DENVER, Colo. — EverDriven, the leader in Alternative Student Transportation, is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural Modern Student Transportation Awards. The Awards recognize school district leaders who are applying forward-thinking solutions to get students to school safely and reliably, every single day. The winners were formally announced and honored during the 2025 TSD Conference in Dallas, Texas.

After receiving dozens of inspiring nominations from across the country, EverDriven is honored to spotlight four exceptional winners whose work exemplifies the future of student mobility. The winners were selected by a panel of judges from across the student transportation and education industries, including 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.

2025 Modern Student Transportation Award Winners

Equity in Education Accessibility Award

Jeremy Stowe – Director of Transportation at Buncombe County Schools, North Carolina

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Jeremy built a new transportation system in record time to support more than 1,200 Buncombe County students experiencing housing instability across 660 square miles. His leadership turned crisis into action, keeping students connected to their schools and communities with speed, equity, and deep compassion.

Humanitarian Award

Earl Kent III – Route Planning Manager at Denver Public Schools, Colorado

Earl’s compassion and ingenuity have made him a champion for students facing housing instability. From using AI to route students to their new schools after school closures to solving everyday challenges with empathy, Earl ensures every child has a safe ride and a trusted advocate, no matter the hour or circumstance.

Safety & Reliability Award

Kayla Denaco – Assistant Director of Transportation at Lewiston Public Schools, Maine

Kayla transformed Lewiston’s transportation system from dated and paper-based to a fully digitized, efficient operation. Her work has improved safety, saved thousands in district costs, and ensured over 600 McKinney-Vento students received reliable and dignified transportation.

Top Innovator

Quanika Dukes-Spruill – Executive Director of Pupil Transportation at Newark Public Schools, New Jersey

As Executive Director of Pupil Transportation for New Jersey’s largest school district, Quanika Dukes-Spruill is redefining the future of student mobility. Through her visionary leadership, Newark has implemented smarter vendor management, advanced routing technologies, and forward-thinking state advocacy—achieving measurable cost savings while ensuring transportation solutions remain equitable, efficient, and centered on students’ needs.

“This year’s honorees, and every nominee, represent the heart of what makes modern student transportation so special,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “Across the country, leaders are raising the bar with creativity, compassion, and courage to ensure every student has a safe and consistent ride to school. The individuals recognized through these awards embody that shared mission, and we’re proud to celebrate all who are driving this work forward.”

To honor their efforts, each winner receives a personalized crystal award, a digital winner’s seal for use across marketing materials and social media, travel and registration to the 2025 TSD Conference, and 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.

As EverDriven looks ahead to 2026, the Modern Student Transportation Awards will continue to elevate the voices of those who make equity, safety, and innovation possible every day. Nominations for next year’s program will open in the summer, inviting districts across the country to share the stories of those driving meaningful impact for students. Congratulations to all nominees and finalists for their extraordinary efforts. Their stories will continue to inspire the future of student transportation.

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.

The post EverDriven Announces Winners of Inaugural Modern Student Transportation Awards 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.

DENVER, Colo. — EverDriven, the nation’s leader in alternative student transportation, today announced the launch of its 360-degree Student Experience, an advancement in real-time visibility and safety for every ride. Purpose-built to support students with diverse needs, the solution combines advanced monitoring technology with human-led care to deliver unmatched transparency, proactive risk mitigation, and student-centered consistency.

“At EverDriven, we are dedicated to setting the bar for safety in student transportation. The 360-degree Student Experience turns that commitment into visibility, accountability, and consistent, calm rides—one student, one trip at a time.This is the standard we uphold daily, and an example of how we’re driving best practices across the industry,” said Mitch Bowling, Chief Executive Officer at EverDriven.

Introducing the 360-degree Student Experience

This solution ensures every ride is safe, transparent, and tailored to the students who rely on it.

Key Features and Capabilities:

Proactive Safety Monitoring: Dual-facing AI cameras and onboard and app-enabled sensors track 18 safety data points, proactively identifying risky behaviors and vehicle conditions before they escalate. Unsafe drivers are removed from service if thresholds are crossed;

Real-Time Ride Visibility: Districts and caregivers can access live trip status, offering peace of mind at every step of the journey;

Unparalleled Safety Standards: Drivers complete pre-service drug testing, random drug testing, and extensive background checking including sex offender registry screening, and motor vehicle record reviews. Ongoing training in defensive driving and sensitivity practices also ensure safe, supportive transportation for all students.

The solution builds on EverDriven’s proven foundation of safety and reliability and adds deeper insights and smarter safeguards. With more than 2 million trips completed annually across 36 states and a 99.99 percent accident-free record, 360-degree Student Experience reinforces EverDriven’s commitment to safe, student-centered transportation.

To learn more about bringing the 360-degree Student Experience to your district, visit everdriven.com.

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 700 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.

The post EverDriven Unveils 360-degree Student Experience: Real-Time Visibility and Safety for Every Ride appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. – EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, continues to gain momentum as it welcomes two seasoned executives to its C-suite: Megan Von Wald as Chief Operations Officer and Phil Graves as Chief Financial Officer.

Focused on enhancing human-centered service and operational efficiency, Von Wald will lead nationwide operations and support the drivers and local teams who serve as the backbone of the company’s mission. Graves will oversee financial strategy and growth planning to support EverDriven’s expanding footprint. The company also announced the appointments of Alan Fliegelman as Vice President of Product and Jenn Cotter as Vice President of Revenue Operations, further strengthening its leadership bench on its quest to redefine the modern student transportation experience.

“At EverDriven, we’re building a future-ready transportation model—and that starts with the right people,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “These leaders bring deep operational and financial expertise that will allow us to scale responsibly, accelerate innovation, and keep safety and equity at the center of every decision.”

With 98% of school districts actively modernizing their transportation systems, according to EverDriven’s recently released Future of Modern Student Transportation and Safety Report, the need for human-led, tech-enabled solutions continues to accelerate. The company’s new executive hires in operations and finance come on the heels of earlier appointments this year of Chief Product & Technology Officer Mon-Chaio Lo and Chief Marketing Officer Courtney Pallotta, further aligning leadership across key functions to meet the rising demand for modern student transportation solutions.

Von Wald joins EverDriven with more than a decade of experience leading customer-centric operations across hospitality, financial services, and technology. With a career rooted in building meaningful operations, Von Wald brings a deep understanding of how to empower frontline personnel and ensure consistent and safe service across diverse communities. She previously held leadership roles at Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy and Galvanize Inc., where she developed global customer service strategies and oversaw the successful implementation of multi-site, technology-enabled operations.

“EverDriven is at an incredible inflection point,” said Von Wald. “I’m excited to help bring a modern approach to service—one that honors the human connection while leveraging technology to revolutionize how we support students, school districts, and caregivers. This work is deeply personal, and I’m proud to be part of a company that’s making a meaningful difference every day.”

Graves brings an extensive background in finance, strategy, and mission-driven business. His experience overseeing growth across values-based organizations positions him to guide EverDriven’s financial evolution while staying true to its commitment to people and communities. As a CPA and CFA, he has provided financial advisory services to large and mid-sized businesses and held leadership roles at socially responsible companies, including Patagonia, where he helped guide the company through transformative growth.

“EverDriven has a clear opportunity to scale both its impact and its business,” said Graves. “Building the financial infrastructure to support that growth while staying aligned with our mission is key. The stronger our financial foundation, the more effectively we can expand access to education and deliver long-term value to the communities we serve.”

Fliegelman brings deep experience in product strategy and delivery across high-growth tech environments, while Cotter adds proven expertise in aligning revenue operations to drive performance and efficiency. Their appointments reflect the company’s continued investment in building a leadership team equipped to drive innovation, efficiency, and impact at scale.

To learn more about EverDriven’s growing leadership team, visit https://www.everdriven.com/about/.

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 700 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.

The post EverDriven Expands Executive Leadership Team to Fuel Growth in Human-Led, Tech-Enabled Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. -EverDriven, the leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced strong year-over-year growth, including an 18% year-over-year increase in school district partnerships, expansion into three new states, and a single-day record of 15,051 completed rides.

Between May 31, 2024, and May 31, 2025, EverDriven safely transported 32,641 students across 2,076,445 trips and 33,663,023 miles. This includes 17,154 students experiencing housing instability and 10,535 students with special needs. On April 29, 2025, EverDriven set a new benchmark by completing 15,051 rides in a single day.

“Our growth is a reflection of the trust school districts place in us to safely deliver their most vulnerable students to school each day,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “Through a combination of human-led, technology-powered service, we’re continuously raising the bar for what modern student transportation can and should be.”

As the company’s footprint expanded to 36 states—including new entries into Idaho, New Mexico, and Minnesota—EverDriven continued to invest in technologies that improve accountability and student safety. Over the past year, 1,279 vehicles across 69 school districts in 14 states were equipped with its AI-powered Camera Solution, improving visibility, accountability, and safety. In tandem, more than 5,300 drivers and monitors completed EverDriven’s new English proficiency training program to strengthen communication and service delivery.

These efforts reflect a broader commitment to operational excellence. According to EverDriven’s 2025 Safety and Operations Report, which covers the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, 99.6% of trips were completed with no reported concerns. Keeping pace with regulatory change, EverDriven was the first alternative transportation provider to achieve full compliance with California Senate Bill 88. Since May 2024, the company has implemented updated inspection protocols, enhanced driver monitoring systems, and expanded accessibility features to better support students with a wide range of needs.

“Delivering safe, reliable service at scale doesn’t happen by accident. It takes constant review, rigorous standards, and a team committed to getting it right every day,” said Adam Warner, Head of Safety at EverDriven. “Districts trust us with their most vulnerable students—and we take that responsibility seriously. Our safety practices are built to scale without compromise, so families and administrators can count on consistent, high-quality transportation day after day.”

To learn more about EverDriven and how its solutions support student transportation, visit https://www.everdriven.com.

About EverDriven:
With nearly 700 school district contracts and over 31,806 students served last year alone, EverDriven is the leader in safe and technology-enabled Alternative Student Transportation. Leveraging proprietary routing technology and customized transportation services, the company has been instrumental in addressing driver shortages, helping reduce chronic absenteeism, accommodating varying bell times, and serving unique student needs related to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, special needs, ESSA, hard-to-serve trips, and out-of-district placements. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

The post EverDriven Achieves 18% Growth as Demand for Alternative Student Transportation Surges appeared first on School Transportation News.

This story was originally published by Canary Media.

California has long led the way on electric vehicles, but another Western state is challenging the Golden State’s top spot.

Between July and September, nearly 25 percent of the vehicles registered in Colorado were electric or plug-in hybrids. In California, that figure was just over 24 percent. It’s not enough to crown Colorado the new undisputed leader in EVs, but it’s a notable milestone — no other state has ever surpassed California in terms of EV registrations, according to James Di Filippo, principal policy analyst at Atlas Public Policy.

It’s the culmination of a ​“pretty dramatic” trend line for Colorado’s EV adoption since the start of 2023, Di Filippo said. Coloradans bought just over 41,000 EVs last year, up from roughly 23,000 in 2022.

Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, announced the accomplishment last week, touting it as a sign of the state’s commitment to reaching its climate goals and improving air quality. ​“This new data shows that demand for EVs continues to increase and especially with competitive state and federal rebates, drastically cutting the cost of an EV and saving people money,” Polis said in a press release.

Colorado has some of the most generous incentives for EV sales in the country, Di Filippo said. Its policies and incentives have helped make the cars more affordable, while the state’s investments in charging infrastructure have made owning an electric car more practical.

All Coloradans can receive a $5,000 state tax credit for purchasing or leasing a new EV or plug-in hybrid priced up to $80,000. That credit is available through the end of this year, then will decrease to $3,500 starting in 2025. EVs valued under $35,000 are eligible for an additional tax credit of $2,500 — for a total potential state credit of $7,500.

Through the Vehicle Exchange Colorado program, income-qualified residents can trade in old or highly polluting gas cars in exchange for a $6,000 rebate to put toward a new EV or plug-in hybrid purchase or lease, or $4,000 for a used one.

The state tax credits and the vehicle-exchange rebates can be combined with federal tax credits, which currently offer up to $7,500 for a new EV lease or purchase or $4,000 for a used EV.

The state has also worked over the past few years to install more public chargers. There are currently over 5,500 public charging ports across Colorado. This year, the state plans to install another 576 ports using $5 million in funding from the Colorado Energy Office.

In 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projected that 580,000 zero-emission vehicles would be sold in the U.S. in 2023. But actual sales last year were almost two and a half times greater at 1.43 million. This year, Cox Automotive expects sales to climb even higher, despite gloomy forecasts issued by some analysts earlier in 2024.

According to estimates from Kelley Blue Book, EV sales made up 8.9 percent of all vehicle sales in the country in the third quarter of this year — the highest share ever recorded, and an increase from 7.8 percent in the same time period last year.

The Biden administration set a goal for EVs to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. As of this February, sales were on track to meet that goal, though the picture is more uncertain heading into the second Trump administration. The president-elect reportedly plans to eliminate federal EV tax credits and roll back Environmental Protection Agency tailpipe emissions rules — against the wishes of the nation’s largest automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

Transportation is the single largest category of carbon emissions in the country, at 28 percent, driven mainly by trucks, SUVs, and other road vehicles.

Colorado has an even more aggressive EV goal than the federal government, aiming for 82 percent of all car sales to be electric by 2032. Looking ahead, EV registrations and sales in the state likely won’t continue to outpace California, Di Filippo said, since ​“the trend line for California is still steeper overall.”

“This isn’t necessarily a story of Colorado just beating California out right,” he said. ​“This is really a story of EV success.” 

Which state is rivaling California on EV leadership? Colorado is an article from Energy News Network, a nonprofit news service covering the clean energy transition. If you would like to support us please make a donation.