest value comes from thinking ahead,
setting direction and enabling their teams to succeed without needing constant oversight.

The Influence Factor
Here is the thing: People are influenced far more by what you do than what you say. They are also quick to notice when what you do and what you say do not match up. If you talk about safety but routinely cut corners to make a deadline, your team will notice. If you preach about work-life balance but send late-night emails that demand answers by morning, they will notice that, too.

Influence is built or broken in the everyday moments— how you handle stress, how you treat mistakes and how you acknowledge hard work. In transportation, this influence extends beyond your team to the students and families who depend on you.

Leadership’s Scorecard
One of the best measures of a leader’s effectiveness is not found in a spreadsheet. It is reflected in the success and morale of their team.
If your operation runs smoothly even when you are out of the office, you have built a strong leadership culture. If your people step up for each other during a tough week, you have fostered trust and collaboration. And if your drivers speak about the department with pride when they are in the community, you have influenced not just their work, but their identity.

The Follower-Centric Perspective
When we think about leadership, we often focus on our own style—servant leadership, transformational leadership, authentic leadership, and so on. But here’s a shift worth considering: What if, instead of starting with our leadership style, we started with our followers’ readiness?

We are living in a moment where our workforce spans multiple generations: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, each bringing different values, expectations and communication preferences. If we want to recruit and retain people who will show up every day for our students, we cannot just lead the way we have always led. We need to adapt.

Assessing Follower Readiness
Follower readiness is a simple yet powerful concept. It is about understanding whether an employee is willing or unwilling and able or unable.

If they are able and willing, these employees thrive with autonomy. Give them space, recognition and opportunities to grow. If they are able but unwilling, you may need to dig into motivation. Sometimes it is a mismatch between the person and the role, and sometimes it is burnout. If they are unable but willing, they have the heart but need the skills. This is where training, mentoring and hands-on coaching make the difference. If they are unable and unwilling, this is the trickiest group and often the source of HR headaches. Firm expectations, clear accountability and consistent follow-up are key.

Why This Matters for Recruitment and Retention
In transportation, turnover is not just a staffing inconvenience. It impacts safety, reliability and trust. By leading according to follower readiness, you increase job satisfaction because people feel seen and supported. You reduce costly turnover because happy employees often bring in their friends and family. You also build a reputation as a workplace where people want to stay. It is a leadership approach that is both strategic and practical, and it works across generations, backgrounds and personality types.

Less Stress, Greater Impact
When leaders adopt a follower-centric approach, understanding ability and willingness, and adapting style accordingly, they lead with greater impact and less stress. It takes the guesswork out of daily interactions. It
creates a culture of fairness and consistency. And it garners respect from those watching, whether they are new hires, veteran drivers, or even the students on the bus.

In the end, leadership in pupil transportation is about far more than filling routes and managing schedules. It is about influence; how we show up, how we adapt and how we inspire others to not just follow, but to join us in moving the mission forward. Because if no one is following, you are not leading. You are just out there taking a walk.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the October 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: Giving Birth to Proper Leadership
Related: Leadership Starts From the Top Down
Related: (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports
Related: The School Bus Safety Company Unveils New Leadership Training Course to Elevate Safety Leadership

The post Leading From the Front (Without Just Taking a Walk) appeared first on School Transportation News.

For the past 10 years, School Transportation News has requested nominations of student transporters who are demonstrating leadership or innovation in their school bus operations but may not have received the public or industry-wide recognition they deserve. Ten individuals are highlighted in the November issue of the magazine.

Nicole Brown
Bus Driver/Training & Safety Coordinator
Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake Transportation, New York
I am recommending Nicole Brown as a candidate for a nominee as a Rising Star. Nicole started her employment with Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake in 2007 as a substitute school bus driver. Over the years, she has been an exceptional school bus driver showing patience and guidance to all of her students. Her driving record is exemplary. She later became our SBDI instructor and 19A trainer, and is now our training and safety coordinator as well. Nicole has guided our new staff into successful driving tests results and is continually working on improving our safety and knowledge with our ever changing DMV and federal
guidelines.

Paul Ahn
Senior General Manager
Zūm – Seattle, Washington and San Francisco, California
Paul Ahn serves as senior general manager at Zūm, where he oversees operations for Seattle Public Schools and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Since joining Zūm in 2022 as general manager — he was the company’s first employee in Seattle, where he built the bus yard from the ground up — Ahn has demonstrated superior management and leadership skills. This year Ahn moved into a senior leadership role, where he now also oversees Zūm’s team in San Francisco.
In recent months, Ahn has overseen Zūm’s expansion in Seattle, which includes a second bus yard. In San Francisco, Ahn added 300 bus drivers.
“Paul has truly been a game changer for SF operations,” said Tomas Beccar Varela, interim executive director of student transportation for SFUSD. “His professionalism and extensive experience have raised the bar for our entire team. Paul consistently approaches challenges with a solution-oriented mindset, always focusing on actionable plans that move us forward. His attention to detail is evident in everything he does, and it’s clear that he takes great pride in delivering quality results.”
Other achievements include managing about 250 drivers and serving on a committee to help train and support new managers. Ahn is a respected leader and ensures there are opportunities for career growth on his team. He works hard to promote diversity and inclusion; for example, he created a nondenominational religious observance room at the Seattle bus yard. “I want everyone to feel included,” he said.
Ahn excels in handling the challenges and high-level coordination his job requires and credits some of this to his experience working at FedEx and in the hotel industry. His positive, driver-first work culture focuses on communication and keeping drivers safe and comfortable with all the tools and training they need.

Fred Amstutz
Lead Mechanic/School Bus Driver
Post School District #273, Idaho
Fred serves as our lead mechanic. I frequently highlight the value of having more team members who possess his qualities. He consistently maintains a positive attitude, demonstrates a strong willingness to learn and actively shares his knowledge with others. His work ethic is exemplary. Additionally, he volunteers his time to his church and community. I would like to recognize him as a highly valuable member of our team.
Fred is a key component to the success of our daily operation. Not only does he have the knowledge and expertise to handle all of the mechanical issues that arise with our fleet of 49 vehicles, he is the first to volunteer for extra service to our department. Anything from barbecuing the burgers to driving our bus in the local parade, to doing a sports trip, to running a bus route. Fred is easy to approach and listens attentively to drivers concerns about the buses. Fred takes directive well, yet is never hesitant to use his own voice when asked for input. Our respect for and appreciation of Fred is heartfelt.

Debra Ard
Transportation Supervisor
Orangeburg County School District, South Carolina
Mrs. Debra Ard exemplifies the qualities of a rising star in student transportation through her exceptional leadership, dedication and decades-long commitment to student safety and operational excellence. With more than 40 years of service—spanning roles as a teacher’s assistant, bus driver, driver trainer, and currently as transportation supervisor for Orangeburg County School District—Mrs. Ard has demonstrated unmatched resilience, adaptability and professional growth.
Her outstanding contributions were recently recognized when she was nominated for and awarded the 2024–2025 South Carolina Association of Pupil Transportation (SCAPT) Administrator of the Year, presented at SCAPT’s 50th Anniversary Conference in July 2025. This prestigious honor reflects her impactful leadership, her ability to foster collaboration among staff and her consistent efforts to improve transportation operations for the benefit of students and families.
Mrs. Ard is known for her integrity, compassion, and unwavering focus on student-centered service. She leads with humility while inspiring excellence in others, creating a culture of trust, accountability and continuous improvement. Her commitment to operational efficiency, staff development and safety innovation has elevated the performance and morale of her department. Through her vision, experience and genuine care for people, Mrs. Ard not only meets expectations—she consistently exceeds them. Her proven record of accomplishments, recent state-level recognition, and exemplary leadership make her a deserving candidate for the STN Rising Transportation Star honor.

LaTedra Bailey
Director of Transportation
Huffman ISD, Texas
I am pleased to recommend Ms. Bailey for recognition, as she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and resilience in her role as a new director. She has worked diligently to build up the department while rebuilding the trust of both staff and the community. Her positivity, willingness to help at all times, and ability to foster teamwork have significantly increased morale. Despite facing serious challenges such as ongoing construction issues and driver shortages, Ms. Bailey has overcome these obstacles with grace and determination, setting a strong foundation for continued success.

Travis Bean
Bus Mechanic
Carroll Consolidated School Corporation, Indiana
Travis Bean has revamped and organized bus garage upon hiring. He has great response and rapport with bus drivers and transportation contacts at each building in our corporation and has improved first visit state inspection passing rates to at or nearly perfect on an annual basis. Travis created a pit stop area for the “Kindy 500” for kindergartners to repair their cardboard boxes during race day at the end of the year and decorates school buses with the Christmas theme for our annual Flora Christmas Parade. He assists in cost saving measures with transportation such as route creation/updates and reducing fuel consumption and helps as needed with snow removal and other winter related tasks.

Lauren Beaty
Grants and Engagement Manager
Blue Bird Corporation, Georgia
Lauren started with Blue Bird around three years ago and was enlisted with reimagining our community efforts and managing all grant and EPA related projects. She single-handedly reinstated our charitable foundations and took on several grant related projects that led to our award of the MESC Grant in 2025. Lauren is a strong leader with a true and honest passion for the community and what we strive for at Blue Bird. She is always a positive sounding board for others and never hesitates to lend a hand. She believes that a company has a duty to it’s community and employees and works hard to ensure that Blue Bird continues to grow it’s roots, not only here in Georgia but nationwide.

Russell Bergeron
Mechanic
Marysville Joint Unified School District, California
Works hard and helps others when not asked to. When theres slow day he cleans the shop without being told, always stays busy.

William Bramblette III
Transportation/Maintenance Director
Heath City Schools, Ohio
Transportation: Implemented Tyler technology routing system with tablets for all student transportation. Purchased a new 2025 International wheelchair bus, purchased a new 2024 Isuzu box truck for transporting band instruments and props and a used 2018 Micro Blue Bird school bus. Updated the RCI real-time camera system with Wi-Fi capability on all fleet vehicles.
Maintenance: Replaced all heating and cooling in our Heath Middle School and Heath High School, updated playground layouts, repaired all heaters and thermostats in transportation garage with regular maintenance contract will all buildings. Updated all toiletry contract with Cintas, including items for mechanics and bus drivers.
Leadership traits: Communication, dedication, integrity, confident and resilient.

Micah Brassfield
Vice President of Operations
TransPar, Nationwide (Texas-based)
Building upon a family legacy of excellence in student transportation, Micah exhibits a rare and exceptional combination of professionalism, expertise, and passion for her work. Inspired by her father’s four decades (and counting!) of service in student transportation, Micah developed an understanding early on of both the operational complexities and the critical role transportation plays in a student’s educational journey. As the vice president of TransPar, every recommendation Micah makes to our clients and every action she takes in her work reflects her unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence and support for students, educational leaders and the communities she serves. Her dedication to these core principles has allowed her to support hundreds of school districts across the U.S., annually, with implementing improvements to their transportation operations long term.
Beginning her career as an educator, Micah’s approach to student transportation is driven by a deep appreciation for equitable access to education, an insight that continues to shape her student-first approach. This perspective has made her not only a powerful advocate for student transportation, but also a compassionate, solutions-driven leader who empowers those around her while fostering a culture grounded in humility and mutual respect.
Micah is, without question, one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the field of student transportation. Yet what truly sets her apart is her authenticity, integrity and the admirable way she leads—by example, with both conviction and heart.

Michael E Brown
Founder/President/CEO
Michael’s Transportation Service, Inc., California
Why Michael E. Brown Should Be Considered for This Recognition
1. Founder and Visionary Leader
Michael E. Brown is the founder and CEO of Michael’s Transportation Service, Inc., an Employee-Owned Company that has been safely serving California’s students, seniors, and communities since 1982. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a single bus to a fleet recognized statewide for excellence in safety, reliability, and professionalism.
2. Commitment to Workforce Development and Second Chances
Through the establishment of MTS Training Academy, Inc., Michael created a pathway for thousands of individuals—including returning citizens and underserved populations—to become licensed, trained, and gainfully employed in the commercial driving industry. His academy is a beacon of economic empowerment and social impact, certified by the State of California and respected across the workforce development community.
3. Positive Leadership Traits
Servant Leadership: Michael Brown leads with humility, heart, and a deep commitment to people over profit.
Faith-Driven Vision: His values shape the culture of both MTS and the Academy, placing integrity, accountability, and purpose at the forefront.
Mentorship & Legacy Building: He actively mentors leaders within and beyond his company, positioning the next generation—including family—toward sustainable success.
Resilience & Innovation:.From navigating economic downturns to expanding training opportunities, he has shown enduring strength and adaptability.
4. Awards and Recognitions*
Recently acclaimed Contractor of the Year for 2025 by the National School Bus Fleet Magazine
Honored by state and local officials for **outstanding contributions to workforce development
Recognized by churches and nonprofits for faith-based leadership and service
Celebrated for over four decades of safe, student-centered transportation
5. Legacy of Excellence and Impact
Michael Brown has created more than a company—he’s built a legacy rooted in faith, family, and freedom through the company ESOP. His leadership has touched lives across California, restored dignity to the overlooked, and created economic mobility for countless families.

Bernando Brown
Director, Student Transportation
DeKalb County School District, Georgia
Bernando C. Brown exemplifies what it means to be a rising star in student transportation leadership. Though his impact spans years of service, his approach to the work, the culture he builds and the systems he implements reflect a leader who is just getting started in terms of influence and innovation.
Since assuming the role of director of student transportation for DeKalb County School District, Georgia’s third-largest school system, Bernando has transformed how transportation is led, measured, and aligned to student outcomes.
He has rebuilt the department’s leadership structure to focus on performance accountability and team development, created and delivered original leadership training series aligned with district priorities, elevated recruitment and retention through targeted initiatives, mentorship models and a focus on purpose-driven work culture, spearheaded strategic upgrades in fleet modernization and service delivery systems and championed student safety through operational readiness practices modeled after his military background.
Bernando’s leadership style is straightforward, transparent and built on mutual respect. He challenges his team to think critically, solve problems and lead with integrity. He doesn’t micromanage, he equips.
He was recently honored as the Metro RESA Transportation Director of the Year for SY 2025, a recognition that reflects the impact he has had not only in DeKalb but across the state through professional development, mentorship and strategic partnerships. He also serves on several advisory boards and regularly contributes to statewide initiatives and national conversations. In every setting, Bernando leads with clarity, urgency, and compassion. He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but his work speaks volumes.

Lyle Campbell
Operations Director
Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools, Ohio
It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Lyle Campbell as a rising star in the field of school transportation. In a remarkably short period of time, Lyle has made a lasting impact on our district through a combination of innovation, leadership and an unwavering commitment to students, families, and staff.
One of Lyle’s most impressive accomplishments was vetted, selected and implemented a new district-wide routing software—a feat in itself—but what sets him apart is that he personally routed over 1,100 students during winter break in his very first year on the job. This not only speaks to his work ethic, but also to his deep understanding of operational logistics and dedication to ensuring a smooth return to school for families and drivers alike.
In his pursuit of transparency and access, Lyle has opened up routing information to other district departments and to families, allowing both staff and parents to view bus assignments and real-time pickup and drop-off times. This has improved communication, reduced confusion, and increased confidence in our transportation system.
Lyle has also revamped the district’s bus maintenance program, introducing more proactive practices that have both reduced costly breakdowns and saved the district significant funds. He has secured grants and other funding sources to upgrade their aging bus camera systems and provide GPS-enabled tablets for substitute drivers, making their fleet safer and more efficient.
But Lyle’s greatest contribution goes beyond logistics and equipment—it’s the relationships he has built. He has worked hard to foster trust and open lines of communication with parents and students, making pupil management and bus stop safety top priorities. He demonstrates genuine compassion for his drivers, supporting them with difficult student situations and offering guidance and practical solutions rooted in empathy and respect.
He is also visible and accessible, regularly attending student sporting events and community activities, and always making time to speak with parents and residents who have questions or concerns. Perhaps most admirably, Lyle leads with humility—taking ownership and accountability, even when challenges arise that are beyond his direct control.
In every way, Lyle Campbell embodies what it means to be a dedicated and forward-thinking leader in school transportation. His blend of innovation, integrity and human connection sets him apart, and I have no doubt he will continue to accomplish great things in this field.

Brian Churovia
Transportation Director
Montour School District, Pennsylvania
In January 2023, Brian inherited a transportation department in shambles. Twenty-six out of his 60 buses failed state inspection within his first year. The department was also using routing technology that was so outdated they could no longer update it. Over the past two and a half years, Brian has updated the routing software to Athena Edulog, he has flipped the fleet and purchased 22 new vehicles while getting rid of 26 buses. He updated the cameras in the buses, radios, added GPS to half the buses so far and launched a parent portal app to allow parents to track their kids buses to and from school. In less than three years, Brian has taken an outdated, rusty old fleet and taken them to a new level where Montour can be proud and parents can feel safe and well provided for as their students go to and from school.

Carlos Cunningham
Delegated Behind the Wheel Trainer/Bus Driver
Lodi Unified School District, California
Carlos is the picture of what positive leadership traits are. His quiet confidence and quick creativeness ways in finding a positive solution, when brainstorming a problem. Carlos excels in every new task that he is given. Carlos is a quick learner and eager to learn new things. Carlos promotes positivity with his peers and co-worker when engaging in conversation.
When Carlos is training, he is soft spoken, relaxed and patient with the person he is training. This makes the trainee very comfortable. Carlos is going to the academy in Sacramento California to become a state certified instructor in January 2026.
Carlos was nominated employee of the year 2023-2024.

Tiffany Dameron
School Bus Operations Manager
National Trails School Bus, Detroit, Michigan
Tiffany Dameron has served as a leader within the pupil transportation industry for nearly a decade! Within this timeframe, she has excelled in the positions of dispatch supervisor, terminal manager, and, currently, school bus operations manager. In her role as school bus operations manager, Tiffany oversees the daily operations of Detroit Public School Community District’s second largest pupil transportation provider, National Trails School Bus, LLC, which serves the district’s total student population of 52,000, the largest in the State of Michigan. Along with her staff of 200 employees, including a safety director, dispatch supervisors, school bus drivers, school bus aides, sedan drivers, and mechanics, Tiffany ensures all of the DPSCD’s pupils entrusted to National Trails School Bus, LLC arrive to and from school each day safely and soundly!
According to National Trails School Bus, LLC’s Human Resources Director Matthew Shad, Tiffany is so successful in her role as school bus operations manager because she is not afraid to take initiative! He said, “Tiffany has embraced new technology and is using it as intended to create greater efficiencies and streamline processes. For example, with regard to our payroll system, Paylocity, Tiffany started utilizing the software to communicate to employees status changes without waiting for direction. Further, there have been lots of recent changes, and new processes have been developed and implemented relative to safety reporting. Tiffany has embraced these new processes and has worked to ensure that they have been applied properly and timely. Finally, regardless of what the topic/item/issue is, when I make initial contact to discuss this with Tiffany, she is already aware of the circumstances, which indicates she has her ‘finger on the pulse,’ and this is critical to operational excellence.”

Dawn Davalos
School Bus Driver
Byron-Bergen CSD, NY
Dawn has been driving school bus with our district for 20 years. She was chosen as “Professional Transportation of Year” this year. She has outstanding attendance! Dawn has always been willing to help, whether its in the office answering phones, bus routing for the summer or driving sports runs. She is great with all of her children and takes the time to get to know each and everyone. Dawn is constantly getting positive emails from parents, coaches and coaches from other districts.

Jose De La Garza
Fleet Supervisor
Katy ISD, Texas
Jose De Le Garza is an outstanding example of an up-and-coming leader in the school transportation industry. Although relatively new to the student transportation world, Jose has quickly made a significant impact since joining Katy ISD just over a year ago. With a background in municipal fleet maintenance—trading fire engines for school buses—Jose brought fresh eyes, sharp instincts and a strong commitment to safety and service.
In that short time, he has risen from mechanic to shop foreman and now serves as fleet supervisor, a reflection of his leadership ability, technical expertise and dedication to excellence. Jose identified and corrected numerous safety concerns upon arrival, dramatically improved shop morale and created an environment where mechanics are empowered, respected and motivated to do their best work.
What sets Jose apart is his people-first leadership style. He leads by example, never hesitating to get his hands dirty, and he actively mentors his team to help them grow professionally. He’s deeply committed to education and is preparing to begin teaching with a local technician training organization—further extending his impact beyond his district.
Jose may have flown under the radar until now, but his work and leadership speak volumes. He is exactly the kind of emerging leader this industry needs—and deserves to be recognized for the difference he’s already making.

Kim Ellis
Director of Transportation
Marietta City Schools, Georgia
Kim has led the transportation department for Marietta City Schools for 14 years. During that time, she has also served and directed several school transportation related organizations on the state and national level. Mrs. Ellis has created a cohesive and organized department which thrives off a culture that is second to none. Her department is frequently meeting through team-bonding activities, and she is focused on the recognition of those in her department. Kim has employed various apps and user-friendly platforms for our community, and her commitment to working with our school-based administration on safety and security serves as a model for other districts.

Savannah Fernandez
Director of Risk, Safety & Training
Star Shuttle, LLC, Texas
Savannah exemplifies the qualities of a rising superstar in the transportation field through a blend of technical excellence, visionary leadership and a steadfast commitment to innovation and equity. Her contributions have already begun to shape the future of transportation, making her a standout candidate for this recognition.
Savannah led the successful planning and implementation of Star Shuttle’s new unique out of the box training program for its school bus drivers to receive their annual refresher training prior to the start of this school year. Star provided lunch while Savannah and the training team conducted team building through School Bus Jeopardy. With quirky driving trivia (courtesy of trivia learned at the 2025 STN EXPO West) and quick-fire questions, it had everyone laughing, learning and showing off their knowledge. This new training platform helped Star’s drivers build confidence, reconnect with fellow drivers and genuinely enjoy the training experience. By the end of the session, every driver left with a refreshed understanding of safety and driving protocols, a few great prizes, and most importantly – a big smile and some unforgettable memories.
She was also part of Star’s safety innovation and sustainability team spearheaded by Star’s CEO, John Walker. The Safety innovation team helped integrate emerging technologies to connect AI-driven safety monitoring of its drivers to increase driver and passenger safety. Through Savannah’s leadership, Star Shuttle has earned multiple safety awards from the National Safety Council over the years including the most recent 2025 Innovative Practices in Traffic Safety award. Star’s sustainability team aimed at reducing transportation-related emissions by implementing a company idling goal and bonus incentive for low idle times which was led by Savannah and has been successful.
Savannah’s positive leadership is collaborative, visionary and inclusive. She fosters an engaging safety culture and is respected for her mentorship and people focused approach. She is not only excelling in her current role but is also setting a new standard for what the next generation of transportation leaders can achieve. Her innovative work, dedication to equity and sustainability, and ability to inspire others makes her an ideal candidate for the Rising Transportation Superstar award.

Stephanie Fussell
Director of Operations
Buckled In, Virginia
Stephanie leads a team of transportation professionals who get some of the most challenging students to school safely everyday across the country. A former educator, she moved into the transportation world to help improve a situation she identified as needing improvement. By applying her education and business skills to the transportation challenge, she has helped to redefine Buckled In’s process and has helped to support thousands of families each day.
This year she took the company and its ability to support schools and families to the next level leading a technology upgrade that has positioned her team in a rest place for meeting needs. The new operational platform she helped to design and build is now providing realtime ride information to families and schools and has created routing and communication efficiencies that are lower in transportation costs. Her tireless energy and commitment to her team is paying dividends for all involved and is paving the way for new alternative transportation solutions.

Jennifer Gardella
Director of Transportation
Rockwall ISD, Texas
Accomplishments:
In 2024-2025, We trained 24 drivers that earned their CDL, completed 1,820 trips, completed 30,951 shuttles, completed 17,442 routes, Campuses have helped support drivers with over 616 Bus Conduct concerns, and We completed 5,643 midday/speech routes. Featured in School BusRide in March 2025 as a Member Spotlight. NTAPT Historian for 2023-2024 and Web Master for 2024-2025
Leadership traits: Developing team members so that when they’re ready to take on leadership roles, they have the skills and confidence to succeed. Being a strong mentor for her to so they grown individually but also as a team.Invests in training, mentoring, and recognizing bus drivers and transportation staff, building a cohesive and motivated team.
Streamlines transportation systems to ensure punctual, reliable, and cost-effective service. Uses data and feedback to make informed decisions that improve service delivery.

Amanda Gibson
Bus Driver
Upper Lake Unified School District, California
Amanda is a gem! She is always at work with a smile on her face and she never misses a day of work. She loves her job and the students she transports. She has the cleanest and [most] well-behaved bus. It is a direct reflection of the love and support she shows her students and bus. Amanda is always helpful when supplying vehicles for sports and she takes pride in making sure the vans are clean for our students and staff. She is also very funny. We tell her all the time that she should do stand up comedy! I respect and appreciate Amanda every day and am super blessed to have her on my team. She deserves all the praise that can be offered to her! I know winning this award would make her year! She is a true leader and an amazing human. Thank you for taking the time to read this. There are so many wonderful things about Amanda that I could go on and on!

Ramona Gonzalez
Operations Supervisor
Klein ISD, Texas
Ramona Gonzalez has quickly distinguished herself as one of Klein ISD transportation’s brightest rising stars. In addition to excelling in her daily responsibilities, she has taken on the critical role of third-party tester, ensuring that new drivers are held to the highest standards of safety and compliance. Her professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail have made her an invaluable asset to our team and a trusted resource for colleagues.
Key Contributions & Strengths: Certified Third-Party Tester: Administers driving evaluations with fairness and consistency, ensuring all drivers meet state and district safety requirements. Safety advocate: Reinforces best practices through thorough evaluations, setting high expectations that strengthen our entire transportation program. Operational reliability: Dependable in every assignment, demonstrating precision in route execution and a proactive approach to challenges. Mentorship & support: Encourages and guides new drivers through the testing process, easing nerves while still upholding rigorous standards. Professional growth: Continues to expand her expertise, showing a commitment to both personal development and the advancement of her department.
Her impact includes: Raised the level of driver readiness by conducting comprehensive evaluations that prioritize student safety. Enhanced the confidence of new drivers through supportive, professional testing experiences. Reinforced Klein ISD’s reputation for excellence in transportation by ensuring all certified drivers are highly prepared.third-party tester reflects not only her technical expertise but also her integrity, fairness, and dedication to our mission. Colleagues describe her as approachable, thorough, and an inspiration to those entering the profession.
I am honored to nominate Ramona Gonzalez as a Rising Transportation Superstar. Her dual contributions as a transportation professional and certified third-party tester highlight her as both a role model and a future leader in school transportation.

Brittney Hardin
Operations Manager
New Albany Floyd County Schools, Indiana
Prior to my arrival as director of transportation, Ms Hardin as administrative assistant at to the department took the helm and lead the department with the successful ending of the 2024-2025 school year. As I arrived and restructured the department she applied for and [was] promoted to the department’s operation manager. She continues to strive for excellence and think of ways that can better the department by bringing out of the box thinking on how we can bring people into the department faster, revamping our programs and streamline our overall goals of becoming more effective and efficient department. She is also eager to learn and use that knowledge to become a positive member of the transportation team.

Lynnette Harper
Field Supervisor
Norfolk City Public Schools, Virginia
After being a driver for many years Ms. Harper became a supervisor. She is always available to her colleagues and her drivers and assistants who she oversees. She ensures that all of her buses are running smoothly and safely. She never leaves a conversation without letting me know I am doing a great job and making me feel valued.

Brian Herrell
Director of Transportation
South Western School District, Pennsylvania
Brian has faithfully served in his role as transportation director for the past five years, and during that time, he has exemplified leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to student success and staff well-being.
Brian’s leadership was put to the test from the moment he joined the district—at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He quickly adapted to extraordinary circumstances, adjusting transportation routes, implementing a system to sanitize buses between runs and collaborating closely with building principals to maintain instructional schedules despite ever-changing transportation challenges. His ability to lead during crisis demonstrated not only his logistical acumen but also his calm under pressure and his focus on student safety and learning continuity.
In the years since, Brian has navigated the persistent challenge of a shrinking workforce and an ongoing driver shortage. Despite these obstacles, he has continued to deliver exceptional service, often stepping into the driver’s seat himself to ensure that no route goes unfilled. His visibility and dedication have earned the respect of his team and the trust of the broader school community.
Brian is a fierce advocate for his transportation staff. He has consistently championed improved working conditions and sought additional benefits for drivers and mechanics. Under his leadership, the district maintains a modern fleet with excellent inspection records, with few buses ever sidelined for maintenance or safety issues.
Beyond day-to-day operations, Brian embodies what it means to be a collaborative leader. He regularly attends board meetings to provide insight and advocate for district-wide needs. He meets with township officials to coordinate around road projects, and his expertise in routing software has made him a valued resource not only in our district but across the county—other schools have sought his guidance as they implement similar systems.
Brian truly redefines what a transportation director can and should be. His passion for his job is unmistakable—he frequently shares how much he loves his work, and it shows in every aspect of his performance. His deep knowledge, dedication to students and staff, and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding candidate for this honor.
It is with great pride and confidence that I submit this nomination for Brian. He is an invaluable asset to our district and to the educational community at large. I would be more than happy to provide additional information in support of his nomination.

Tina Hockaday
Supervisor of Transportation
Harford County Public Schools, Maryland
It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Tina Hockaday for the Rising Transportation SuperStar Award. Her journey within our school system, Harford County Public Schools (HCPS), is a true testament to dedication, perseverance, and a passion for student transportation excellence.
Starting her career as a school bus driver, Tina quickly distinguished herself through her reliability, professionalism and deep care for the students she transported each day. Her commitment to safety and service led her to take on greater responsibilities, and she was promoted to the role of transportation coordinator. In this position, she demonstrated exceptional organizational skills, a talent for problem-solving and trained hundreds of people to become certified HCPS school bus drivers and attendants.
Now serving as our supervisor of transportation, Tina continues to lead with integrity, innovation and with a safety mindset for our students, drivers, attendants, schools, and the community. What makes her journey even more inspiring is her decision to return to school to further her education—an effort that reflects her unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth. Her academic achievements have directly contributed to her effectiveness as a leader and her ability to implement forward-thinking strategies that benefit our HCPS school community.
Tina is not only a rising star in transportation—she is a role model for others in the field. Her story is one of hard work, continuous learning, and a deep-rooted dedication to making a difference. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.

Eric Huegerich
Senior General Manager
Zūm – San Bernardino and Palm Springs, California
As senior general manager of Zūm’s operations in San Bernardino and Palm Springs, California, Eric Huegerich is a collaborative leader and skillful communicator who takes pride in creating a supportive work environment and giving back to the community.
This year Huegerich was promoted to a senior leadership position, overseeing Zūm’s operations in San Bernardino City Unified and Palm Springs Unified school districts. Notably, he has focused on solving the school bus driver shortages in both markets, which are now fully staffed. In Palm Springs, where Zūm recently launched its partnership with the district, Eric oversees 90 drivers and 40 attendants, all of whom were hired, onboarded, and trained before the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Huegerich listens to team members’ ideas and concerns and truly values the communities he serves. He has taken the lead on several local initiatives for Zūm, including a holiday toy drive and an event in partnership with CHiPs for Kids and Ronald McDonald House to donate bicycles to children in need.
Prior to joining Zūm in 2023, Huegerich worked in transportation and logistics at Amazon, Hertz and in the private jet industry. He says what attracted him to student transportation was doing “something that mattered.”
Other accomplishments include:
Managing Zūm’s expansion in San Bernardino, where Huegerich now oversees 220+ drivers, 100+ attendants and 60+ additional routes.
Training 100+ brand new drivers in-house in the last year.
Leading Zūm’s launch in Palm Springs Unified School District, where a longstanding driver shortage was solved before the 2025-26 school year. Local news station KESQ recently spoke with Huegerich about Zūm’s preparation.
Co-designing a “shadow program” that pairs new school bus drivers with a cover driver or trainer so they feel 100% comfortable with their routes by the time they start driving on their own.
Having no major safety incidents or concerns for the entire 2024-2025 school year.
When he’s not working, Huegerich enjoys spending time with his family and coaching little league baseball.

Dusty Hurley
Bus Driver
USD 252, Kansas
Dusty Hurley is a true unsung hero of USD 252. He’s an outstanding bus driver who does far more than just get students from point A to point B—he builds meaningful relationships with students, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators alike. His calm presence, reliability, and care for kids make him a trusted figure in our school community.
Dusty drives regular morning and afternoon routes, and he’s also behind the wheel for most athletic events and field trips—always dependable, always ready. But his contribution doesn’t stop there. When he’s not driving, you’ll find him supporting students as a para-educator or pitching in with maintenance projects around the district.
No task is too small, and no job is beneath him. Dusty is willing to help in any way he can, always putting the needs of others before his own. His work ethic is unmatched, his attitude is humble, and his impact is lasting.
We’re grateful for all he does—quietly, consistently and with heart.

Malikah Jenkins
Head Bus Driver/Supervisor of Transportation Atlantic County
State of NJ- Department of Children and Families, New Jersey
Malikah started with us as a part-time bus driver in May 2022. She has always done her job and extra tasks without hesitation and with a smile on her face. She is a quiet person and normally keeps to herself. Her supervisor recently retired and the position was posted as a promotional opportunity. She was hesitate to apply because she felt unsure about her capabilities and unsure she would be successful as a supervisor. I had a conversation with her tried to get her to see her potential. I encouraged her to trust her instincts and told her that she was more than capable of the position responsibilities. I told her the worst thing in life someone can say to you is no. Do not ever let fear and uncertainty hold you back from an opportunity. She applied and was promoted to supervisor of transportation in Atlantic County.
She has read every policy and follows them like a guidebook. She communicates with her staff verbally and in writing like a seasoned professional. She meets with her staff regularly and helps redirect her staff when necessary. She encourages her staff and makes a point to praise when they are doing a great job. She has outstanding customer service communication skills with districts, parents/ guardians and staff. She has been a rising star and has a deep desire to learn and retains what she has learned. She comes to me and asks for advice and how to handle situations she hasn’t dealt with yet. Most importantly she takes that advice and implements it into her supervision. She has a desire to learn and has demonstrated outstanding leadership in a very short amount of time she has been a supervisor. Please accept my nomination for Malikah Jenkins.

Craig Kirkpatrick
Supervisor of Transportation
Chambersburg Area School District, Pennsylvania
Craig is one of the hardest working individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with at CASD. He goes to all lengths to ensure our almost 10,000 students are transported to and from school safely. He has been known to put his on tasks on hold, to fill in as a special needs bus aide. This is one example of being a hands on leaders. Our fleet of buses travels on average 10,000 per day.
During the past year, Craig led the way in soliciting new transportation software that will assist the District in accomplishing our vision of 2030 Schools of Distinction. The software will be a vital part in grade reconfiguration from K-5, 6-8, 9-12 to K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12 and assist in reassigning students from three to four shuttered schools. Without Craig’s leadership to pursue a new transportation software, the task of reconfiguration and reassignment would have been burdensome.

David LaMotte
Transportation Director
Troup ISD, Texas
David LaMotte serves as the transportation director for Troup ISD and currently holds the position of president of the East Texas Chapter of the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT). His unwavering dedication to student transportation and his commitment to supporting both his team and the broader educational community make him an exceptional candidate for this recognition.
David is widely regarded as a trusted expert in transportation logistics and mechanical operations. He consistently goes above and beyond to assist not only his own staff but also colleagues across neighboring school districts. His collaborative spirit and technical knowledge make him a go-to resource for problem-solving and innovation in school transportation.
As a passionate advocate for professional development, David actively promotes TAPT initiatives, regional chapter events, and other learning opportunities that benefit school districts. Under his leadership, the East Texas Chapter has flourished, hosting well-attended meetings, featuring impactful speakers, and maintaining a vibrant email network that fosters knowledge-sharing among members and vendors.
David’s influence extends beyond transportation. He has contributed to presentations with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), offering valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small school districts. He regularly disseminates critical updates on legislation and policy changes, such as SB 546, the recently passed Texas law mandating seat belts on school buses, ensuring that districts remain informed and compliant.
In regions like East Texas, where many districts are small and often under-recognized, leaders like David play a pivotal role. His ability to elevate the voices of smaller communities, advocate for equitable resources, and build strong professional networks exemplifies the qualities of a Rising Superstar.

Toni Lawson
Lead driver
Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia
Toni has been a fantastic lead driver for lcps for many years. She is professional, knowledgeable and kind. She cares deeply for the students of LCPS and leads her drivers with kindness and respect.

Robin Lumos
Transportation Supervisor/Trainer
Nye County School District, Nevada
Robin started as a Bus Aide in 2013. She earner her CDL in 2018 and was a sub bus driver until 2021, when she became a State of Nevada certified bus driver trainer. She updated and streamlined the districts training program and assisted including the new ELDT training requirements. She single handedly modernized our [special education] training and equipment, including annual testing/certification for use. She helped make recommendations for updating the State of Nevada School Bus Driver Training Manual related to the new training requirements and documentation. In November 2022, she received her Nevada CMV Third-Party Examiner Certification. In July 2024, Robin was hired as our transportation supervisor/trainer. She leads the training section of the department as well as splitting duty of overall daily operations with the other supervisor. Her quiet and calm demeanor and empathy toward our employees has provided a a smoother operational tempo and helped increase employee engagement.

Robin McCarter
Teacher/Bus Driver
Eustace ISD, TX
Robin has been working for our district for many years. She chose to start driving for the transportation department over 12 years ago. Robin goes above and beyond to make sure every student get to and from school safely and makes sure each student that rides her bus knows they are valued and loved. She is one of the top notch drivers for our district always following through with every task assigned with a smile on her face.

Brittnea Melton
Bus Driver
Maconaquah School Corporation, Indiana
Brittnea came to us wanting to learn how to drive a school bus so she could stay on the same schedule as her personal children attending school. Not only was she a quick learner on how to handle the bus she also quickly learned how to maintain discipline on the buses while showing grace and kindness in stressful situations. She has become a leader with the older drivers helping them with technology that has been implemented on the buses through tablets. Anything I’ve asked of her she has gone above and beyond. If you’ve ever been a bus driver then you know somethings can’t be taught and some people just are a natural. She has the qualities that are hard to come by these days. She is seizure and CPR trained! Maconaquah School Corporation values her greatly.

Raymond Montoya
Transportation/Safety Supervisor
Sheridan School District 2, Colorado
I am proud to nominate Raymond Montoya, supervisor of transportation and safety for Sheridan School District 2, for STN’s 2025 Rising Transportation SuperStar recognition. Raymond exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to student safety and success.
Since taking on his leadership role, Raymond has implemented critical improvements in routing efficiency, driver training, and safety protocols—significantly reducing route delays and increasing on-time performance across the district. He played a key role in launching a student-focused transportation communication system that has enhanced transparency and built greater trust with families. His collaborative approach has fostered stronger partnerships between transportation, school leadership, and the broader community.
Raymond’s leadership is defined by his calm professionalism, solution-oriented mindset, and sincere dedication to serving students and staff. His presence is felt not only in the day-to-day logistics but also in the care he shows to every driver, every student, and every family who depends on safe and reliable school transportation.
Our entire district is better because of Raymond’s leadership, and we believe he is truly deserving of this recognition.

Tammy Muehsam
School Bus Driver
Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, California
Very positive even on the hard hectic days. Fun/ friendly positive to everyone she comes in contact with. Not a bad word to say about anyone. She gets different routes and situation thrown at her, she always has a smile and gets through the day. A positive smile, kind heart that you can always count on when.and if your day isn’t going so well. She’s there to talk you through.

Diane Nale
Routing and Logistics Manager
New Albany Floyd County Schools, Indiana
This past summer she was the only router for the department. She routed the entire district as fast as possible and ensuring our students with IEPs and general education students were on buses for the first day of school. With the departure of the special needs router she gladly accepted the responsibility to become the special needs router that lead to the general education router to become vacant. With her 17 years of experience of routing assisted her to ensure 11,000 students were routed. Due to her dedication and experience she was offered a promotion to a newly created position of routing and logistics manager oversees our dispatch team and routing team. She has gained and passed on her knowledge and is one of the ones in the department that people go to for routing issues and coverage. She has attended state conferences and will be attending her first national conference at TSD in Texas to gain more knowledge in transporting special needs students. Her attitude of providing excellence is shown and appreciated.

Andrew Neighbors
Director of Transportation
Canyon ISD, Texas
Within his first year he was able to accomplish so many goals. One of which he hired more employees than in years past. He even implemented a new fleet leasing program through Enterprise Fleet that has upgraded our fleet and others within the district. Following that he added an amazing opportunity for a $500 stipend for returning drivers for the following school year. Andrew also redesigned our parking lot to help its efficiency in traffic flow for our building. During the Holiday season he made sure to partner with as many vendors as he could to help gift drivers with shirts, hats, treats and gift cards. His leadership trait that he excels in the most is connections. He makes sure that everyone is taken care of and that no problem is going unseen. Even during conflict he can be able to turn it around for something good and productive. He brings a fun environment in which anyone who works here feels comfortable and happy working here.

Raymond Pratt
Driver/Trainer
Loudoun County Public Schools, Lovettsville, Virginia
Katrina is bubbly at sunrise! She is kind, hardworking, willing to jump in and help whenever and wherever possible. She gives her all to her trainees, the training department and her students. Traveling safely year after year providing courteous pick ups and drop offs. She has been displaying her kind and gentle ways in our county for 19 years! Working with various children with “needs”. Serving the parents and schools with safety as her number one priority. Thank you Katrina!

Tanner Presutti
Transportation Supervisor
Sheboygan Area School District, Wisconsin
Tanner may be newer to the transportation industry, but he has already made a significant and lasting impact. From the beginning, he hit the ground running, enhancing existing processes and pushing forward new initiatives that improve safety, efficiency, and student success.
One of Tanner’s standout accomplishments has been his ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with the school district’s contracted bus company and its drivers. Through open communication, mutual respect, and a hands-on leadership style, he earned their trust and buy-in for the implementation of new technology, including driver tablets. Rather than simply rolling out the tools, Tanner made it a priority to support the drivers directly—often riding the buses himself in real time to provide guidance, troubleshoot issues, and show a shared commitment to success.
He is also in the process of implementing a live video camera system, allowing the transportation department and school administration to address student-related concerns as they happen, greatly enhancing safety and accountability.
Tanner’s proactive approach, leadership through action, and unwavering focus on student well-being make him a true rising superstar in school transportation.

Madison Quatkemeyer
Routing Specialist
Fountain Fort Carson District 8, Colorado
With immense pride, I endorse Madison Quatkemeyer, a standout contender, for the Rising Transportation Superstar. When I think of someone deeply dedicated to the families of Fountain-Fort Carson and the students, faculty, and staff. Madison worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring everything she did was perfect, never expecting to be praised or rewarded for her good work. Her efforts this school year embody all these qualities.
For those who may not know, a routing specialist reviews over 4,000 student registrations for fall and summer classes, as well as government forms, and uses complex formulas to assess a student’s eligibility for ridership in federally funded programs, such as McKinney-Vento and center-based programs, across the district. She must stay up-to-date with changing federal and state laws. She responds to thousands of phone calls and emails from families, administrators, and employees, while being sensitive to the heightened emotions associated with the job.
Even with a short staff, Madison took on additional driving duties at the beginning of the year to ensure students arrived at school and were transported on special field trips. She has never missed a deadline, completing them ahead of time. Emails and phone calls were returned promptly, and students’ and their families’ concerns were heard and addressed. We really appreciate the human perspective that Madison has brought to the department, and wanted to tell someone beyond her how much we value her assistance. Furthermore, Ms. Quatkemeyer also possesses a keen eye for detail and a prowess for transportation routing. She continually assists with improving routing and dispatching details by sharing her concerns about traffic patterns, parking details, and dangerous student stops. This meta-view of transportation directly translates into safer and more efficient transportation for Fountain-Fort Carson School District students. Ms. Quatkemeyer has demonstrated that she is a skilled presenter, able to communicate complex routing scenarios in a clear and understandable manner.
Finally, this year, we had a new software rollout and the subsequent delays tested Madison’s patience, making some of the most challenging months in her career. Almost daily, Madison has had to confront and adjust to new errors with the new program to ensure that the staff receive the most up-to-date training. I am not exaggerating when I say we would be lost without Madison. While much of her work takes place behind the scenes, she is one of the essential components to the functioning of the transportation department. I firmly believe that Madison Quatkemeyer would be a tremendous addition to any organization. She possesses the knowledge, leadership qualities, and interpersonal skills needed to succeed. She would be an asset to any other employer, and I’m pleased to have her as an employee of District 8 Transportation.

Angelina Rico
Transportation Supervisor
Huntington Beach City School District, California
Last year Angelina Rico was elevated from a school bus driver position to supervisor of transportation. She has undertaken a lot of training, testing and restructuring with minimal guidance from her predecessor or from the district. Angelina has been a true self-starter and risen above many complications and traversed through the disorganization and chaos of what was left to her and turned the transportation department into an organized, well oiled machine. Angelina, as a supervisor, has proven to be extremely fair, approachable and highly respected by her entire staff. She has gone above and beyond to improve the previously devastated morale of the staff in the transportation department and has returned us into a supportive “team” while also rebuilding communication and the overall relationship between the transportation department and the HBCSD district staff. Angelina has also made vast improvements in communications between the transportation staff and the parents of the children we transport. It has taken many hours and a lot of hard work for her to turn this department around. She puts 150 percent of herself into the transportation department with no complaints. Because of Angelina’s efforts as a transportation supervisor, HBCSD transportation has become a much more pleasant and efficient work environment for all.

Charli Sanders
Director, Parts & Warranty
Durham School Services – Durham / Petermann / Stock, DOmociled in MI – responsible for supporting all U.S. & Canada locations
In mid-2024, we created a new parts and warranty department to focus on driving down parts expenses, lowering inventory variance and improving warranty capture. U.S. Army veteran Charli Sanders who had previously served as a regional maintenance manager had gained parts experience in her previous career at Hertz, was promoted into the role as director of parts and warranty. Since stepping into this role, she has developed a team of parts and warranty experts whose primary mission is to support our expert team of maintenance professionals through onboarding high-value lower-cost parts suppliers, creating SOPs for the field to follow, communicating and tracking open recalls, and resolving all parts and warranty related issues.
Most recently, Charli has finalized many new and updated parts agreements and is also leading an upcoming RFP on fuel, air, exhaust and rotating electrical components, which will add to our parts expense reduction while increasing reliability.
In 2024, we migrated to a new fleet management system and Charli was and continues to be an integral part of the system rollout and training. Most recently, she worked with our solutions provider to lock down and clean-up our parts master database allowing us to drive all parts purchases through our agreed upon vendor channels while also reducing duplicate and obsolete parts by more than 75 percent. Prior to this, the parts database was replete with expired agreements and parts that we would no longer support based on our new contracts and agreements. Charli’s team now manages all request for new parts not currently listed in the database and is able to successfully manage the addition of any needed items.
Charli also recently completed our new Parts SOP, which details the inventory expectations for all Maintenance leaders to accurately count their onsite inventory and has instituted annual inventory audits by her small team of parts & warranty specialists which will validate the quarterly inventories submitted from the field. The goal of this new process is to reduce past practices that lacked the proper inventory controls leading to negative P&L impacts, lost warranty opportunities, and led to inaccurate maintenance data.
Charli has taken the lead to train the maintenance team on parts, warranty and PO processes in Maximo and voluntarily hosts a weekly call with the maintenance team to provide guidance and review open issues that are submitted to her team. She has also trained each of her employees on tracking warranty WOs and proper responses to parts add requests.
Charli also oversees our four Parts Reclamation Centers (PRCs) across the U.S., where we not only repurpose body panels, major components, and hard-to-source parts but are also where we consolidate obsolete parts for use throughout the network. Charli has recently introduced new KPIs and SOPs to increase efficiency and to track part reliability. Charli recently presented at our annual MX Leadership Summit and trained all maintenance leaders on the new SOP, POs and proper inventory processes, and held a hands-on exercise for inventory accuracy.

Katherine Songer
Director of Transportation
Oakdale Joint Unified School District, California
Katherine started driving for Oakdale at 18 years old she has set many goals for herself and the first one was to be a driver trainer, someday when given the opportunity. She met that goal in 2022, she was very excited to finally have achieved this goal it was a dream of hers after many years of driving the school bus and watching others do this job and now she was headed to the academy to finally become a state certified instructor, she took that role very seriously. She came back from there on fire to teach everything she learned there. She made it look very easy and she is a natural at it. I have watched her grow so much since she started here in Oakdale. She went from being a school bus driver at 18 (she looked like a student herself) to becoming the director of transportation. She had set that goal for herself as well. In a very short time after becoming an instructor (seven months) she achieved that goal and she goes above and beyond as our director of transportation. She spends many many hours making sure everything is going well here at our transportation yard. She has grown in many ways from the time she started here driving a school bus. When we have ran out of trip drivers she has also hopped in the bus and drove the students on her day off on the weekend for no pay to ensure the students were able to go on the field trip. I believe she is a rising star in all she has achieved in her 20 years as a driver. Certified state instructor and now the director of transportation. I believe she will meet and exceed all her goals set for herself in her career with transportation.

Amanda Spaulding
School Bus Driver
Garland Independent School District, Texas
Ms. Spaulding is starting her 7th consecutive school year with the district. She is proactive and covers for any and all vacant bus routes. Se also works in the transportation office without compensation, but works with a lot of love, pride, professionalism, hugs, and smiles to students and staff. She is loved by all and goes out of her way to help the transportation office, giving her students treats, and helping other bus drivers in need. Amanda recently received a Safe School Bus Driver award, among others.

Raymond Stanley
Executive Director, Transportation and Fleet Services
DeKalb County School District, Georgia
It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Executive Director Raymond Stanley for recognition as a rising transportation Leader. Mr. Stanley has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence in school district transportation services. His contributions extend beyond operational oversight to include strategic planning, staff development, and community impact.
Mr. Stanley leads one of the largest school district fleets in Georgia, with more than 1,200 buses and support vehicles under his direction. He has spearheaded critical modernization initiatives, including GPS connectivity for support vehicles, preventive maintenance schedules, and enhanced data validation processes. These advancements have strengthened safety, accountability, and efficiency across the district.
He successfully navigated challenges in staffing shortages and vendor transitions, ensuring uninterrupted student transportation services. Additionally, he has directed multimillion-dollar infrastructure and vendor contracts, positioning the district for long-term operational stability. His focus on employee growth—through OSHA, Lean Six Sigma, and RTA training programs—has uplifted the workforce while recognition events like the annual Fleet Appreciation Luncheon and Employee of the Year program have enhanced morale.
Mr. Stanley exemplifies visionary leadership, consistently aligning departmental goals with the district’s mission. His accountability and integrity are evident through his implementation of internal audits, dual approval systems and transparent reporting practices. He is collaborative and supportive, engaging with staff at all levels to resolve challenges, encourage professional growth and foster teamwork. His resilience and adaptability allow him to address complex issues with a solutions-focused mindset, always keeping student safety and well-being at the forefront. Mr. Stanley’s efforts have been acknowledged by district leadership and peers alike for driving positive transformation within fleet services. His innovative practices have positioned him as a strong candidate for broader regional and state-level transportation recognition, underscoring his ability to deliver both operational excellence and visionary leadership.
In summary, Executive Director Raymond Stanley is a proven leader who has made significant contributions to school transportation. His dedication to innovation, employee development, and student-centered service makes him highly deserving of recognition as a Rising Transportation Leader.

Peggy Stone
Director of Transportation
Lincoln County Schools, West Virginia
Peggy took over a county transportation department that had been taken over by the state department. She has turned the county transportation department around and no longer under state control. She has implemented better driver training, parts inventory and management systems, reduced the number of buses breaking down and being towed, worked with the county emergency services to do a mock bus accident, and has changed the moral of the transportation staff. Her positive leadership has brought a tremendous change to the transportation department an made a positive impact on the staff. Peggy also is the current treasure of the West Virginia Association for Pupil Transporation and works hard at helping to plan the annual state transportation conference each year.

Christopher Storer
Director of Transportation
Yarmouth Schools, Maine
Christophers knowledge and enthusiasm for school transportation is not only refreshing but much needed as a generation of older directors are leaving and a new generation is taking over. His helpfulness in answering questions or finding out the answers is refreshing in a field that has been tired for a long time. He is not afraid of the hard work that goes into making changes.

Allison Swauger
Director of Transportation/Asst. Business Manager
Deer Lakes, Pennsylvania
Allison is a rising star in the transportation field, demonstrating exceptional potential and a unique blend of skills that position her as an up-and-comer in the industry. Her ability to learn quickly, manage relationships effectively, and consistently seek innovative solutions makes her a standout professional.
Allison’s rapid learning ability is one of her most impressive qualities. She absorbs new information, processes and technologies with remarkable speed, allowing her to adapt to the dynamic demands of the transportation sector. Whether mastering new systems, understanding regulatory changes, or tackling operational challenges, Allison’s intellectual agility ensures she stays ahead of the curve.
Equally notable is her exceptional interpersonal skills. Allison handles interactions with parents and staff with professionalism, empathy, and clarity, fostering trust and collaboration. Her ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders—whether addressing parental concerns or coordinating with team members—creates a positive and productive environment, which is critical in transportation management where clear communication can make or break operational success.
What truly sets Allison apart is her proactive approach to efficiency. She consistently seeks out opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance service quality. Her forward-thinking mindset drives her to identify bottlenecks, propose creative solutions, and implement improvements that benefit both the organization and its clients. This dedication to operational excellence not only improves day-to-day operations but also positions her as a visionary who can shape the future of transportation.
In summary, Allison’s quick learning, strong interpersonal skills and relentless pursuit of efficiency make her an invaluable asset and a true up-and-comer in the transportation industry. I wholeheartedly recommend her for the award.

Quavion Swazer
Director of Transportation
Puyallup School District, Washington
I am pleased to nominate Quavion Swazer, affectionately known as “Q” by his colleagues, for the School Transportation News Rising Superstar spotlight. As a transportation professional with over three decades of experience in this industry, I have had the privilege of witnessing many talented individuals, but Q’s trajectory in just six short years has been nothing short of remarkable.
Q’s dedication to student transportation began six years ago as a school bus driver in a neighboring district, where he spent two years mastering the fundamentals of safe student transport. His commitment to excellence and natural leadership abilities quickly became evident, leading to his recruitment by Puyallup School District—one of Washington State’s largest transportation operations.
Since joining Puyallup, Q has demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities that have earned him the respect and admiration of his entire staff. His team genuinely appreciates his approachable management style and forward-thinking vision for the department.
What truly sets Q apart is his commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. This year, he is spearheading the introduction of 15 propane-powered buses to the Puyallup fleet, demonstrating his dedication to environmental stewardship while maintaining operational efficiency. This initiative showcases his ability to balance innovation with practical implementation—a skill that typically takes years to develop.
Q’s influence extends beyond his district boundaries. This summer, he accepted a position on the Washington Association for Pupil Transportation (WAPT) board, where he will serve for the next three years. His appointment to this prestigious role speaks volumes about the respect he has earned from his peers across the state.
At such an early stage in his career, Q has already: Risen from bus driver to transportation director in a major district, implemented innovative alternative fuel programs, earned the trust and respect of his staff, gained recognition for his leadership at the state level and Demonstrated exceptional potential for future industry impact
Quavion Swazer represents the future of student transportation leadership.His combination of operational expertise, innovative thinking, and natural leadership abilities positions him as a rising star who will undoubtedly make significant contributions to our industry for years to come. I enthusiastically recommend Q for the School Transportation News Rising Superstar spotlight and look forward to witnessing the continued positive impact he will have on student transportation in Washington State and beyond.
The transportation industry needs more leaders like Quavion Swazer—individuals who bring fresh perspectives while respecting the foundational principles that keep our students safe every day.

Krystal Tenace
General Manager
Durham School Services, New York
Kyrstal is a 15 year employee with the company. She started as a driver and has worked her way up to general manager, holding positions of driver, dispatcher, monitor, Safety Manager, and site supervisor. She has 19A certified trainer credentials and has been overseeing a location that in less than a year, the customer went from possible cancellation of service to now being the customer preferred vendor of services has increased driver head count by 40 percent over past three months through intense recruiting and changing the morale to be an employer of choice in the area. Expect great things for her in the future!

Jennifer Wallace
TIMS Coordinator/Bus Driver
Caswell County Schools, North Carolina
Jennifer has been driving a bus for about three years now. She has always made herself available to drive doubles and cares about the students that she transports. She was hired on as a custodian at the elementary school and continued driving the bus patiently and rarely misses a shift. Last year I hired her as the TIMS Coordinator, picked up the ball and has learned this job. All the while she continues to drive the bus, now for the middle and high school. Jennifer is always ready to help out and one several occasions she has driven a double and still manages to get all the routing completed for our district.

Diane Wilson
School Bus Safety Specialist
Region 6 Education Service Center, Texas
Diane Wilson has demonstrated outstanding leadership, initiative and commitment to advancing school transportation safety across Texas and beyond. Since joining Region 6 ESC as a specialist in 2024, she has built Operation STEER—a nationally recognized safety education program—from the ground up. This program, developed in collaboration with local businesses, fire departments, and vendors, has earned national attention and led to her being invited to present at the STN Conference.
In addition to developing Operation STEER, Diane leads a monthly statewide Zoom safety training that has grown from 20 participants to over 400, becoming a key resource for school districts’ regular safety meetings. Her reach and impact are undeniable.
Diane also serves as a mentor to numerous transportation directors and staff across Texas, advising on laws, policies, best practices, and training implementation. She is a certified ELDT trainer, a Texas DPS School Bus Certification Instructor, and travels extensively with Region 6’s 40-foot school bus simulator to provide hands-on training throughout the state.
Her professionalism, dedication and approachable demeanor earned her the “STAR of the Month” recognition at Region 6 ESC. She is regularly invited to speak at regional Association of Pupil Transportation meetings and takes the lead in planning the annual Region 6 ESC School Bus Safety Conference, which draws nearly 300 attendees, as well as the annual Directors Conference. Diane’s commitment to safety, innovation, and service make her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.

Edith Yambo
VP of Operations
New York City/Leesel Transportation & Beacon Mobility, New York
Edith Yambo, vice president of operations at Beacon Mobility, is a dynamic leader whose visionary approach and proven results set her apart in student transportation. Since joining Beacon in 2021, Edith quickly established herself first in HR, playing a vital role in building Beacon’s values-first culture and leading our talent team to new heights. Her ability to foster inclusivity, strengthen employee engagement, and empower her teams laid the foundation for Beacon’s reputation as a supportive workplace.
In 2023, Edith transitioned to operations, taking charge of our largest contract, New York City. She immediately elevated operational performance—on-time service and safety metrics reached new highs under her employee first, data-driven leadership. Her focus on employee development led to higher retention and morale, while her rollout of innovative training and safety procedures became benchmarks for our entire organization. Throughout, Edith remained true to Beacon’s purpose and core values, leading with integrity, transparency, and collaboration. She truly believes that Every ride matters.
Key Accomplishments include: Delivered significant improvements to NYC contract performance through efficient process redesign, Championed Beacon’s values-first culture, directly impacting employee satisfaction and customer service, Developed and mentored future leaders, cultivating a strong talent pipeline, and Implemented award-winning safety and training initiatives recognized internally for excellence.
Edith is not only a strategic thinker but also a true people champion, inspiring teams to excel and driving positive change across Beacon Mobility.

The post STN Announces 10th Year of Rising Superstar Profiles appeared first on School Transportation News.

Meet the 2025 Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin, director of transportation at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. Baldwin shares his leadership journey, communication strategies to enhance transparency and how he successfully manages transportation operations at the second-largest district in the state. Read the stories of the 2025 Rising Superstars as they share the stories of what led them to this award and what they love about this industry. Find articles about tablets onboard buses, the big three maintenance considerations of school bus garages, NCST delegates thoughts on LEDs, the responsibility of furthering school bus safety and more!

The STN EXPO conferences dates for 2026 have been announced, find more information about STN EXPO East in North Carolina and STN EXPO West in Nevada in the magazine.

Read the full November 2025 issue.

Cover Story

The Cornerstone of Effective Leadership
The 2025 Transportation Director of the Year, Keba Baldwin of Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, knows how powerful communication and transparency are when responsible for safely transporting over 100,000 students daily.

Features

Finger on the Pulse
Tablets are closing the divide between dispatch, drivers and parents.

Back to Basics
School bus maintenance comes down to these big three equipment items. Vendor selection, driver behavior and maintenance cycles all play critical roles.

Rising Superstars
This year’s Rising Superstars demonstrate what it means to be a leader for their operations.

Special Reports

Lighting the Way?
While LEDs are the latest lighting technology for school buses, some say there could be better, future options—the reason National Congress on School Transportation delegates did not approve a new standard.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Paradise Lost, Paradise Gained

Thought Leader by Gilbert Rosas
Staying Focused on the Right Thing: Transportation (Success) Leads the Way to Sustainability

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Is Safety Everyone’s Responsibility?

The post November 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

In a partisan 51–47 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed four top leadership appointments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking a significant step for the current administration’s transportation and infrastructure agenda.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy welcomed the Oct. 7 confirmations of Derek Barrs as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) alongside Michael Rutherford as the first assistant secretary for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure & Policy, Gregory Zerzan as general counsel, and David Fink as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Duffy called them all “accomplished leaders” poised to advance safety, efficiency, and innovation across the nation’s transportation systems.

In a press release, Secretary Duffy stated his confidence in their ability to serve the American people and move the department’s goals forward. Among the group, Barrs has deep roots in commercial motor vehicle safety and law enforcement.

With more than two decades of experience, including leadership roles at the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation, Barrs has also been a visible figure in the industry, serving as an associate vice president at infrastructure design firm HTNB and holding senior leadership positions within the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

CVSA publicly supported Barrs’ nomination, with Executive Director Collin Mooney saying Barrs has a unique blend of enforcement and industry experience and praising his leadership in modernizing safety practices and championing technological advancement. Barrs’ commitment to roadway safety is also reflected in his role on the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board.

Following his confirmation, Barrs stated that his mission is to “strengthen safety, demand accountability and deliver results that make a real difference,” emphasizing his commitment to working collaboratively with law enforcement and industry stakeholders. As FMCSA administrator, he now leads a nationwide team of over 1,100 employees tasked with regulating and overseeing safety in the commercial motor vehicle sector.

Related: Innovation Awards Returns to STN EXPO, Vote on Site
Related: Legislation Reauthorizing DERA Program Passes Senate, Held in House
Related: Giving Birth to Proper Leadership
Related:Federal Legislation Reintroduced to Permanently Extend ‘Under-the-Hood’ Exemption

The post U.S.DOT Welcomes New Leadership Following Senate Confirmation, Barrs to FMCSA appeared first on School Transportation News.

After a year of being STN’s Transportation Director of the Year, Craig Beaver of Beaverton School District in Oregon joins us to discuss the ins and outs of running a large mixed-fleet school bus operation, pushing the limits with technology and data, navigating current federal changes, and looking to the future of the industry.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Bus Safety Co.

Message from Ride.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E280) Nuts and Bolts: Transportation Director of the Year Talks Data-Focused Oregon Ops appeared first on School Transportation News.

Declining birth rates in and of themselves aren’t news. They have been well-publicized for years across the U.S. and Canada. China is even worse off. Throw a dart at a map, and any country you hit is likely experiencing a drop in births. There are many reasons for this, but they are all inconsequential except that they impact education and student transportation.

The National Center on Education Statistics recently published data that projected a decline in overall K-12 public school enrollments through 2030. It does not refer once to falling birth rates, but we know they are central to the issue. (NCES does refer to the effect of dropouts, transfers to and from public schools and state-level migration.)

COVID-19 unsurprisingly resulted in a 2 percent decrease in public school student enrollment. The real eye-opener, according to NCES, is that enrollment decreases will rise 6 percent over the next several school years.

Meanwhile, private charter school enrollment, which spiked during COVID, has “significantly slowed,” according to the Cato Institute. Yet competition remains high for public school bus transportation in states like Ohio, a microcosm for how the issue could affect the rest of the nation. One of several states that requires publicly funded school buses to transport students attending private and charter schools, Ohio’s challenge has been exacerbated over the past several years by a dramatic expansion in the enrollment of private school students, about 90,000 of them.

Not all these students need transportation service, true. Still, local news outlets reported last month that for the second-straight year, many public high school students were left without school bus service because the vehicles were dispatched instead to transport their private and charter school peers. Ohio public school districts are mandated to transport K-8 students to their private or charter schools and offer the same transportation service to private high school students that public high school students receive.

The publication the74million.org reported this summer that 16 states offer public funding for private school tuition to any student in the state. On one hand, this means inevitably more transportation, which theoretically is a good thing. But then factor in one of if not the biggest startup challenges: the school bus driver shortage.

Over the past year, several readers have bristled at the term, “shortage.” One told me the industry is not suffering a driver shortage, or a shortage of any other transportation staff, for that matter. No, instead they said the industry has a retention problem. No wonder with pay, though increased out of necessity, hardly if at all keeping up with inflation and school bus drivers stretched thin over routes with multiple tiers and no rest in between. An issue experienced by many readers but rarely discussed by the media are school bus drivers “calling out” sick when perhaps they aren’t. Everyone needs a mental health day. But in larger and urban school districts, I’m told callouts can run rampant, and the cases aren’t always legitimate. Many drivers are now salaried employees. If they aren’t sick, then what is the real issue?

Maybe they are sick of their job or more aptly sick of the organizational culture. Find another job, one might argue. That is hardly a constructive response to an issue that undermines the very reason student transportation operations exist.

Now, more than ever responsible leadership is fundamental to transportation success. In addition to coaching the operational “X’s and O’s,” provide a pathway to employees that encourage them to stay behind the wheel, at the dispatch desk, or in the maintenance facility. This goes for the transportation leaders, too. What is keeping them in their current role at their current school district, or encouraging them to look elsewhere?

In addition to exploring school startup challenges, this month’s edition shares examples and perspectives of how proper leadership is helping transportation operations not only navigate the many pressures laid out before them but succeed at their missions of delivering students safely and efficiently to school and home again. And having fun while doing it.

I’ve written this before, and I’ll write it again. STN co-founder and Editor and Publisher Emeritus Bill Paul repeatedly would tell me that as long as parents keep making children, there will be a need for the yellow school bus. The iconic vehicle certainly has competition today in many forms, birth rates being just one of them. Don’t let your organizational culture be another.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the October 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports
Related: School Bus Safety Company Unveils New Leadership Training Course to Elevate Safety Leadership
Related: (STN Podcast E279) Encourage, not Discourage: NY Top Transportation Team Talks Work Culture
Related: How concerned are you about the data security of your student transportation operations?

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Directors of transportation from across the U.S. are set to convene for a roundtable discussion addressing the complex landscape of special needs student transportation. The panel features three distinguished transportation directors who will share insights from their diverse regional experiences.

The Nov. 8 TSD Conference session promises to provide transportation professionals with a comprehensive look at the current state of special needs student transportation and innovative approaches to overcoming systemic challenges.

Keba Baldwin of Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland oversees a split urban-rural county transportation system that covers not only a 486 square-mile area but one that ventures into the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as the District of Columbia. He will discuss managing a significant driver shortage, as his department currently faces 150 unfilled driver positions. His district, the 18th largest in the U.S., is implementing innovative workforce development strategies, including an internship program to recruit and train new transportation staff.

Julie Hrebicek from Magnolia Independent School District near Houston, Texas will highlight the growing challenges of transporting students with increasingly complex disabilities. Magnolia ISD is also confronting a critical driver shortage and seeking solutions through targeted training and potential pay increases to attract and retain qualified drivers.

Quanika Dukes-Spruill represents a unique transportation model in Newark, New Jersey. She will share her perspective on managing transportation via 63 contractors while successfully navigating budget constraints that have nearly doubled her transportation costs from $28 million to over $50 million annually.

In addition to driver recruitment and financial challenges, the panelists with discuss specialized training and operational needs for transporting students with individualized education programs as well as those served by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, technological innovations in routing, and behavioral management strategies.

The panel is part of the five-day event held at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Convention Center. Registration remains open online and will be available on site.

Related: New TSD Conference School Bus Attendant Seminar to Provide Training Guidelines
Related: TSD Conference Session to Focus on Mental Health Supports
Related: TSD Conference to Feature American Sign Language Training for Student Transporters

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Historically, School Transportation News has looked at school bus driver pay and benefits as it relates to staffing. But developing a standout department starts at the very top, as proven by the Top Transportation Teams awards sponsored by Transfinder and presented at STN EXPO West (learn more about the 2025 winners on page 28). What factors encourage transportation directors to stay at their current district versus jumping the bus to another? No surprise: The overwhelming answer is support from administration and department culture.

For Colby Stevens, spending his career at Teton County School District in Wyoming makes sense. A 2023 STN Rising Superstar, Stevens started driving a school bus for the district in 2011. Over time, he took on more responsibilities, eventually becoming a secretary and now the director of transportation, a position he’s held since 2018, when he was 29 years old.

“Though it wasn’t something that I had dreamed of, it provided an opportunity to get full-time, year-round work, which was appealing,” he said of first moving into the secretary role.

Stevens became the assistant director in 2016 and served for two years. He credited becoming director to his relationships in the department and his experience working up through the ranks. He noted that he has a very positive relationship with the district administration, which encourages him to stay at Teton Conty.

“I feel like I have the trust of the district, and they have mine,” he said. “That’s a huge reason why I’m not really interested in going elsewhere. I feel like I have support if I need it, but I also feel like I’m not micro-managed. I’m given a long leash to do my job, and so that gives me the weighty responsibility of doing what’s supposed to be done. But at the same time, I don’t feel like I’m on my own. And I think that balance, from what I have found, is rare, but it’s super important. I can imagine that would be one reason why there is burnout and turnover with directors.”

He shared that his college degree is in an unrelated field and it’s the on-the-job training that has attributed to his success. “Interacting in every sphere really prepared me for the job as well as just learning early on and [receiving] a lot of informal training from our former director,” he explained. “Learning the power and the importance of relationships, the importance of treating people with integrity and treating people with respect.”

He noted another key piece has been his involvement in the Wyoming Pupil Transportation Association, for which he is a director-at-large.

Amy Scopac and her on-the-job training has proven advantageous to her nearly 20-year career at Temple Independent School District in Texas. She explained that when her children became school age, she wanted to rejoin the workforce yet be on their same schedule. She started looking for opportunities available within the school system.

“In that pursuit, I was led to transportation at Temple ISD, where I began my 19th year in June [this year],” she said. Scopac started in the department as secretary in 2007,
shortly thereafter becoming the safety and training supervisor. She became operations supervisor and then assistant director of transportation from 2012 through 2020. She has served as director since January 2021.

Certifications have been instrumental in her career development, especially as she said she sees the industry steering away from requiring traditional degrees. She currently holds the certifications of Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT) and Supervisor of Pupil Transportation (CSPT) from the National Association for Pupil Transportation, and a Texas Pupil Transportation Official (CTPTO) from the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation. She also holds driver trainer and special needs supervisor certificates from TAPT and a School Bus Driver Trainer certificate from the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

Scopac is also a certified Texas Department of Public Safety CDL third-party examiner. She served as TAPT president from 2018 to 2019 and has served as president of her local TAPT chapter twice (2011 and 2021). She is also a certified professional development instructor through TAPT.

She noted that the requirement for a degree is gradually disappearing from job descriptions, as in the example of a recent director job posting at nearby Hutto ISD, which
states, “Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree or comparable knowledge gained through work experience.

“This shift signifies a changing trend in the industry, where the significance of a degree is diminishing,” she said. “The knowledge and skills necessary to excel as a director in this industry are not solely acquired in a college classroom. On-the-job training plays a critical role in developing these essential skills.”

She noted that a successful transportation director is a leader with strong operational and management skills. “They are required to have in-depth expertise in transportation logistics, encompassing route planning, scheduling and optimizing workflow to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” she continued. “Additionally, they are responsible for developing and overseeing substantial budgets, monitoring expenses and negotiating contracts with vendors to effectively manage costs.”

Plus, directors must understand all local, state and federal laws, regulations and safety standards and be adept at “utilizing technology, including fleet management software, student monitoring software, GPS tracking, and data-driven analytics, to streamline operations, monitor performance, and make informed decisions based on data,” she noted.

Like Stevens in Wyoming, she said the most important aspect to staying at a district is leadership and culture. “Having the support of your supervisor, superintendent and school board are critical,” she said, adding that transportation can be a demanding job.

“Having a positive workplace culture fosters engagement, productivity and loyalty. Our senior leadership team in Temple is remarkable. They support their employees and are huge proponents of professional development. There is no doubt they truly believe in you. They make you feel connected and engaged. We function like family with a real focus on collaboration, teamwork and employee well-being. Our Superintendent Dr. [Bobby] Ott signs his emails to us ‘your biggest fan,’ and there is no doubt that is the absolute truth.”

Scopac shared that being a Temple Wildcat is “truly special,” as it’s the only high school in the district. Scopac, a native of Temple, said she loves serving her community, which is experiencing a growth in population.

A Fork in the Road
For others, however, changing districts helped align with their professional growth and goals. Karim Johnson has worked in 10 school districts across four states along the East Coast and has even run his own school bus contracting and motorcoach company. He started in pupil transportation right out of high school, working as a part-time bus driver while in college. He said what started as a means to pay bills, turned into a career he fell in love with.

He’s worked in various roles in transportation, from school bus driver to dispatcher to operations manager and driver trainer. To the management side, serving as a supervisor, regional manager, director and executive director. Johnson is currently the director of student transportation at Dorchester County School District Four in South Carolina.

“My career path really breaks down into two chapters,” he said. “Early on, from the time I started driving after graduating high school through my early 40s, I moved around mainly for growth. I wanted to see the industry from every angle, so I took on opportunities that stretched me and gave me new responsibilities. Some changes were also tied to personal and family needs, but most were about pushing myself to keep learning and advancing.”

Now, he said, he looks at things differently. While professional growth is still important, he also values balance. “At this stage, the biggest factor in staying with a district is culture,” he shared. “I want to work in a place where transportation isn’t treated as an afterthought, but as a critical part of student success. When a district invests in its people, its facilities and its fleet and when leadership understands that smart investments can actually drive efficiency and save money, it creates an environment where both students and staff can succeed. That’s the kind of alignment that makes me want to plant roots and stay long term.”

While pay and benefits are importance, culture, he said, is the centerpiece. He said a district having a student-focused culture and one that understands how instructional goals and operational support work hand in hand, sets the foundation for success. “At the same time, competitive pay and solid benefits can’t be overlooked,” he added. “They allow
employees to care for their families and show up fully at work. When a district finds the right balance between culture, compensation and support, that’s when both students and staff are in the best position to thrive.”

Johnson said one of his strengths as a director is stepping into challenged operations, finding the systemic issues and leading the turnaround—all not possible without leadership that backs the process. “I don’t expect them to know every operational detail, but I do look for a willingness to make the necessary infrastructure investments, set realistic timelines for change and understand that improvements don’t happen overnight,” he said.
“Just as important, I value when leadership listens to the recommendations of their transportation professional and trusts the process. With that kind of support, transportation programs can truly transform and without it, even the best plans can stall.”

Meanwhile, Mitzii Smith, president of the Maine Association for Pupil Transportation and a 2024 STN Rising Superstar, started her career in 2005 with Bonny Eagle School District (MSAD6), when her oldest child was starting kindergarten. Smith drove a school bus and
transitioned to lead driver. In 2021, she stepped into the building to become the administration assistant. A few months later, she became the assistant director.

On July 1, she started a new role as director of transportation for Gorham School District. “My decision to leave Bonny Eagle after 20 years wasn’t an easy one to make,” she shared. “I had an amazing opportunity for career advancement. Gorham is a neighboring district in a wonderful community. This is a unique opportunity to build on an already solid transportation department. It’s exciting to bring my vision to a new team and promote professional development and growth.”

She noted that as a new director, one of the most important benefits is a strong district culture. “When there is mutual respect, open communication and a shared commitment to student success, transportation becomes more than just getting students to school; it becomes an essential part of supporting their overall educational experience,” concluded Smith, who is also a school safety specialist.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the October 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

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Related: (STN Podcast E262) Assess & Fix: The NJ Transportation Director Managing 63 Contractors
Related: Magician Teaches Transportation Directors About Connection at STN EXPO West
Related: (STN Podcast E269) Legacy & Leadership: Award-Winning Suffolk Transportation Talks NY Operations

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DENVER — EverDriven, the leader in alternative student transportation, today announced the finalists for its inaugural Modern Student Transportation Awards, a first-of-its-kind recognition program spotlighting school district leaders who are embracing modern tools, inclusive practices and a commitment to safety and accessibility in student transportation.

The awards recognize district leaders who are improving student transportation for diverse populations, including those experiencing housing instability and requiring specialized services, through thoughtful innovation and care. Finalists stood out for their efforts to make transportation more inclusive, reliable, and safe, whether by utilizing new technologies, designing flexible systems to meet diverse student needs, or demonstrating exceptional compassion in how services are delivered.

“We’re at an exciting moment in student transportation, where school districts across the country are extending the boundaries of what’s possible through modern, student-centered solutions,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “The Modern Student Transportation Awards celebrate that spirit of innovation and collaboration, and it’s an honor to recognize all of the nominees who are shaping the future of how students get to school safely and efficiently.”

Award Categories

Finalists were nominated across four categories, each representing a core pillar of modern student transportation.

Equity in Education Accessibility Award
Honors district leaders who deliver scalable and inclusive transportation solutions for underserved student populations.

Humanitarian Award
Highlights extraordinary care and compassion in ensuring every student gets to school safely and consistently.

Safety & Reliability Award
Recognizes standout practices that enhance the safety and consistency of student transportation.

Top Innovator Award
Celebrates the most impactful use of modern, AI-enabled technology in school transportation.

Meet the Finalists

The district leaders below were selected for their outstanding contributions to student transportation related to the categories above.

• Jameelah Davis, Program Coordinator – Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, FL
• Kayla Denaco, Assistant Director of Transportation – Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, ME
• Laura Hill, General Manager, Transportation Services — Hillsborough County Transportation School Department – Hillsborough School District, Tampa, FL
• Earl Kent III, Route Planning Manager – Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO
• Lori Knochelmann, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Coordinator – Covington Independent Public Schools, Covington, KY
• Marla Lynn, Director of Transportation – Grandview School District, Grandview, MO
  Sarah Nanny, Transportation Department Secretary – Escambia County School District, Pensacola, FL
• Quanika Dukes-Spruill, Executive Director – Newark Public Schools, Newark, NJ
• Jeremy Stowe, Director of Transportation – Buncombe County Schools, Asheville, NC
• Pat Ward, Former Director of Maintenance and Transportation – Allen Park Public Schools, Allen Park, MI

Winners To Be Announced

Winners will be announced on November 6, 2025. The winners are selected by a panel of judges that scored nominations across four dimensions:

Tangible student impact: Presenting clear evidence of real, measurable benefits for students (attendance, safety, accessibility, well-being, etc.).

Comprehensiveness: How fully the initiative addresses the challenge — depth of planning, execution, and stakeholder involvement.

Scalability and sustainability: Potential for the initiative to be expanded within the district, adopted by others elsewhere, and that it will endure over time.

Creativity: Delivers a fresh, forward-thinking approach; challenging the traditional model with inventive solutions, bold ideas, or unconventional strategies that break from “the way it’s always been done” to achieve better student outcomes.

The judging panel includes Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven; Barbara Duffield, executive director of SchoolHouse Connection; Kevin Gordon, president at Capital Advisors; and Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at Everway.

Each winner will receive:

A $2,500 college scholarship to be awarded to a student in their district who qualifies under the McKinney-Vento Act or receives special education services:

• A full conference pass and paid travel to the 2025 TSD Conference, November 6 to 11;
• A customized plaque;
• A digital winner’s seal for use across marketing materials and social media.

About EverDriven

EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in transporting students across a wide range of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 36 states, the company completed over 2 million trips last year, 99.99% of them accident-free with 100% safety compliance. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

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Analysis on upcoming TSD Conference education, National Association for Pupil Transportation election results, the Federal Brake for Kids Act and the Federal Communications Commission revoking E-Rate eligibility of school bus Wi-Fi.

Jeff Cassell, president of the School Bus Safety Company, discusses the need for safety leadership training, removing risk and reducing accidents in student transportation.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at neurotechnology software company Everway, has worked at the state government level and served as the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. At the TSD Conference this November, she brings her perspective as a person with a disability on educating and empowering individuals with disabilities.

Read more about safety and special needs.

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Conversation with School Bus Safety Co.

Message from Ride.

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The post (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports appeared first on School Transportation News.

In the October issue of School Transportation News, STN examined what keeps directors in a certain role and district versus the factors that drive them to switch. To no surprise, it’s culture, administrative support and professional growth that lead the way.

Igor Petrivoc, a 2022 STN Rising Superstar, has been working in transportation for the past 16 years. Prior joining a school district, he started in transportation-related roles working for transit companies, then MV Transportation, where he has worked on a school bus contract since 2009. In 2018, he had the opportunity to join Adams 12 Five Star Schools near Denver, Colorado as the operations manager. However, he only served in that role for a few months before becoming the transportation director.

“Personally, it was a little bit challenging in the beginning just because I was mainly focused on the operations, and I knew that side really well. I had to back off and allow the new operations manager to step into their role so that I could oversee kind of the bigger picture on the district side of things,” he said of becoming the director, adding that the administration made the transition “easy.”

“Because they’re full of support and ensuring that you don’t fail, that you have people there that can help you with the budget, people there that can help you with the bigger projects,” he continued. “They invested a lot in me, and that’s why I’ve stayed with Adams 12 …They ensured that I was successful, both in the role and within the district.”

He explained that his COO at the time would meet with him regularly to provide guidance and support, serving as a mentor for Petrivoc. “He was big on providing leadership books, leadership trainings and courses,” he said, adding that the district also offered training from outside consultants to help with leadership.

One training that stuck with him covered finding one’s voice.

“There are these different voices as a leader that you exhibit, whether you’re a creative, a pioneer, a guardian, and just how to channel those voices into your own leadership style,” he said. “A lot of that was at play in in the early years and still is to this day. Just ensuring that you are continually growing and have resources available to you so that you can expand on your leadership style and your leadership abilities.”

In terms of what he looks for from his administration, he echoed the others in terms of support. He said he want his board to trust his input and value his experience. “They’ve never questioned anything,” he said. “They will certainly have questions, but they are fully supportive of the decisions, the direction that you want to take things in.”

He noted that it’s the support and relationships that keep him at Adams 12. He explained that there have been opportunities within the school district to move up, but he was expanding his family and personally, he said. It wasn’t the right time.

“My hope is to not leave Adams 12. On a personal side, I think everybody makes a decision of where they want to work based on a number of factors. One of those is absolutely the leadership and the support that you get,” he said. “It could not be any better at Adams 12. The other is the family dynamic.”

He said that when becoming a director at the age of 31, pay was at the top of the list in terms of benefits. But now, after having kids and realizing the importance of family, he values the home-work balance.

Related: STN Launches Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program at 2026 Conferences
Related: Beacon Mobility Driver of Year Shares Passion for Student Service, Connection
Related: Robinson Named Sole 2025 Inductee into NAPT Hall of Fame

On the flip side, Danny Williams started as a school bus driver in 2005 while he was a senior in high school at Johnston County Schools in North Carolina. His mother, grandmother, uncles and aunts were all school bus drivers. Growing up he knew he would forge a similar path.

After graduation, he worked as a driver for the Public Schools of Robeson County before becoming a site coordinator. He returned to Johnston County as an area supervisor in 2016 before switching districts to Wilson County Schools in 2021 as the assistant director. In August 2022 he was promoted to executive director.

“I kind of knew that if I stayed at Johnston, I was going to be in that assistant director position for quite some time,” he said, noting that his aspirations were to serve as a director. “So, I knew that in order to go up, I had to leave Johnston County.”
That’s how he ended up at Wilson.

“I knew that [a transportation director] would be what I would land,” he said. “Did I think that I would advance as quick as I did, as young as I did? No. but it happened, and I’m grateful for those opportunities that I was granted along the way, and the support and the leadership that I had that molded and groomed me.”

The post Leadership Starts From the Top Down appeared first on School Transportation News.

Leadership takes the front page in this month’s issue as the school year rolls on and student transportation leaders tackle a variety of challenges to keep services running smoothly. Hear from the 2025 Top Transportation Team award winners on building strong workplace culture, find what keeps directors in their current roles and learn more about purchasing trends for transportation related technology. Read blogs on the power of influential leadership, prioritizing professional development and more.

Find the preview for the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference to learn more about the speakers, topics and events coming to Texas on Nov. 6-11.

Read the full October 2025 issue.

Cover Story

Rite of Passage
Students have gone back to school around the nation, and transportation directors share the challenges and solutions to keeping the school bus wheels going “round and round.”

Features

Small Moments, Big Impacts
Culture is the special sauce that drives the Top Transportation Teams award presented at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada.

Purchasing Trends Fluctuate
With the new school year underway, school districts share their most wanted purchase items and the expected benefits of each new product or technology.

Special Reports

Follow the ‘Golden’ Brick Road
Department culture and administrative support are leading factors for keeping transportation leaders in their current role or prompting them to look elsewhere.

TSD Conference Preview

Feedback
Online
Transportation Director Salaries by U.S. Region
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Giving Birth to Proper Leadership

Thought Leader by Rosalyn Vann-Jackson
Leading from the Front (Without Just Taking A Walk)

Thought Leader by Linda Bluth
Alternative School Transportation: A Roadmap for Decision- Making for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Prioritize Your Professional Growth

The post October 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) election is fast approaching. The candidates come from various backgrounds in student transportation and have been nominated based on their dedicated contributions to the industry.

The president-elect candidates are: Melody Coniglio, director of transportation for West Geauga Local Schools in Ohio and current NAPT Region 3 director; Karim Johnson, director of student transportation at Dorchester County School District Four in South Carolina; and Todd Silverthorn, supervisor of transportation services at Kettering City School District in Ohio.

Keith Kaup, director of transportation at Pearland Independent School District in Texas, is the current president elect and assumes the president role this fall, succeeding Teena Mitchell of South Carolina.

Coniglio started her career as a school bus driver in 1994 and since has served in various transportation leadership positions in Ohio districts. Johnson was named a STN Rising Superstar in 2020 and holds multiple state and NAPT certifications. Silverthorn is the current vice president and a recent past-president of the Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation. He has worked in student transportation for over 20 years.

Running unopposed for Region 1 director is Marc Medina, supervisor of transportation at Farmingdale School District in New York. Medina is the president of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation and has been in the industry for 15 years.

Dawnett Wright, director of transportation at Peninsula School District in Washington, is the sole candidate for Region 5 director. Also serving as the president of the Washington Association of Pupil Transportation, Wright has spent over three decades in the Pacific Northwest region, first as a school bus driver, then trainer and now director.

Maritza Valentin, national account manager at wheelchair securement provider AMF-Bruns of America, is running for re-election as affiliate member director. Valentin trains professionals to properly secure students with disabilities who ride in wheelchairs and advocates for American Disabilities Act compliance.

For the positions where only one candidate was nominated, NAPT stated that write-in candidates will be accepted during the voting period.

The NAPT election will run from 8 a.m. EST Tuesday, Sept. 30, through 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, Oct. 1. The elected members will be sworn in at NAPT ACTS Saturday, Nov. 1, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information on the candidates and their positions, go to www.napt.org/napt-candidates. Voter eligibility and voting details can be found at www.napt.org/napt-election-faq.

Related: NAPT Announces More Annual Award Winners for 2025
Related: Alex Robinson, Mentor for Student Transportation Professionals
Related: (STN Podcast E231) Come Together: Florida Hurricane Fallout, NAPT Conference Recap

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Headlines on tragic violent incidents, electric endeavors, drug testing, a bus fire and more.

Sean Hollas, interim transportation director for Goddard Public Schools in Kansas and a 2025 Top Transportation Teams Award winner, discusses fostering positive workplace culture and leveraging technology for efficiency.

Take a look behind the operational curtain with Brenda Boyd, transportation director for Holland Public Schools in Michigan and the Technology Super User featured on the STN September issue cover.

Read more about operations.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — The School Bus Safety Company (SBSC) launches a new groundbreaking Safety Leadership Training Course, emphasizing the pivotal role of leadership with the mantra, “Leadership, Leadership & Leadership” as the three most crucial factors in ensuring safe school transportation.

This innovative course is a compelling opportunity for school transportation professionals to enhance safety standards and is now open for enrollment, inviting leaders to transform their operations. Tailored for location managers, supervisors, trainers, dispatchers, and anyone in a supervisory role, the course offers a robust curriculum featuring seven comprehensive programs and a 40-question final exam. The program includes:

Introduction to Safety Leadership
What is Safety
Safety Management Systems
Why Do People Have Accidents
Understanding Human Behavior
Leadership Principles
Safety Leadership Practices

Delivered conveniently online or via thumb drive, the course equips leaders with actionable strategies to instill a “safety-first” mindset, shaping the operational norms that underpin a strong safety culture. SBSC underscores the importance of leadership training, noting that many managers, often promoted from driver roles, lack formal education in leadership. This gap can hinder safety efforts, but the new course addresses it head-on. “When all the leaders are taught the required practices and act in unison, you will have created a Safety Culture,” SBSC explains. The foundation lies in setting norms—instinctive behaviors employees follow daily—which are directly influenced by leadership. By aligning these norms, leaders can control how work is performed, ensuring consistency and safety. The course introduces practical tools like the ABCs of behavior—Antecedents, Behaviors, and Consequences—teaching leaders how to use effective antecedents to shape desired behaviors and achieve positive outcomes. Additionally, it explores the KSA/MVP framework (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities/Motivation, Values, Personality), offering insights into the leading factors affecting human behavior. These techniques empower leaders to instill the desired norms in drivers, fostering a cohesive and safety-focused team.

SBSC is offering a free seven-day preview, which takes approximately two hours to complete. Interested individuals can contact SBSC at 866-275-7272 or visit www.schoolbussafetyco.com to watch a short video explaining the importance of Safety Leadership.

Early users have enthusiastically rated the course a perfect 10 out of 10, praising its clarity and effectiveness. Tony Corpin, Publisher of School Transportation News went through the course and said “It is outstanding!”. The significance of this training cannot be overstated.

SBSC highlights that when all leaders understand and apply the same practices, working toward common goals, the organization reaches its peak performance. As Napoleon Bonaparte famously said, “There are no bad troops, only bad officers.” This course translates that wisdom into action, enabling leaders to move beyond discussion and implement tangible improvements. The unified application of leadership practices ensures teams move in the same direction, maximizing safety and efficiency. School transportation professionals are encouraged to seize this opportunity to elevate their skills and contribute to a safer environment for students. The course’s flexible delivery options make it accessible, while its comprehensive content provides lasting value. Whether you’re a seasoned supervisor or a newly promoted manager, this training offers the tools to lead with confidence and purpose.

Don’t miss out—take the first step by requesting your preview today. Experience firsthand how the Safety Leadership Training Course can transform your leadership approach and set new standards for safety in school transportation. Contact SBSC now at 866-275-7272 or visit www.schoolbussafetyco.com to begin your journey toward excellence.

The post The School Bus Safety Company Unveils New Leadership Training Course to Elevate Safety Leadership appeared first on School Transportation News.