News always travels fast, but it is not always accurate, which led to a Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Cy-Fair ISD) bus driver being incorrectly accused of driving erratically while transporting students via a local news station. The district’s superintendent released a social media statement setting the record straight.

On Monday, KHOU-11 published a news article reporting that the unidentified Cy-Fair ISD bus driver was pulled over by police and administered a field sobriety test after a receiving report from a bystander claiming they “saw the bus driving erratically.”

Cy-Fair Superintendent Doug Killian released a statement Thursday defending the school bus driver and clarifying the events.

“On Monday morning, one of our new drivers hit a curb on a tight turn to avoid a vehicle in the opposite lane,” Killian stated. “A community member reported this to Harris County Precinct 5 Constables. Our team reviewed the video of the route multiple times and can definitively say the driver was not driving erratically, as it was reported.”

Killian confirmed the driver was given a field sobriety test twice by law enforcement, as was shown by KHOU-11, and both tests came back negative. The school bus driver was then taken to a clinic for drug and alcohol testing, per district protocol. Killian confirmed those tests also came back negative.

The school bus driver was reportedly back on route Friday.

In the statement, Killian expressed his disappointment in the “click-bait report” that was released by the news station and said that the district is requesting an on-air retraction and apology to the driver.

“The media story created unnecessary embarrassment for this driver and was released prior to the completion of our full investigation. It painted a negative light on the true professionalism of our CFISD bus drivers and transportation staff,” he said.

He continued that while he does not hold out hope that the retraction and apology will happen, he felt it was his duty as superintendent to publicly release the facts of the incident and that he “cannot in good conscience sit by and watch a staff member be attacked or presented in a poor light when their actions were not poor or negatively impactful to kids.”

He explained that after the school bus driver was pulled over, the students onboard behaved well despite the delay, which he attributed to the “quality of our drivers and the high expectations they set for our riders since the first day of school.”

Killian thanked the driver involved for their service and said he encourages the media to report on positive news stories throughout the school year.

On social media, Kilian’s statement was commended by the community for defending the reputation of the driver. One Facebook commenter noted that following the release of the story, “There were so many hurtful and ugly negative comments,” illustrating how a story shared on social media can quickly garner a strong public reaction, even if the facts have not been verified yet.

“This was truly a fantastic example of leadership, accountability, and standing and speaking directly to the people and FOR the people you serve,” said another Facebook comment.

Meanwhile, KHOU published an updated article Thursday noting Killian’s response and the school bus driver passing all drug and alcohol tests, adding, “That criticism came despite the fact that we reached out to Cy-Fair ISD multiple times throughout the day ahead of our story Tuesday night and shared the district’s statement that noted the driver passed two field sobriety tests and an alcohol test, but had been placed on paid leave pending drug test results.”

The news station also reported it asked Cy-Fair for access to the video exonerating the school bus driver, but the request was denied.

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Related: NTSB’s Alcohol Impairment Detection Recommendation More Nuanced for School Bus Drivers
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Related: FMCSA Resources for Implementing Upcoming Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

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A Fayette County school bus driver is under investigation after reportedly leaving a group of young children unattended inside a restaurant while he ordered breakfast and used the restroom during his morning route, reported Fox 13.

The incident reportedly happened on Aug. 7 when the driver pulled up with five elementary-aged students estimated to be between 5 and 7 years old and brought them into the restaurant. Cyndi Oliver, owner of Sweet Creations & Our Daily Bread in La Grange, Tennessee, said the school bus driver told her he couldn’t leave the children alone on the bus, so he escorted them inside before heading to the restroom.

“He came back in and said, ‘You know, I really can’t leave the kids on the bus,’” Oliver recalled. “Then he went to the restroom and left the children here.”

Oliver said the students were left sitting at a table, unsupervised, for about 10 minutes while the driver was in the restroom. After receiving his order, the driver reportedly returned to the bus, parked across the street and ate his meal before continuing his route.

According to the news report, Oliver was concerned about what she saw and contacted the Fayette County School Board immediately but said she didn’t receive a response for several hours. She later posted about the incident in a local community Facebook group, urging parents of children who ride bus No. 73 to reach out.

“Ten minutes is a long time,” she said via the report. “If I hadn’t been that person, I could have asked any one of those children to come with me … and they would have gone.”

In response, Fayette County Public Schools issued a statement via the article acknowledging the incident and confirming that the situation is under review.

“Student safety is our top priority, and we take this matter very seriously,” the statement reads. “The situation is currently under investigation in accordance with district policy and procedures. Because this is a personnel matter, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

Oliver said she was later contacted by a school district official who assured her that steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, the district has not provided details regarding those specific measures when contacted by local news reporters.

As of this report, the bus driver’s status with the district remains unclear pending the outcome of the investigation.

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Related: Procedures Not Followed, Tennessee Student Left on School Bus
Related: Louisiana Child Left Alone in School Bus for 5 Hours
Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students

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Technology experts joined a North Carolina transportation director who weathered Hurricane Helene to discuss how safety, communication and flexibility are central to serving students with special needs or who are experiencing housing insecurity.

Courtney Pallotta, chief marketing officer for alternative transportation provider and webinar sponsor EverDriven, reviewed the company’s “Future of Modern Student Transportation and Safety” study, which found that 62 percent of U.S. school districts reported increasing enrollments of students with special needs and 49 percent reported rising McKinney-Vento student counts.

She shared public information statistics indicating 7.6 million students with special needs require transportation as a related service under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as outlined on their Individualized Education Programs. The 1.22 million students experiencing homelessness under McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act protections make up more than 17.5 percent of all K–12 students in the U.S., Palotta added.

Modernizing operations could be the key to improving operations although that requires a student-centric and safety-focused approach.

“Budget oversight, accountability and safety standards have never been higher,” she said. “How do you put the student at the center of your modernizing strategy?”

Adam Warner, EverDriven’s vice president of operations and head of safety, shared that over half of the school districts surveyed said they face a school bus driver shortage or could not provide adequate transportation for these vulnerable student populations.

Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation for Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, noted that consistency for students is important during shifting life circumstances, the most recent egregious example being last September’s Hurricane Helene. This, he said, requires transportation to be nimble while still safe and to keep transparent lines of communication open with parents.

Safety and Innovation

Alan Fliegelman, EverDriven’s vice president of product management, and Warner noted that everything from student ridership to driver behavior to vehicle inspections can be effectively tracked and managed through telematics and technology.

“How do we use technology to create a safer, smarter, more adaptable ride?” Warner questioned. “I want to get to a place where these tools ensure that compliance is not assumed but is actively verified.”

“Safety is the only acceptable standard,” Pallotta agreed.

Stowe confirmed as a director of transportation that he expects nothing less than the best for the companies he partners with to serve his school district’s students. As Sears and Roebuck was overshadowed by Amazon, he cautioned pupil transporters to not just lean on the ubiquitous yellow school bus without evolving as needed.

Communication and Transparency

“I have to run at the speed of trust,” declared Stowe, adding he works hard to provide a positive impression of the easily identifiable yellow school bus so parents trust that it is safe and reliable for their children.

“The best thing we can do is meet expectations and earn trust,” Pallotta concurred.

Proactive and real-time communication reduces parent anxiety and unnecessary calls, Warner noted. This is especially important to set up before starting a new school year or gearing up for winter operations, he said.

Technology that incorporates routing software and communication apps helps parents, drivers and district leadership stay on the same page, Fliegelman stated.

Flexibility and Adaptability

The trifecta of safety, transparency and flexibility was crucial when servicing families affected by Hurricane Helene, Stowe relayed. So many families were temporarily displaced that the district saw its McKinney-Vento student ridership triple.

He recalled encountering EverDriven at industry conferences, including STN EXPO East, and the help in removing a barrier so these students could receive education, be fed and return to normalcy at school.

Stowe said that while he may be able to transport 99 percent of his students on yellow school buses, he sought out the right partner with the right tools for the job of transporting the remaining one percent.

“The only way to handle these [instances] without disruption is to build an operation with a contingency plan at its core,” Warner said. “There’s a lot of things that can change in the course of a day. You have to build all these operational practices up front.”

Partnership and Implementation

Technology automation can greatly assist in cases where changes to one bus or driver could cascade into affecting other buses and drivers, Fliegelman noted.

in an age where parents have live location apps on their children’s phones and screaming school bus drivers go viral on social media, technology effectively used by transportation departments helps get ahead of incidents.

“If you’re not talking to parents, they’re talking about you,” Stowe said. “Pump that information out and control the narrative.”

A personal touch is crucial for not just students but parents too. To assist with technology implementation, Stowe said he leveraged personal connections by involving social workers to help parents download the communication app. “That paid huge dividends,” he added.

“Students may forget everything we taught them, but they’ll remember how we treated them,” Stowe summed up.

Watch the webinar on demand.

Transportation professionals nationwide are invited to attend the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show from Nov. 6—11, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco (Dallas), Texas. Immerse yourself in the latest trends in special needs transportation training, products, and services. Connect with like-minded individuals, attend educational sessions and workshops, and explore product demonstrations. Learn more and register at tsdconference.com.

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One of Ethan’s bus drivers failed to make a morning stop, prompting a call from a concerned and upset mother. Instead of feeling stressed by the call, the transportation director felt noticeably calmer. That’s because he had a new team member in place and was confident the incident could likely be resolved in minutes, not hours.

In the past, a missed bus stop in Ethan’s district typically meant an hour of research, at minimum. He needed details quickly and some took considerable time to acquire due to travel, driver responsiveness and staff availability. Often, it took Ethan hours to collect the information, evaluate and report on a single incident.

Face the same challenges? Level up, like Ethan did.

Motivated by the need for easier event resolution and assistance with daily operations, he shopped for a streamlined solution to facilitate efficiency. Ultimately, he brought the A-game to his operation: ARMOR Software Suite.

When integrated with high-definition REI cameras and DVRs, the suite delivers a remote, all-in-one fleet management solution designed to boost efficiency, safety and peace of mind. How would ARMOR’s innovative tools simplify your fleet management, like they did for Ethan and his team? Let’s take a look:

Track Vehicles in Real Time

Shortly after the mother’s call, Ethan accessed the Insight tool to find the bus route and capture details. A click on the stop’s location enabled him to view and download video of the alleged missed stop. Minutes later, he had video proof: The student was absent, and his driver did stop. The process would be just as easy for your operation.

Automate Processes & Communication

The Actions tool allows you to set up automated video downloads, automated event notifications, automated diagnostic warnings/updates and other useful reports. This eliminates trips to pull hard drives, speeds up event resolutions and helps reduce costs.

Simplify Video Search

AutoPilot serves as an archive of auto-downloaded and manually requested video clips. Users may filter videos by criteria to save hours of search time. Ethan frequently shares videos with other administrators via password-protected links.

Enable Live Look-In

With ten thousand students on the district’s afternoon buses, Ethan sees all types of events. ARMOR Live allows him to view and hear these events in progress, enabling him to respond quickly. Think how much time and effort it would save your team.

Access Data & Video Remotely

With ARMOR Cloud, district administrators can securely access ARMOR from anywhere, at any time, using internet-connected devices. This allows them to request the video clips they wish to review and eliminates some tasks for Ethan and his team. More still, the cloud service minimizes server management responsibilities and costs for hardware and IT resources. Security, scalability and software updates are administered for them.

Interested in taking your fleet management to the A level? Want to score info about all of ARMOR’s tools? Contact REI or your sales representative.

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The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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SHELTON, Conn. -Just in time for back-to-school, the City of Shelton announced today the launch of a new school bus safety program in partnership with BusPatrol. The initiative is designed to protect children as they travel to and from school by curbing the dangerous and illegal motorist behavior of passing stopped school buses.

Starting Tuesday, August 26, Shelton Public Schools’ fleet of 68 buses will be equipped with BusPatrol’s AI-powered stop-arm enforcement technology. The program will begin with a 30-day warning period during which vehicle owners who illegally pass stopped school buses will receive warning letters without monetary penalties. On September 29, the program will enter live enforcement, with violators subject to a minimum $250 civil penalty under Connecticut law. Every violation is reviewed by trained municipal staff before a fine is issued.

Importantly, the program is provided at zero cost to the City, school district, and taxpayers. BusPatrol covers the upfront investment, including the technology, installation, and ongoing maintenance. The program is entirely violator-funded, meaning drivers who break the law and put children at risk pay for this important student safety program.

Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti said: “We’re proud to lead the charge as the second city in the state to launch stop-arm enforcement. This is about one thing: protecting our kids. We’re setting the standard for student safety and sending a clear message – passing a stopped school bus is never worth the risk.”

Justin Meyers, President and Chief Innovation Officer at BusPatrol, said: “Every day, drivers put kids at risk by blowing past school bus stop-arms. The data shows these programs work. Nine out of ten drivers who receive a violation notice do not do it again. That proves the technology changes driver behavior and makes roads safer. By bringing AI-powered enforcement to Shelton, we are helping the City tackle a public safety issue with a solution that is protecting children nationwide.”

Dr. Ken Saranich, Superintendent of Shelton Public Schools, said: “The safety of our students is our top priority at Shelton Public Schools, and implementing this program will mark a major step in further safeguarding our children as they ride the bus to and from school daily. We are grateful to partner with BusPatrol to enhance student safety and promote safer driving behaviors in our community.”

Shelton is the latest city in Connecticut to implement a BusPatrol program, following Bridgeport, and joins a growing movement across New England. Neighboring Stratford and Trumbull are also expected to launch the program in the new school year, along with Waterbury, Danbury and New Haven.

Every day, more than 330,000 children ride school buses in Connecticut. A recent study found that cameras on just 74 buses recorded nearly 10,000 illegal passes in six months, equivalent to 75 violations per weekday. Each violation represents a moment where a child’s life is put at risk.

Connecticut law requires drivers to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended, so children can cross the road safely. This applies on two-lane and multi-lane roads in both directions. The only exception is when traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway with a raised median or barrier.

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Engine manufacturers using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emission control technology have new federal guidance allowing them to more gradually “derate” systems when diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) depletes.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced during the Iowa State Fair last week the new action designed to protect American farmers, truckers and other diesel equipment operators from sudden speed and power losses caused by DEF systems.

“We have heard loud and clear from small businesses across the U.S. that the current DEF system is unacceptable,” Zeldin said in a statement. “It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most—costing millions of dollars in lost productivity. Today, we are responding to those concerns by calling on manufacturers to take action to update their software and eliminate the unnecessary sudden loss of power and frustrating shutdowns that too many Americans have experienced.”

EPA issued the guidance urging diesel engine and off-road farm equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to prevent these sudden shutdowns. Starting with model year 2027, all new diesel on-road trucks and motorcoaches must be engineered to avoid sudden and severe power loss after running out of DEF.

EPA said it also has a fix for derate issues in legacy diesel vehicles with SCR.

“To fix the problem for vehicles already in use, EPA’s new guidance, developed in collaboration with manufacturers, will work to ensure that the necessary software changes can be made on the existing fleet,” the press release notes. “In addition to providing certainty to manufacturers about how EPA wants this issue resolved, the agency is not requiring separate approvals beyond that provided in EPA’s guidance. This ensures that bureaucratic steps do not delay manufacturers’ ability to put solutions into the field.”

Since 2010, SCR has used on-board diagnostics sensors to detect when DEF runs out or diesel particulate filters clog and then initiate a rapid derate of the engine. Within four hours of DEF depletion, vehicles automatically slow to five miles per hour.

But the results for industries have been “catastrophic,” said EPA, as disruptions have occurred to logistics, agriculture and construction. Several diesel engine manufacturers also initiated recalls over their SCR technology. Cummins recalled 2010 to 2015 medium- and heavy-duty engines, including the ISB 6.7 for school buses, because the SCR unit catalysts degraded faster than expected.

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Related: EPA Proposal Seeks to Eliminate GHG Regulations for Vehicles, Engines
Related: EPA Provides Update on Clean School Bus Program

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“At Cummins, we recognize our responsibility in powering some of the country’s most economically vital applications, from the buses that take our kids to and from school to the trucks that deliver critical goods,” a statement from the company reads. “Collaboration with our customers is at the heart of what we do, ensuring we deliver solutions that meet their business needs while continuously innovating to improve fuel efficiency, reduce costs and enhance reliability. SCR is a widely accepted, proven technology utilized in many applications, and we are committed to working closely with the EPA and the select customers affected by SCR inducements. Together, we aim to provide regulatory certainty, greater flexibility and the dependable solutions that contribute to the American economy.”

Daimler Truck North America told School Transportation News it welcomes the new guidance.

“We are supportive of the efforts to provide more flexibility with regard to DEF inducement and are actively working on solutions to support our customers,” the statement reads.

The Engine Technology Forum and several other organizations also support the new derate guidance.

“EPA has heard from users of diesel trucks, tractors and equipment and, working with manufacturers, has responded with these adjustments to improve operational performance while ensuring emissions integrity,” Executive Director Allen Schaeffer said. “EPA’s announcement [Aug. 12] provides new guidance that allows manufacturers to adjust these systems to ensure that farmers, motor coach operators, and truckers, who all rely on diesel engines and equipment, will be able to complete critical work with sufficient lead time for scheduling maintenance and repairs.”

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Blue Valley Schools started the new school year on a strong note last week thanks to the dedicated efforts of its long-time school transportation partner, Durham School Services, and the Blue Valley Schools transportation team. For the first day of school, Durham drove a total of 105 routes and transported 4,000 students.

Durham has been the district’s transportation provider for 14 years, and just last year, announced a five-year partnership renewal that runs through 2029 – a clear indication of the school’s continued, deep trust with Durham’s service and team. Further, over the years, as a committed community partner, Durham has supported various local pantries through donations, provided grants to teachers, and has annually sponsored the Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s (BVEF) Annual Community Breakfast event as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program.

“Blue Valley Schools are off to a strong start this fall, thanks to the efforts of our transportation team and Durham School Services,” said Jason Gillam, SFO, Director of Business Operations, Blue Valley Schools. “On-time performance has continued to improve each day as routes settle in, and families are experiencing smoother service overall. We’re grateful for the hard work and collaboration that made the first days of the 2025–26 school year one of our best bus start-ups yet.”

“Congratulations to our team and Blue Valley Schools for such a smooth, successful start to the new school year,” said Cody Aksamit, General Manager, Durham School Services. “I’d like to thank my team for their ever admirable hard work, along with the preparation efforts they’ve put into ensuring school start-up runs as smoothly as possible. From safety start-up meetings to practice runs of routes, our teams stayed focused on their objective, and it paid off. I’d like to also give special thanks to Blue Valley Schools for their unwavering support for the past 10+ years. Welcome back, everyone, and here’s to a great start to the school year!”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, for more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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NEWBURY, Mass. – Beacon Mobility, a national leader in student transportation services, is pleased to congratulate Julie Greene of Salter Transportation on being named Lytx’s Driver of the Year in the Transit / Motor Coach (Drivers) category.

A school bus driver in the New England area for 26 years, Greene has earned a reputation as one of the safest and most respected drivers in the Salter family. She has maintained a flawless safety record with zero preventable accidents, logged countless miles on the road, and missed only three days of work in more than two decades of service.

“Julie’s dedication to her students and her craft is truly extraordinary,” said Maryann Kocur, Vice President of Operations, Salter Transportation. “For more than 26 years, she has shown up—day in and day out—with an unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and care. Her perfect safety record speaks volumes, but so does the way her students light up when they see her.”

Greene’s commitment extends far beyond the driver’s seat. Students often bring her handmade cards and drawings, small gestures that reflect the trust and warmth she’s built over the years. “In my 26 years as a school bus driver, it’s always been more than just a job—it moves my soul,” said Julie Greene, First-Place Winner, Transit / Motor Coach (Drivers). “The connection I share with my community and with the kids I transport has been both a privilege and an honor. We carry the most precious cargo, we are needed, and we make a difference in a child’s life every day. I know the importance of my role, and I take it to heart every single day.”

The Lytx Driver of the Year Award honors drivers who demonstrate exceptional safety, skill, and service. Greene’s recognition was based on her exemplary 2024 driving performance, including detailed telematics and video data that showed consistently safe maneuvering, zero speed violations, and an absence of risky driving behaviors. Judges also considered her impressive mileage record, absence of law enforcement citations, and positive contributions to the community.

“At Beacon Mobility, our mission is to ensure every passenger reaches their destination safely and with dignity and Julie embodies that mission in every way,” said Judith Crawford, CEO of Beacon Mobility. “Her professionalism, compassion, and remarkable record set the standard for excellence across our entire organization. We are proud to have her on our team and thrilled to see her recognized with such a prestigious honor.”

About Beacon Mobility: Beacon Mobility, a people-focused, values-driven organization, continues to grow its national footprint while staying true to its core purpose: providing mobility without limits. With 29 local brands operating in 25 states, Beacon is united in its commitment to transporting people to live, learn, and achieve.

Their goal is their north star: to provide the best people transportation experience, because every ride matters. Guided by their values We Care, We Collaborate, We Do The Right Thing, and We Have Fun Beacon’s experienced and compassionate team delivers customized transportation solutions that empower communities and elevate lives.

The post Beacon Mobility Celebrates Julie Greene of Salter Transportation as Lytx’ 2025 Driver of the Year (Transit / Motor Coach—Drivers) appeared first on School Transportation News.

It’s no secret that student transportation staff play critical roles in the daily lives of the students on their routes. At the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference this fall, a new keynote speaker will share with attendees how they can create a positive environment onboard the bus to benefit student behavior outcomes.

Lisa Navarra’s keynote, “The Power of Praise: Shaping Student Behavior and Building Success on the Bus” is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10 at the TSD Conference in Frisco, Texas. She will present research-based strategies for behavior specific praise as an interventional practice that assists students with their transportation routines, based on real-world interactions of school bus drivers with their students. She will discuss the types of praise that encourages student cooperation, how to phrase positive reinforcement phrases, and how all these practices help to shape the emotional and behavioral students and foster resilience.

Navarra has spent nearly three decades working with students with disabilities, not only in a classroom setting, but also transportation with her development of the Launch! School Bus Safety Program, intervention-based training that works with students to maintain behavioral expectations across educational settings and further safety. The New York-based behavior expert has been recognized with national awards for her work to ensure student safety and school-ready behavior and equip school district staff with tools to further student success and inclusion. Navarra was the recipient of the Teacher’s Federal Credit Union grant in 2024, after being voted the first place winner out of 1,500 nominees for the the institution’s national Teacher Appreciation Week contest.

Navarra was a special education teacher for 20 years and has a master’s degree in special education and certificate in school district administration. She is also an author of multiple behavioral and self-regulation books, including “Henry & Friends: A Bus Voice Adventure,” a children’s book that helps prepare students for their first school bus ride.

For more details on the 2025 TSD speakers, visit tsdconference.com. The TSD Conference will be held November 6-11 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Register by October 3 to save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount.

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Earlier this year, School Transportation News invited nominations for exceptional professionals in fleet management to be considered for a feature in the August 2025 edition of its magazine. This year, STN celebrates its 10th year of Garage Stars.

Approximately 80 nominations were submitted by school districts, private transportation providers, school bus dealers, and industry vendors.

From these submissions, 10 standouts (three teams and seven individuals) were selected for the 10th annual Garage Stars spotlight, featured in the August Edition of School Transportation News magazine. A new section was also added to highlight the teams behind these outstanding professionals, showcasing the collaborative efforts that support fleet excellence.

The editorial team, using a 10-point evaluation system developed by consultant and STN Technical Editor Bob Pudlewski, identified this year’s honorees based on the following criteria:

• Community involvement
• Professional credentials
• Contributions to industry advancement
• Leadership qualities
• Scope of responsibility, particularly in supervisory roles
• Career and life experience
• Length of service in the field
• Ability to train and mentor others
• Recognition from regulatory agencies
• Overall value to their transportation program

Here is the full list of this year’s nominees:

Mark Alford
Mechanic
Cajon Valley Union School District, California:
Mark is always willing to look at any situations that may arise.

Joel Alvarez
Bus Mechanic
Leander Independent School District, Texas:
I would like to nominate Joel in recognition of his outstanding knowledge and dedication. He consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of potential issues that can arise with buses and works hard to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and on time. Joel is always willing to assist—whether it’s answering questions from dispatch or supporting drivers with concerns related to the buses. His certified license and background as a mechanic, following his military service, have made him an invaluable asset to our team. His professionalism, work ethic, and expertise deserve to be recognized and appreciated.

Aaron Applegate
Head of Maintenance
Auxillo Muncie Division, Indiana:
Aaron truly cares about the drivers and their safety. He goes above and beyond, everyday. He addresses issues promptly and always follows up. He always has a friendly, smiling face, and a great story to tell. Whether it be from the time he served our country or Life experiences. Aaron has went out of his way, to even help fix the personal vehicles of fellow employees, because his kindness and compassion is unlike no other. This example resonates throughout his entire team, which includes Brent, Ron and Kaleb. Together, they ensure the children and drivers, of the muncie community has safe, reliable transportation. Whether it be 5:30 a.m., or 6:00 p.m., they’re always there to answer questions, and provide support. I am proud, and consider it an honor to nominate Aaron and his team.

Engineering Associates
South Carolina Department of Education:
I would like to nominate the outstanding group of engineering associates at the South Carolina Department of education. These six individuals go above and beyond their normal work duties to ensure their assigned shops are supported and that the students of South Carolina are on the most safe and reliable buses possible. They conduct valuable training to the technicians statewide to ensure they are up to speed on all of the latest technology and repair methods. These guys have a strong commitment to the safe transportation for the students of South Carolina and they lead by example. They are always eager to share their experience with classes at STN and [South Carolina Association for Pupil Transportation]. Collectively, this group has over 120 years of experience in SCDE student transportation it it would not be as successful as it is without this group.

Ricky Baumgartner
Mechanic
Rockwall ISD, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

Anthony Beltran
Lead Mechanic
Antelope Valley School Transportation Agency, California:
It is my pleasure to nominate Anthony Beltran, Lead Shop Mechanic at AVSTA, for the Outstanding Maintenance Professional award. Anthony is not just a skilled mechanic—he’s the backbone of our shop, a leader, and the driving force behind our team’s success. Managing a fleet of 237 school buses, including 42 electric, as well as CNG and diesel models, Anthony leads a team of 20 mechanics to ensure our buses run safely, efficiently, and reliably. He’s the go-to expert for troubleshooting, mentoring, and solving last-minute challenges. His vast industry network allows him to find solutions quickly, keeping our operations running smoothly. What truly sets Anthony apart is his relentless drive to learn. He proactively enrolls in training and certifications to stay ahead of critical advancements—especially in EV technology—ensuring AVSTA is prepared for the future of fleet maintenance.Beyond his expertise, Anthony is an incredible mentor who takes pride in teaching and guiding others. His leadership fosters a culture of collaboration and growth.Above all, Anthony is dependable. Whether staying late to get a bus back on the road or helping a colleague, he goes above and beyond every single day. David Bittner

Assistant Director
New Hanover County Schools, North Carolina:
The team of mechanics supporting New Hanover County Schools are an amazing value to the transportation program. Our 15 mechanics work hard to keep our fleet running and up to date. Over the last 12-months, our mechanics have upgraded 80 buses to have illuminated stop arms and school bus signs. They’ve upgraded 89 of our buses to have Samsara dashcams, telematics, and diagnostics. These industry developments have made our buses safer in visibility, GPS tracking, and mechanical reporting. Our fuel and tire team was cut from three to two positions while our Mechanic two team is currently short staffed. Through all of this adversity, each team member has increased their level of responsibility for the 140 yellow buses we maintain. Almost all of our Mechanic II’s are credentialed as Monthly Inspectors and our team regularly engages in industry development training opportunities from our vendors. The work this crew does to keep our students safely transported to and from their education is invaluable.

Joel Boughman
Head Mechanic
Perry Local Schools, Ohio:
Joel has been with Perry Local Schools for 23 years. Joel keeps our buses on a routine maintenance schedule and does an excellent job at keeping everything in great working condition. All our buses are serviced in house as well as all repairs. This saves our district a great deal of money by having a mechanic that is able to handle all these different tasks. During our annual inspections Joel has done a fantastic job for many years with his routine of running our buses. His organization and dedication to this process has allowed for minimal defects. Our garage has won the J Babe Stern Award over 10 times during Joel’s career, thanks to his leadership.

Steve Bradford
Fleet Supervisor
Huntington Beach Union High School District, California:
I would like to nominate Steve for his exceptional dedication to safety, leadership, and the invaluable life experiences he brings as a mechanic. Throughout his career, Steve has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards in every task he undertakes. His attention to detail ensures that equipment is not only in optimal working condition but also safe for everyone involved. As a leader, Steve’s ability to guide and mentor others is unparalleled. He leads by example, always taking the time to share his knowledge and ensure his team is well-equipped to tackle any challenges that arise. His calm demeanor and clear communication make him a reliable resource, instilling confidence in both his peers and the newer team members. Steve’s extensive life experiences as a mechanic have made him a true problem solver, able to think critically and adapt to any situation. His technical skills are matched only by his ability to stay calm under pressure, ensuring that operations run smoothly even in the most demanding circumstances. His dedication, leadership, and wealth of experience make him a deserving nominee for this recognition.

Motor Pool Manager
Plano Independent School District, Texas:
Austin and his team have not only streamlined maintenance processes, but have come together as a cohesive team instead of an AM or PM shift. When Austin started the amount of outstanding work orders was mind blowing! With great leadership, organization and complete trust and cooperation from his team, the shop remains on top of all work orders. The motor pool team are all taking advantage of TASBT classes as well as other special trainings when available, and continually work towards acquiring and maintaining their ASE certifications. I appreciate the fact that any one of the motor pool team will take the time to answer questions or address concerns from the drivers. They are quick to respond to road calls or accidents, and always put the driver’s mind at ease once they arrive. The motor pool team gets along amazingly, with little to no drama. They are proud of what they accomplish on a daily basis, and the district as a whole knows they can depend on them to keep all the vehicles running and most importantly SAFE!! Thank you to the outstanding Plano ISD Motor Pool Team, we appreciate your dedication!

Joshua Carter
Fleet Specialist
Dallas Independent School District, Texas:
Mr. Carter joined the team, and his impact was immediately recognized through his quality of work. Mr. Carter has been an asset to the team bringing a skill set that has decrease turnaround time for repairs that resulted in a significant reduction of transportation disruption.

Rigoberto Chavez
Lead Technician
Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District, Texas:
Rigo is always willing and happy to help anyone and never gets testy or frustrated when he’s in the middle of something and gets pulled away because someone need assistance. He has a great attitude! Also, our shop foreman stepped down from his role and Rigoberto has stepped in and assumed those responsibilities seamlessly. The shop was behind on PM’s and they came in on Saturday and were able to get caught up. We have been short staffed this school year and the mechanics have been stepping in wherever necessary, including covering routes and trips. He is vital to the success of this service center.

Mathew Cheney
Mechanic
Bow School District, New Hampshire:
As the sole mechanic for our district, Matt single- handedly maintains, services and performs all body to a fleet over 20 school buses and eight school vehicles. He has 32 year of dedicated services to the District & Town, his work ethic is second to none.
Matt has been the one to arrive hours before buses leave to ensure they start and and manual remove snow during storms- sometimes needing to clear them twice due to our unpredictable New England weather. If a driver submits a maintenance request, he ensures it’s addresses within 24 hours unless a part delay prevents it. Beyond his technical expertise, Matt is always available to assist drivers with any questions they may have. He takes the time to explain issues in detail, often using visual aids to help drivers better understand how their buses operate and what to look out for. His willingness to educate not only make our team stronger but also contributes to the overall safety and efficiency of our transportation team. He sets a high bar for mechanics everywhere. His level of dedication, knowledge, and commitment to excellence is unmatched and he takes immense pride in his work.

Roy Chura
Lead Mechanic
Youngstown City School District, Ohio:
He is always willing to help, goes above and beyond to make sure our buses are running and ready when we need them. He shows up no matter what and tries to make sure everything runs smoothly. I think he deserves this award because he doesn’t get enough recognition. A very decent hard working man, Keeps his team together. Works hard at keeping our buses up to speed. Will do anything he can to make things better in our district. “Gotta Love Him!”

Frank Cieslak
Head Mechanic
Deer Lakes School District, Pennsylvania:
Frank Cieslak, Bob Mellinger and Matt Nelson operate like a well-oiled machine. Despite being short on drivers, they’ve stepped up to drive and manage the entire garage without missing a beat. They’ve handled everything thrown their way and not only got the job done—but did it exceptionally well. From covering open runs to working on the fleet of buses, they’ve taken on every task and situation with skill and determination, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Their teamwork, reliability, and dedication have been truly outstanding.

Mike Corneloup
Lead
Cleburne Independent School District, Texas:
Our shop was down to two people for six months and did an amazing job taking care of any and all issues that came up. Now that we are fully staffed they are going above and beyond their jobs by helping drive buses when we are short drivers. Because like they say at the end of the day we are here as a team to make sure every child has a safe ride to school.

Gary Crumbacker
Service Center Manager
School District of Indian River County, Florida:
After four decades of service in the transportation industry as a technician, parts manager and service center manager, Gary Crumbacker now oversees a staff of seven working to maintain a safe fleet of school buses and white fleet vehicles. As part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, the School District of Indian River County looked to honor the community’s natural surroundings with a clean alternative fuel while reducing transportation costs. Gary was instrumental in the adoption of propane buses, which has led to greater success with shop safety, cleanliness and budget management. A graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College, Gary is a certified Florida school bus inspector, member of the Florida Clean Cities Coalition and holds a Master ASE heavy truck certification. He provides a level of autonomy and mentorship to his team, leading through collaboration and curiosity by listening to their proposed diagnoses and approaches, then engaging in discussions about the best solution. Gary serves on the high school auto shop class advisory board because he’s invested in the next generation and hopes to help young adults advance in the transportation field.Gary has dedicated 40 years to school bus garage service — prioritizing student safety, training and team support.

Burt Davies
Mechanic
Oregon City School District, Oregon:
Burt goes above and beyond to ensure that our drivers, buses and children in our community are taken care of. Burt always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face, he is always the first to pop up and ask how he can help, whether its a stranded driver, ensuring that our buses are in tip top shape, helping with something on a top shelf or a fun event that we need volunteers for. For example, we implemented a community engagement team within our department last Spring and Burt was one of the first people to commit to help out. Watching him interact with the kids during a parade or an event is truly heartwarming. He dresses up in our bus costume to hand out fliers, candy, coloring pages and stickers and the kids absolutely love it! He’s the first to lend a hand when we have a bus driver appreciation, whether that’s cooking, setting up or making coffees. Burt can do it all whether that’s rolling up his sleeves and fixing a bus or grabbing a bag of candy to make child smile. He is indispensable part of our team and we are lucky to have him!

Hebert Day
Lead Mechanic
MSAD 35/ RSU 35, Maine:
“Buddy” has stepped up, and brought our garage back to a workable environment. We were with out a mechanic for some time. His positive attitude and knowledge has changed our department. He continues to show how much knowledge he has. Even when he has never attempted a task he still masters it with patience. I only wish we had him sooner.

Jim Dunkin
Lube Tech
North Kansas City Schools, Missouri:
Jim is always going above and beyond for our drivers and students. He comes in 4am and stays till 5pm or later to make sure students are taken care of. He stays on top of shop work and drives some of our special needs buses when needed. After working for the district for almost 25 years, he is set to retire shortly. (Every year this happens.) The way Jim interacts with drivers, parents, and students is remarkable and inspiring. He is always positive and willing to help make sure the students have and had a great day.

Bill Eberhart
Lead Mechanic
Marshalltown Community School District, Iowa:
The MCSD Mechanics are being nominated because of their work ethic, dedication, and commitment to keeping the equipment in excellent operating condition. In the past three years, the MCSC mechanics have eliminated the need to take our equipment to other repair shops to be worked on. They have taken the time to be trained on minor and major repairs and have the proper tools to complete the repairs that need to be completed. They have created a positive environment in our shop with the drivers that helps with the communications when something is wrong with one of the buses. The Mechanics have taken the appropriate steps to ensure the work environment is safe and clear of any hazards. It is evident how much pride the Mechanics take in their work by how the equipment looks and the relationships they are building. This team is willing to take on any mechanical job, from replacing an engine, fuel tanks, and converters, with a philosophy that no job is impossible. They are making a significant difference with the work they do. I am proud to recommend the team for the recognition.

Clayton Edquest
Leadman Mechanic
Denver Public Schools, Colorado:
Clayont has brought many years of knowledge to the team he is willing to mentor anyone who needs help. Clayton has set the bar in building the relationships with our customers.

Robert Enger
Shop Manger
Sunrise Bus Comapny Lakeview Bus Lines, Illinois:
Robbie manages a diverse fleet that includes buses, cars, and trucks, which operates across two distinct locations. He supervises a team of three mechanics tasked with the maintenance of a fleet consisting of 200 vehicles, all of which frequently encounter accidents and breakdowns. Furthermore, the drivers often fail to complete essential documentation. Robbie is deeply committed to his responsibilities, frequently prioritizing his work over family obligations to ensure the safety of the buses and the well-being of the children they transport. He consistently demonstrates a willingness to exceed standard expectations, making it his passion to enhance his work. Additionally, he creates educational videos for YouTube, aimed at providing fellow technicians with valuable tips and insights. From plowing snow to everyday grounds clean-up to taking out the trash to fix a water leak on a sink always goes above and beyond.

Glemon English
Lead Transportation & Fleet Operations Director
Savannah Chatham Public School System, Georgia:
Mr. English joined our district in January 2024 and has made an immediate and significant impact. He has revitalized the shop area, establishing a bus replacement cycle that was nonexistent. He has played a crucial role in the launch of 25 electric vehicles (EV), and being involved in the completion of the EV charging station. Before joining us, Mr. English gained valuable experience at the U.S. Postal Service, contributing to the implementation of electric postal trucks. This background has proven highly beneficial in his current role, particularly in addressing key operational challenges. He has effectively resolved issues related to MS data sheets, EPA compliance concerning oil disposal, and the fueling station, while also managing an audit to improve the organization of our parts department, which was in urgent need of attention.Mr. English’s proficiency in Excel and data management is exemplary, which has directly contributed to the development of an outstanding on-time delivery dashboard—a strategic tool vital to our team.
Having joined the district just three months after my arrival, Mr. English has been instrumental in improving both the equipment and processes for our mechanics. His leadership, combined with his technical expertise, guides the team toward greater efficiency and innovation.

Mike Evans
Transportation Shop Manager
Reynoldsburg City Schools, Ohio:
Mike goes above and beyond as shop manager. Not only does he take care of the ordering and over seeing what is going on in the garage he physical helps work on the buses with his mechanics, mentors them making sure the fleet is safe for our drivers and students. He comes in early and stays late if needed. Always reading, making calls, staying up on laws, etc. to make sure he stays updated on any changes.

Mike Fortner
Service Center Lead
Tristar Transportation, Ohio:
Mike is an expert mechanic and takes great pride in our commitment to safety. He manages a fleet of over 150 vehicles and consistently goes above and beyond the integral part of maintaining/fixing our vehicles in which we transport special needs students and older individuals. He leads a team of 3 and has the respect and confidence of them and of our entire company. His competency is off the charts and I personally rely on him constantly to ensure our large fleet is not only in working order but that he is taking the necessary steps in putting our drivers and clients in safe vehicles. We would not have the success as one of the largest door to door specialty transportation companies in Ohio without a good mechanic, fortunately we have a great one.

Clayton Francis
Fleet Manager
Hoglund Transportation, Minnesota:
I’m nominating my school bus maintenance staff because they’re hands-down the most hardworking and talented crew out there. We’ve got a team of ten, and these guys can build a bus from scratch and make it look brand new. One day, they’re rebuilding an engine, the next they’re fixing a rental car, and the day after that, they’re working on an ambulance or even a jet ski. No matter what the problem is, they can handle it with barely a concern, they revel in the new challenges from day to day. Our fleet of school buses is one of the best in the state thanks to their attention to detail, which also leads to fewer breakdowns and fewer buses on the side of the road making the students in the Monticello School District safer every day.Simply put, without them, buses wouldn’t run in Monticello. They’re the backbone of this operation, and I can’t think of a group more deserving of recognition.

Matt Gordineer
Head Mechanic
Katonah-Lewisboro School District, New York:
This team has been short a mechanic for over a year. And there was a time when they where two man down. Yet they have kept their DOT score unchanged (98 to 99%) Often we need to take them away from their primary work in order to cover runs because of the driver shortage. They are ready, willing and able to help. Matt does a great job with minimal supervision. He very conscientious. He and his team are hard workers who I feel should be recognized.

Ross Henry
Lead Mechanic Tech
CJUSD/G&T Trucking, California:
Ross is a great communicator and has been training our newest mechanic since October 2024. His best attribute is diagnostic. This guy can diagnose anything and is 99% correct. He is extremely thorough in maintenance and repairs with excellent knowledge of school bus reporting as well as organizational. He always returns texts or calls the same day. He is enthusiastic with a friendly, humorous personality. Very social

Eugene Huang
M2 Mechanic
New Hanover County Schools, North Carolina:
Eugene and his family came to the U.S. from India and has excelled here in the transportation department. First as a full time bus driver and part time fuel house attendant, he then moved to a full time fuel truck driver and part time bus driver. I recognized early on that Eugene picked up on things very fast and isn’t afraid to try anything. I asked if he would like to apply for the open mechanic position and he did. Eugene has a regular bus route in the morning and then works in the garage the remainder of the day. He has become a valued asset to our department in a very short time.

Zachary Hulin
Service Manager
DS Bus South, Louisiana:
Zachary is forward thinking and proactive. He has implemented new ideas and procedures to our shops to help in preventive and proactive maintenance. He demonstrates leadership and is relatable to his subordinates. He understands how the maintenance department’s performance directly effects the operation department’s ability to run routes safely and dependably.

Joe Huster
Head/Lead Mechanic supervisor
Mehlville School district, Missouri:
When I say Joe Huster and team are phenomenal, it’s an understatement. Not only does he go above and beyond through rain, sleet and snow (literally)! Joe always shows up to keep our fleet in top condition, Mehlville just had our annual State inspection and again was awarded with a 98 percent with over 100 buses to inspect! Pretty impressive! Joe has also had some major medical issues that he continue to push through and never takes off! Wow! Joe has also been down two mechanics since last year, he is making the impossible happen with x6 staff, including himself. If Joe Huster and the Mechanics at the Mehlville school district are not perfect candidates for if nothing else but true acknowledgement and gratitude for the hard work and services, I don’t know who would be.

Melvin Jabob
Maintenance Manager
Howard County/Zum Services, Inc., Virginia:
Mel has done an outstanding job with our fleet maintenance program in Howard County. The performance of the team has been stellar. KPIs and Out of Service lists are well maintained.

Ryan Janowski
Mechanic Coordinator
Klein Indepdent School District, Texas:
I am writing to nominate Ryan Janowski for the prestigious Garage Star Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions and dedication to Klein ISD over the past 18 years. Ryan has served as a Mechanic Coordinator for two decades, demonstrating unmatched expertise and leadership in the field. He is ASE certified and has maintained this certification for 11 years, reflecting his continued commitment to excellence. Over the years, Ryan’s technical skills and knowledge have significantly contributed to the success of our maintenance operations, he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly.One of Ryan’s most outstanding qualities is his exceptional leadership and his ability to manage complex tasks, guide team members, and foster a collaborative work environment has had a lasting impact on our department’s productivity and morale. Ryan is known for his reliability—whether it’s for a major project or everyday tasks, he can always be counted on to deliver outstanding results. Ryan’s work ethic, leadership, and consistent ability to deliver results are qualities that make him a truly deserving candidate for the Garage Star Award. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team, and I am proud to nominate him for this well-deserved recognition. Ricardo Jimenez

Mechanic
Lakeport MOT, California:
Young man with the responsibilty of maintaining nine type1 buses and four type2 buses by himself. Not to mention the 45 -day inspections this young man is a Rock star always attentive always there to listen to issuse from drivers and address them. For one man i have nothing but respect he does the darn thing in our yard. Not to mention he’ll jump in a bus as a substitute driver.

Frank Jonas
Chief Mechanic
West Milford BOE, New Jersey:
Mr. Jonas and his entire team make bus maintenance feel simple. They are knowledgeable, accommodating to outside districts, and practical in their recommendations and repairs. Everyone on the team are friendly and considerate in any form of communication. I appreciate all of the hard work they do.

Zack Jones
Shop Foreman
Robertson County Schools, Tennessee:
Zack is a leader who goes above and beyond to train and support the shop team members that he leads everyday. When he is not training, he is either giving tremendous customer service to the bus drivers of our county to make sure they are able to provide transportation to and from school for the students of Robertson County. Additionally, Zack also helps sub drive to cover routes to make sure students are provided the opportunity to a free education. He is a ASE Master School Bus Technician as well.

Mikayl Kippen
Heavy Duty School Bus Mechanic
Allegan Area ESA — Allegan, Michigan:
Mikayl makes sure that his main priority is always safety and comfort of our students. Dealing with Special Needs students and young adults, Mikayl understands the importance of performance and safety in the fleet. He never thinks twice about jumping up to help a driver or check out an issues that they may be having.

Doug Klein
Mechanic
Rockwall Independent School District, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

Chad Klinge
Bus Mechanic
Patrick Henry Local Schools, Ohio:
Chad is the top in his industry in Northwest Ohio. He is sought after by neighboring districts for advice and his services. Chad has led and developed multiple grants that have provided for a safer and more effective bus garage for our school district. Additionally, Chad hosts regional workshops on our campus to bring vendors to a part of the state that they may not normally go. Lastly, Chad is willing to go above and beyond for our district. He is willing to plow snow, help students when in need, and even barbecue lunch for our students.

Chris Kurzmann
Heavy Duty Mechanic
Allegan Area ESA — Allegan, Michigan:
While upholding safety and security of our fleet of 25 special needs school buses, Chris finds the time to be a late night instructor for our young adult program at the Allegan Area Tech Center. Chris goes above and beyond not only in the garage, but also on the school bus. He notices a vacancy and is the first to offer up his time to make sure our students receive their transportation. Chris strives to be the best and offers his guidance and support to our local districts and/or any staff member that may need it. His work will never go unappreciated to Allegan Area ESA!

Kyle Lawrence
Lead Mechanic
Oakdale Joint Unified School District, California:
Kyle goes above and beyond for our transportation department making sure our buses are running correctly. He makes sure the 45-day inspections are getting done correctly and that we pass our terminal inspections. He is involved in our CSEA union. Kyle is very efficent as a mechanic and has a lot to offer the district in that respect. With Kyle here at our district the repairs are done in a timely fashion instead of being sent out, Kyle has been a mechanic for 20 plus years. He has been with our district since 2018 and in that time has made our buses safer on the road and made the time it took for major repairs less time . He cares a lot about his job and puts in all his effort to ensure the safety of our student at Oakdale Joint unified School district. He is also involved with CASTO and goes to the conferences for the last 2 years, to learn more about the Transportation industry. Kyle attends training that he made need to keep up eith the every changing world of school buses and their safety. Kyle is a very valuable part of our transportation department .

Joe Liff
Mechanic
Granville Exempted Village Schools, Ohio:
Our mechanic team has saved the district money from not having to send out things for repair and keeping up on daily PM’s with no problem. Along with being a mechanic they are also sub/driver’s for the district. Joe also does routing for us. They have also created a breakdown “bus” that can go on site to a bus that is having issues and fix right there. They really are “Jack of all trades” when it comes to the garage, and we would be lost with out them. Any district would be lucky to have the skill and knowledge in mechanics that we have here in Granville. Not only do I feel that they both are deserving of this, I feel that they deserve this and so much more.

Clayton Lovell
Lead Mechanic
Snohomish School District, Washington:
Clayton has gone above his job expectations whenever asked. He has a vast knowledge of information and is willing to share with anyone. He has patience for every employee and project that is asked of him.

Antonio Luna
Fleet Maintenance Manager
Los Angeles Unified School District, California:
Antonio and his team have show substantial leadership both within LAUSD as well as in the community. Showing both innovation and leadership in bus maintenance practices and sustainability, Antonio encourages his team to continue to advance their skills and their knowledge base.

Dan Mangan
Fleet Manager
Alexandria City Public Schools, Virginia:
Dan maintains and manages an efficient fleet ensuring vehicles are in good condition and safe. Dan prioritizes safety, ensuring our drivers and vehicles are well – maintained and compliant with regulations. Dan communication with his staff, and peers are invaluable, active listening and building strong relationships. Dan is always there when we need a listening hear and good advice. Dan wears many hats. Besides being an outstanding Fleet manager for the past 4 years, he is also Head of the Teams committee, and we have the best work get together and everyone enjoys them. We are fortunate to have Dan, and you can see his success from his team and how well they work together.

Tom McCracken
Garage Manager
W.L. Roenigk Inc. — Leechburg Area School District, New Kensington-Arnold School District & Burrell School District, Pennsylvania:
There is no one title that suits Tom McCracken and all that he does every day at W.L. Roenigk Inc. Garage manager, dispatcher, mechanic, leader and more all describe Tom. He’s not your typical 71-year-old. Known for his loud, commanding voice, he’s never one to back down from a challenge and will always take the lead. He’s helped to develop a talented mechanical crew and an outstanding group of employees at his garage.
He has a long history at our company, starting back in 1979 as a mechanic, he never set out to be in management, but stepped up to the plate in the early 1980s. Tom helped lead his garage to what is now a location that transports three area school districts with over 100 vehicles in his fleet and all the staff that drive them. You will catch Tom working all over his garage, from in the shop, on the phone at his desk or even in the wash bay pitching in. He’s anywhere and everywhere. He is always one to lend a helping hand whether offering his mechanical expertise or helping to cover a run, Tom is there to help anyone who needs him.

Edward Meindersee
Lead Mechanic
Pittsburg Unified School District, California:
Ed Meindersee is our lead mechanic. A very responsible and trustworthy person. You can count on him and will never fail you on his services. My district service transportation is always in good condition.

Josue Mendoza
Mechanic
Rockwall Indepdent School District, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

James Meyer
Technician Team Lead
United Bus Sales, Minnesota:
United Bus Sales believes that we have something rare and worth recognizing. We have three second generation technicians who have proudly followed in their father’s footsteps. These individuals are more than just skilled technicians, they are specialized in HVAC, Video/Audio installations, and ADA equipment. They represent passion, legacy, and dedication to school transportation. James Meyer began in the field in 2019, Carlos Ortiz in 2016, and Donald Barthel in 2015 continuing a family tradition of excellence. Each were mentored by experienced professionals—often family—and now mentor others, helping shape the next generation. Their contributions go far beyond the shop. Throughout their careers, each of them has worked in many areas of school transportation —washing buses, driving routes, and training new drivers. This hands-on experience gives them deep insight into the industry’s daily challenges and needs. Their pride, mentorship, and dedication strengthens the team and helps move the entire school transportation community forward.United Bus Sales is more than a workplace—it’s a living legacy. As a third-generation family-owned dealership, its roots run deep.

Jeromy Mink
Shop Foreman
Corsicana Independent School District, Texas:
He is a pastor of a congregation. Mr. Mink has various certifications as being a mechanic He’s shows great leadership. He doesn’t ask anyone to do something that he won’t do himself. Helps out on routes when we are short drivers. This man is a person of great integrity. He is a problem solver according to the day to day problems, whether its a route problem, a student leaving items on the bus, or just his co-workers problems. He prays with them and tries to keep everyone encouraged. He will cook food for the employees and he loves the students. Students have to be really disrespectful for him to do a Bus Conduct Report. Valuable to our district.

Daniel Moreno
Maintenance Manager
STORER Transportation, California:
I have enjoyed working with Mr. Moreno, Maintenance Manager at the Palmdale School District of Transportation, for four years. He has demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, strong leadership, and a commitment to excellence. A good leader contributes significantly to team success, and Mr. Moreno exemplifies this. He is reliable and proficient, with a deep understanding of our bus systems. His ability to analyze complex mechanical issues and implement effective solutions has ensured smooth operations. Mr. Moreno actively participates in our Christmas parades and plays a key role in the engineering and decorating efforts. He is dedicated, organized, and consistently meets deadlines. Beyond his technical skills, Mr. Moreno brings integrity and passion to his work, always seeking innovative ways to optimize processes. I wholeheartedly recommend him for the Garage Star of the Year.

Bart Nielsen
Transportation Director/Mechanic
Rangely School District, Colorado:
Our transportation director and head mechanic is the heartbeat of our transportation department and a true leader in our district. With years of hands-on experience, he understands every nut and bolt of our fleet and takes personal responsibility for keeping students safe and buses road-ready. As a certified trainer and “Train the Trainer” for safety checks, he not only ensures compliance but builds capacity in others. His leadership extends far beyond the garage—serving on our local college board, coaching junior high football, and mentoring students daily. He’s deeply invested in our community, often the first to arrive and the last to leave, even on weekends. He brings innovation and care to every task—from sourcing the latest training videos to jumping behind the wheel when a route is uncovered. He’s also quick to support neighboring districts, offering training, inspections, and driver assistance without hesitation. His commitment is driven by a deep love for kids and a belief in doing what’s right. With no job too small and no challenge too great, he models integrity, service, and excellence. A great husband, father, and colleague—he’s not just a transportation leader—he’s an irreplaceable part of our school family.

Mahlon Osterhout
Head Mechanic
Raystown Transit Service, Pennsylvania:
Mahlon is a perfectionist and demands this from his team. He doesn’t place a band aid on a breakdown just to get it back on the line quickly. Mahlon is keenly aware of the importance of his role in keeping vehicles maintained to a high standard as these vehicles transport children. When a driver comes to him with an issue, he stops what he is doing to do a quick evaluation and outline of what needs done. He is very efficient in working through problems and repairs to get drivers going in their vehicle. Mahlon’s talents are many in the garage from mechanical to body work. He keeps a clean and organized garage that brings comments from many individuals such as vendors, police inspectors and drivers. He is well respected and liked by all.

Dan Page
Lead Bus Mechanic
Eaton Community Schools, Ohio:
Dan is the type of person and professional the will go above and beyond not only for his district’s bus fleet but our ESC bus fleet as well. He makes it a point to work us in and get us finished in between routes knowing we can’t afford a bus to be downed due to us having only one spare to fall back on.

Darron Parker
Assistant Director
Alexander County Schools, North Carolina:
Let me start by providing some background on the Alexander County school bus garage. For nearly two years, the county operated without a director, and during that time, the lead mechanic (one of only two mechanics) was appointed assistant director to manage the day-to-day operations. He did his best with limited resources, relying on just one other mechanic. When I came on board as the new director, there was a lot to be done. My first priority was to build a team of mechanics.Michael Younce, who had been employed as a fuel truck driver, was moved into a Mechanics I position and joined the shop on my first day. The next step was hiring a new fuel truck driver and another mechanic. Josh Knotts was brought in as the fuel truck driver, and Bradley Whitener was hired as our newest mechanic.Now, let me introduce you to this hard-working crew. Michael, the oldest of the group, is probably our best motivator. He’s known to serenade us on our birthdays and is always the first to take on the most challenging tasks.

Roger Pearson
Mechanic
Mustang Public Schools, Oklahoma:
Roger tries his best to ensure each bus is cared for to the best of his ability. During routes, he will check over activity buses going out that day to prepare for coaches who may be driving them. Roger will use his knowledge and resources to pinpoint a problem rather than brush it off for later. He is a great mechanic, and we are blessed to have him in our organization.

Michael Pendergraph
Transportation Shop Supervisor
Savannah Chatham County Public School System, Georgia:
Michael Pendergraph, a product of the Savannah Chatham County Public School System, has provided exceptional service and leadership for over 20 years in the Transportation fleet department. As an accomplished technician with automotive and school bus certifications, Michael’s engine-building expertise has saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars. His approach to maintaining the fleet is driven by passion, love, and safety, treating every bus as if his own child were riding in the front seat. Currently serving as the shop supervisor, Michael leads a crew of seasoned technicians who strive to make every day better than the last. His leadership fosters an environment of accountability, action, and empowerment. Michael’s dedication to his work and his team is evident in the high standards he sets and the positive impact he has on the district’s transportation services. His commitment to safety and excellence ensures that the fleet operates smoothly and efficiently, benefiting the entire school community. Michael Pendergraph’s contributions are invaluable, and his leadership continues to inspire those around him.

Jonny Petaros
Mechanic
Nye County School District, Nevada:
Utmost work ethic coupled with a need to help and learn all the new technology. Jonny is always ready for any challenge with a smile and an attitude that keep us comfortable with the process of repairs

Michelle Peterson
Maintenance Supervisor
Pacific Union District, California:
Shelly is the best maintenance supervisor at our school for several reasons. First and foremost, her dedication to maintaining a safe and clean environment is unmatched. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that all facilities are in top-notch condition, which directly impacts the well-being of students and staff. Moreover, Shelly possesses exceptional leadership skills. She communicates effectively with her team, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued and heard. Her approachable nature encourages open dialogue, allowing her to address concerns promptly and efficiently. Additionally, Shelly’s problem-solving abilities are remarkable. Whether it’s a minor repair or a major issue, she tackles challenges head-on, often finding innovative solutions that save time and resources. Her proactive approach to maintenance not only prevents future problems but also enhances the overall functionality of our school. In summary, Shelly’s commitment, leadership, and problem-solving skills make her an outstanding maintenance supervisor. She truly embodies the qualities of an effective leader, and her efforts significantly contribute to the positive environment at our school.

Don Philippe
Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
Dysart, Arizona:
Fleet Supervisor, for their exceptional contributions to creating a team-oriented atmosphere in the shop, unwavering dedication to student safety, and their strong reputation within the industry. Don has consistently demonstrated leadership by fostering an environment where collaboration, support, and communication thrive among all mechanics. This positive team atmosphere enhances productivity and ensures everyone feels valued. Don is also highly regarded in the industry as a skilled mechanic whose advice is frequently sought after by peers and industry professionals. His extensive knowledge and hands-on experience makes him an invaluable resource to both the team and the student services community. The guys in the shop are continuously fostered and when learning something new Don will use a hands on approach and complete the fix side by side. Don is very deserving of the Garage Star nomination.

Kevin Popp
Supervisor of Vehicle Operations
Frederick County Public Schools, Virginia:
The team at Frederick County Public Schools does an amazing job of keeping our fleet of buses, vans and cars up and running. They are all very helpful whenever anyone needs something. They fleet has grown so much in the last few years, yet no new additions of mechanics has been added. They have keep up on the work load and still greet with a smile and take time to help anyone that is in need. They each go above and beyond for our department. I can say they are such a pleasure to work with. I am proud to nominate Frederick County Public Schools transportation fleet for the amazing reward.

Keith Popp II
Multi-shop manager
Student Transportation of America, New Jersey:
Not only is Keith a talented mechanic, but he is also an integral part in the future of the bus transportation industry. Keith is a volunteer firefighter who fought the New York/New Jersey border fires in November 2024. He worked during the day and fought fires at night. He works closely with many local fire departments and first responders to hold evacuation drills involving school buses. One drill included an extrication drill where he flipped buses on their sides to give responders experiences that they might face on scene. Keith is also the lead diesel technology instructor at Sussex County Community College. Here, he inspires future mechanics to join the field. Being at STA for 10 years, Keith is the go-to guy for electrical issues. Other shop managers reach out to him to help them troubleshoot or diagnose an issue that they might be stumped on. With that said, Keith is an asset to his field and continues to grow with the industry.

Lynn Porter
Lead Mechanic
Coeur d’Alene School District 271, Idaho:
The Tech Team of Coeur d’Alene has individual areas of expertise to provide exceptional support. Lynn Porter, the lead mechanic, uses his 27 years of experience to direct innovation and change needed to provide the best, cost effective and quality service to the fleet of 60 school buses and additional white fleet in the school district. Porter has taken part in the Bus Roadeo and brought home regional and state trophies. He supports his granddaughter in the community’s Girl Scouts program. George Rey has 9 years’ experience with the school district and uses IT knowledge to maintain up to date technology needed in busing, has implemented software to enhance service and efficiencies for fleet maintenance, work orders and inventory. Racheal Slaughter, in her 3rd year with the school district, brings her experience in aviation mechanics to the fleet, adding a high level of precision while maintaining the fleet at optimal state and federal requirements. Slaughter’s first year with the school district, she brought home a regional trophy in the Bus Roadeo and went to state. The team soon will be implementing the first mechanic internship within the school district. Always striving to provide exceptional service with the resources they have.

Chris Privia
Mechanic
Bill’s Service, Illinois:
Chris and the team at Bill’s service in Concord, IL work on school buses for multiple school districts. They also do the warranty work for my Blue Bird School buses. They are so far away from me that I only use them if its something that my normal 3rd party mechanic or myself can’t fix but I do send at least 3 to 4 buses at a time during Christmas and spring breaks. I always call a couple months ahead to get on the schedule. I drop them off the 1st day of the break and they are always ready for pick up on the last day of the break so that I always have my buses back in time before school starts up again. Having only one spare bus, this is very critical for me. Because they already work and have worked on other school districts that run Bluebird buses, they know the folks at Central States Bus in Fenton, Mo. Chris and the secretarty Amber are always available if I have a question about something, I know that I can call them for help or advice with other issues.

Jim Radley
Maintenance
Altmar Parish Williamstown Central School District, New York
Jim works very hard to not only maintain the buses, doing services, brake jobs, and getting ready for DOT. He drives a bus route when needed, and assist me in paperwork for the district. He has worked long hours if covering school bus runs and does anything we need. He stays late to assist the afternoon dispatch in case there is a problem on bad weather days. Jim always has kind words to say about the employees and puts his best effort in as his role as the union representative for the building.

Lafayette Sanders-Dorsey
Lead Mechanic
Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland:
Lafayette has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking mindset and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence that has significantly enhanced our fleet performance and overall efficiency. Lafayette’s innovative approach to maintenance has led to the implementation of proactive diagnostic procedures that have reduced downtime and improved vehicle reliability. In addition to his technical expertise, Lafayette does not hesitate to support the dispatch team in transporting the students to and from school.

Curtis Schwartz
Technician In Charge
Highland/First Student, Illinois:
Curtis is a Great Shop Manager and always on top of our fleet. If a driver has an issue with a bus, either major or minor he is always willing to take a look and fix it, or if need be take the bus out of service and get a driver a spare bus. He keeps an immaculately clean garage and his personality makes things run! Overall, he is a great presence at the Highland First Student Location!

Scott Sexton
Mechanic
Southern Kern Unified School District, California:
Scott has been working with Southern Kern USD for decades, dedicating his energy and time to ensuring the school bus fleet is not only operational but also safe. Scott has been active in School Bus associations and networking groups, for example attending STN and the training sessions for many years, and has also been the focal point of the district’s transportation fleet, making sure that compliance and regulatory items are implemented, adhered to/renewed, and updated. Further, Scott has been involved in continuing education and certification throughout his career at SKUSD and has also been active to train new mechanics at the district, ensuring that the knowledge is passed to new staff members and providing mentorship. Scott is pivotal to SKUSD’s transportation program

DeMarcus Singleton
Master Mechanic
Madison Parish School District, Louisiana:
I became transportation supervisor July 1,2024. Since then, Mr. Singleton has shown great work ethics. Mr. Singleton has been with Madison Parish School District for mor than 6 years. Mr. Singleton have a very respectful way for communicating his work, and very responsible, dependable, and passionate about the transportation department here at Madison Parish School District. Being a small school district with about 25 buses in our fleet, Mr. Singleton always keep our EV as well as diesel buses up and running. He also have a enormous drive for furthering his knowledge on being a mechanic, and as a supervisor, I’m always trying my best to make it happen. Mr. Singleton always keeps me a brushed on all my buses, and makes certain that all of our scholars are being transported in a safe way to and from school. Even when the buses have to go on activities, Mr. Singleton is there early in the morning to make sure the buses are safe for the highway. I am pleased to say that With Mr. Singleton receiving this garage star, it would be a honor to him, and a great look for our schools, and small town.

Ryan Spencer
Lead Bus Mechanic
Middlebury Community Schools, Indiana:
Ryan is outstanding on maintaining our bus fleet. He keeps everyone in top working order, if you need anything he gets it right away. He strives in keeping all or our outgoing buses clean and shiny to represent our school at all extra curricular activities and sporting events. Ryan keeps the shop neat and tidy as well. Everyone in our school appreciates his friendliness and his smile when we joke around. Ryan is very involved in his church community, he shows all his strong values and beliefs in the way he works and maintaining kindness in helping everyone. He has been lead mechanic for the last five years but has several years before that working as a mechanic. Keeping the bus fleet in top shape is a lot of responsibility and we could not do it without him and Randy Shriner his assistant bus mechanic. Ryan and Randy also keep our school vehicles as well as our SRO officers cars in top working condition. We thank you!

Christopher Staples
Maintenance Superintendent
Town of Yarmouth, Maine & Yarmouth School Department, Maine:
I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Christopher Staples for his exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and operational readiness of our town’s entire vehicle fleet. Chris consistently goes above and beyond in his role, diligently maintaining and repairing our school buses to the highest safety standards. He takes immense pride in guaranteeing the secure transportation of our students to and from school and extracurricular activities. Beyond the school buses, Chris is also responsible for the mechanical upkeep of a wide range of essential town vehicles, including fire trucks, police cars, and Parks and Recreation vehicles. His expertise and proactive approach ensure that all these vital assets are always in optimal working condition. Christopher Staples commitment to safety and his tireless efforts in maintaining our town’s vehicles are truly commendable and deserve recognition.

Fleet Manager and Fleet Technicians
Charlotte County Public Schools, Florida:
Gayelynn Stonis has been fleet manager at Charlotte County Public Schools since 2021. In Her time here her team has changed the way we do things in transportation. Everything from scheduling our Bus inspections to getting her team the training to help drive students. They are always available to help. The garage team makes sure that our bike program continues to operate since we do not have funding anymore. They service the Bicycles to make sure that the students get a chance learn bicycle safety. They help transport the bicycle trailer to the schools and participate in School Career Fairs to ignite interest among younger students. They are the silent heroes of transportation.

Chris Sutton
Fleet Manager
Douglas County School District, Colorado:
The Parker Shop’s leadership, mechanics, and parts team exemplify dedication and teamwork. Their strong work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond keep our fleet running smoothly at the Parker and Highlands Ranch Shops. A truly outstanding team and wonderful group of guys. Same goes for our Castle Rock Shop. The group of guys there are a great group of guys who are always willing to dive into a project. All in all, our fleet department is a terrific group of folks that are always willing to jump into a project and get it done.

Herbert Thacker
Chief Mechanic
Lincoln County Board of Education, West Virginia:
We have a brand new crew in Lincoln County. Our chief mechanic, Herbert Thacker has only been the in his position for a little over a year and this is the first school year for our two mechanics. These guys work together to get things done. They are constantly learning through trial and error and local training sessions. They make sure our buses are safe and ready to transport our precious cargo. During this school year we have only had 5 primary defects during our state inspections. These three want to learn. I am constantly looking for training to send them to so they can enhance their mechanical skills. Any three of them would do anything for anyone. They go above and beyond for Lincoln County Schools and the safety of our buses and students.

Jon Thompson
Head Mechanic
Byron Bergen CSD, New York:
Jon is a tremendous asset to our department. He is our head mechanic, and only mechanic at the moment. He works 10+ hours a day without any complaints. Jon’s inspection record has been 100 percent for years. He not only keeps our buses running but also all the maintenance vehicles running. Jon drives our sports run and numerous times this year our actually routes. The children love it when he drives them, he is called the “Bus Doctor”. He always goes above and beyond and always with a smile on his face. I can not think of anyone more deserving and truly is a “Garage Star!”

John Warming
Mechanic/Technician
MSAD6, Maine:
John is a dedicated and hardworking professional who continuously strives for growth and excellence in his field. His commitment to advancing his skills is evident in his recent achievement of Blue Bird Tech Certification, further solidifying his expertise in school transportation maintenance and technology.As a lifelong member of the Bonny Eagle community, John not only excels in his role but also serves as a role model for others. While raising a young family, he remains an active and engaged team player, always ready to support his colleagues and improve our operations. His involvement in the state transportation association (MAPT) demonstrates his dedication to the industry beyond our immediate team. John actively seeks opportunities to learn and advance his skills.John is a natural problem solver, tackling challenges with efficiency and innovation. His ability to analyze issues and implement effective solutions makes him an invaluable asset to our team. His enthusiasm, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to safety and excellence make him truly deserving of this recognition.John’s contributions and leadership exemplify the qualities celebrated by this award. Thank you for your time and consideration. Key Contributions and Achievements: Dedication to Work-Life Balance: John joined our team to have more quality time with his young family and has seamlessly integrated his professional responsibilities with his personal priorities.Proactive Networking: He has actively sought out networking opportunities across various avenues, fostering robust relationships and collaborations, including developing a strong working rapport with our local dealership.Commitment to Education: John’s pursuit of continuous learning is evident. He recently became a certified Bluebird Technician, significantly enhancing his diagnostic capabilities and contributing to budget savings. Additionally, he is furthering his education with Roush to deepen his knowledge of propane engines.Community Engagement: By aligning himself with the Maine State Association for Pupil Transportation, John has played a pivotal role in facilitating the sharing of knowledge and best practices across the state.

Shop Foreman
Buncombe County Schools Transportation, North Carolina:
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated Buncombe County Schools, leaving widespread destruction and critical infrastructure failures in its wake. This dedicated team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to restore essential services, ensuring that the community could begin its recovery. They fueled generators and light towers, cut locks to access mountain-top communication towers, and kept radio and cell phone networks operational—critical lifelines in the aftermath of the storm. Amidst the chaos, two team members lost their homes, yet they selflessly chose to serve others rather than focus on their own losses. Their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the broader community exemplifies true leadership and sacrifice. Through their expertise, resilience, and teamwork, they played an instrumental role in bringing Buncombe County Schools and its surrounding infrastructure back online.Their dedication, in the face of both professional and personal hardship, is nothing short of heroic. This nomination recognizes their extraordinary efforts, ensuring their impact is not forgotten.

Mike Wilburn
Service Writer
Spotsylvania County Public Schools, Virginia:
Mike goes above and beyond to make sure all of our drivers are taken care of. He is very professional, always has a smile, and just a wonderful, knowledgeable person to talk to. Mike is a former bus driver, so, he understands our drivers. He makes sure the tickets are wrote accurately, and in a fast timely fashion. Our garage fleet, would not be able to run as smoothly as it does without Mike. He truly is just the best that we can ask for.

Tyler Wilson
Mechanic
Perry Local Schools in Massillon Ohio, Ohio:
Tyler came to Perry Local Schools from Canton Truck sales and service. Tyler has been with Perry for 7 years. Tyler brought with him a lot of knowledge and experience that has been a bonus for our garage. All our maintenance and repairs are done in house. This is a great savings to our district. Tyler is always a pleasure to work with and our staff has a tremendous amount of respect for him and his work ethic.

Thomas Ziak
Mechanic
Maple Heights City School District, Ohio:
Tom goes above and beyond to keep our fleet running. He is a one band man. He starts his day extra early and will stay as late as needed. Not only does he keep our fleet running, but he plows in the winter, and will driver a route if needed. Tom is very personable and always has a smile on his face. As a new Director of Transportation he has assisted me with patience, care, and overall concern. He truly is the BEST. He deserves to be recognized for his diligence and hard word. Not only does he work for the District but he is an alumni of the District and takes pride in being a Maple Mustang.

The post 2025 Garage Stars Announced: Relying on Training appeared first on School Transportation News.

More EPA regulatory changes in the truck and bus market prompt continuing clean fuel conversations. Also, learn more about the crucial training at the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show.

Kara Sands, transportation lead trainer and driver at Hanover Community Schools Corporation in Indiana, was selected to receive the inaugural Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship for STN EXPO West this year. She discusses ways to promote safe school bus operations and her takeaways from STN EXPO.

Read more about safety.

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The post (STN Podcast E270) Not Just a Job: Hear From Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Award Winner appeared first on School Transportation News.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – First Student, the company setting the standard for innovation in school transportation, has been selected by Seneca Valley School District (SVSD) in Pennsylvania to provide student transportation services, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Backed by a brand-new fleet and advanced technology designed to elevate the ride experience for students and families, First Student will bring nearly 150 new buses to SVSD. All buses will be equipped with First Student’s award-winning HALO technology platform. HALO delivers real-time visibility, data-driven safety features, and streamlined communication tools that modernize school transportation to provide the best student transportation experience.

First Student is the industry leader in safety, utilizing on-vehicle technology that includes driver tablets, AI cameras, video systems, and a child check system. Guardians and caregivers of SVSD children will have access to First Student’s comprehensive transportation technology suite, which includes real-time tracking via the FirstView app. This feature provides families and district staff with live GPS updates, offering greater peace of mind and improved planning. Additionally, through performance monitoring and feedback channels, families will have an easy way to submit comments or concerns if needed.

“At First Student, we take great pride in delivering the best possible transportation experience for every student we serve,” said John Kenning, President and CEO of First Student. “For Seneca Valley families, that means combining a brand-new fleet with technology that keeps parents connected and informed. With the FirstView app, families can track their child’s bus in real time, creating greater transparency and peace of mind while ensuring every ride is safe, reliable, and welcoming.”

HALO’s technology also empowers school districts with an advanced driver navigation system for route optimization and timely arrivals, as well as student behavior monitoring tools that support communication between drivers and district staff.

“Seneca Valley is committed to providing the safest and most reliable transportation possible for our students,” said Dr. Tracy Vitale, Superintendent of Schools. “We welcome this new partnership with First Student and appreciate the expertise and resources they bring to support our transportation program.”

“Our partnership with Seneca Valley School District reflects a growing shift toward modern, connected, and student-centered transportation,” said Brian Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region at First Student. “Safety, service, and community are at the core of everything we do. We’re proud to bring our technology and expertise to support this outstanding school community.”

First Student is actively recruiting qualified drivers and offering competitive pay, paid instruction, and industry-leading training. This includes the First Serves program, which equips drivers with clinically backed communication tools and training to support students with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive and welcoming ride for every learner.

About First Student:
First Student is reimagining the school bus experience for 5.5+ million students across North America every single day. As the undisputed leader in K-12 transportation, the company is on pace to complete 1 billion student rides during the 2025-26 school year, delivering not just students, but confidence, reliability, and peace of mind to families and school districts alike. Backed by a workforce of highly trained drivers and an industry-leading fleet of 46,000+ vehicles, including electric buses, First Student is a mission-driven partner in education. Recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies, First Student offers cutting-edge services including special needs transportation, AI route optimization, fleet electrification, vehicle maintenance services, and charter services. First Student’s impact extends beyond logistics: every ride is designed to be a safe and supportive space where students can start their day with a great experience. With innovation at our core, First Student is driving the future of student transportation one ride at a time.

The post Seneca Valley Partners with First Student to Deliver Smarter, Safer Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., – HopSkipDrive, a technology company that solves complex school transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access and care, welcomes the 2025-2026 school year with industry-leading technology for schools, riders and caregivers.

HopSkipDrive is proud to solve school districts’ biggest transportation needs through individualized, specialized rides to school to supplement traditional yellow buses. The company provides access to safe and reliable drivers in small vehicles, called CareDrivers, as well as a substantial supply of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) and vetted Rider Assistants. To provide even more personalized, dedicated support ahead of this back-to-school season, HopSkipDrive has also expanded its support teams.

“HopSkipDrive is here to help with school districts’ long to-do list to help students safely get to school on-time and ready to learn,” said Joanna McFarland, HopSkipDrive CEO and Co-Founder. “School districts are adjusting to changing funding models, exploring how transportation can solve chronic absenteeism, understanding how a multimodal mix can increase access, and addressing the rising numbers of students who move frequently or who experience homelessness or displacement.”

Client testimonials, such as one from a Spokane school district lauding “wonderful customer service, and kind and caring drivers,” illustrate why transportation officials and administrative leaders from 10,000 schools across 17 states utilize HopSkipDrive as a part of their student transportation tools. No matter the hour or day of the week, and in as quickly as six hours, schools rely on HopSkipDrive’s signature approach to safety, reliability, and flexibility.

New Innovations Add to On-Time Arrivals Success To-Date

Since HopSkipDrive’s earliest days, the company has considered on-time arrivals key to providing a safe and reliable ride, strategically implementing new technology and processes.

Earlier this year, the company rolled out a new feature to rapidly identify nearby drivers who are able to substitute and fulfill a ride with just a few minutes’ notice if common transportation issues like a flat tire, sickness, or traffic occur. This innovation continues HopSkipDrive’s relentless work to-date to arrange timely rides, and has resulted in a 7% increase in on-time arrivals, with 95% of rides arriving within approximately 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

This and other advancements underscore the company’s commitment to offering the most flexible school transportation options to work towards ensuring students can reach their education goals.

Support for the Entire School Transportation Experience

HopSkipDrive has bolstered the teams and training behind its industry-leading safety measures and innovations for the upcoming school year, focusing on how best to support transportation officials, CareDrivers, caregivers and riders.

School transportation teams can now book a wide variety of transportation solutions using RideIQ, the HopSkipDrive ride management platform. Centralized transportation teams use it to rapidly and seamlessly book or modify rides through the CareDriver network, or to schedule local professionals with specialized vehicles like WAVs. At the school on-site level, staff can utilize Daily Queue’s customized views to see the day’s vehicles’ scheduled arrival times and corresponding details like color, model, license plate and more .

In addition to these features, HopSkipDrive has continued its investment in dedicated support efforts for all users of the platform, with new offerings for riders and caregivers:

● For parents and caregivers: A new dedicated team will support parents in both English and Spanish, who are new to the HopSkipDrive platform, answering questions and providing guidance on what to expect.

● For riders: HopSkipDrive has launched a dedicated rider support line, enabling riders to reach HopSkipDrive’s Safe Ride Support team during a ride if needed. In addition, for riders who need to be met by an adult at pickup or dropoff, the company has launched an enhanced process enabling school districts to designate specific protocols and identify adults to ensure pickup and dropoff are safe and smooth.

These efforts build on HopSkipDrive’s existing world-class support efforts that includes new, specialized trauma-informed training from NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) to enhance the Trust & Safety and Safe Ride Support teams’ work serving students with diverse needs.

About HopSkipDrive:
HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI.

HopSkipDrive’s marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than 5 million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.

The post HopSkipDrive Welcomes New School Year with Industry-Leading Technology, Enhanced Support appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tyler Bryan attended his first National Congress on School Transportation in May 2015. The experience prepared him to take on an industry first 10 years later.

Bryan, Delaware’s de facto state director as the education associate for school transportation at the department of education, chaired the new alternative transportation writing committee that was included at the 17th NCST in Des Moines, Iowa. It was the first time state delegates took up a non-school bus issue since the first congress held in 1939. It was blasphemous to previously even think of proposing recommendations for other vehicles that transport students to and from school, not to mention other related events.

Seeing how NCST worked in 2015, at the behest of then-state director Ron Love, allowed Bryan to prepare not only in his role leading this historic proposal process but his responsibilities in providing guidance to school districts in his own state.

“The committees and delegation helped me gain an excellent working knowledge that better prepared me for taking on this role in Delaware. I am very appreciative of Ron’s guidance and inclusiveness in my previous role, and it was due to that involvement that eventually led me to this position,” Bryan said. “Being a 2015 delegate allowed me to see the process Ron followed to prepare, the execution during congress, and then the follow-up, including our state’s specification update process.

Getting to be involved and see that made it much easier to understand expectations and made me comfortable enough to take on a writing chair position.”

Despite admittedly being awestruck by NCST in 2015, the deliberations were made easier, he added, by knowing that all delegates as well as interested parties no matter the varying opinions were there for the same reason: Student safety.

“In my opinion, the 2025 on-site congress proceedings went very smoothly, and I was impressed by how well they stayed on schedule to accomplish 10 years of work within the provided timeframe,” he noted. Bryan provides more insights into the proposal process for alternative transportation, specifically, and the need for the industry to come together and create recommendations that benefit school districts of all states, in this month’s Q&A.

STN: Why is the topic of alternative transportation so important? In Delaware? Nationwide?

Bryan: Alternative transportation is important. As we know it is here and ever expanding. As this expansion continues, states and local districts are at the point where they must evaluate their needs and determine what policies, procedures and processes are required to ensure that they are doing their due diligence, to ensure that students are receiving safe transportation in the vehicle selected for school transportation.

In Delaware, it is continuing to grow for the transportation of our homeless and foster youth. Our regulations currently require the local education authority to establish its own policies and procedures for this type of transportation. After much conversation with our local transportation supervisors, they have requested that the state develop regulations around this type of transportation to create a standard framework for consistency across the state. The goal was to use NCST to propel us forward with creating the regulation.

STN: How and why did you get involved as the writing committee chair?

Bryan: I had been tasked with chairing the NASDPTS position paper for alternative transportation, so when they were looking for members of this committee, I had expressed interest since I had already been doing some work within this subject. When I found out they were in need of a chair for this section, I agreed to step up and take the lead, as I knew we would also be looking to do similar work in Delaware.

STN: How did the committee operate? What work went into formalizing/creating the proposals for delegate voting? What was the process for creating a writing committee that never existed before?

Bryan: With the NCST process, there was a first period, during which state delegations and interested parties could submit language, proposals or requests for changes. In the first round of proposals, our committee received only one proposal, which aimed to clarify the NHSTA guidance on the use of 15-passenger vans. This meant the committee needed to start drafting a proposal from scratch. The committee decided to examine multiple states that had already adopted regulations for alternative transportation, which we then used to identify similarities between them, providing us with a starting point.

The committee then determined what areas we wanted to focus on within this proposal, which were driver credentials, driver training, vehicle design and equipment, special education policy considerations, and other policy considerations. We then split into subgroups, splitting up within each of these subjects. The small groups then formed their recommendations, which included non-voting advisory members from various alternative transportation providers who also contributed input on these subject areas.

Once the subgroups completed their work, we brought it back to the main group and reviewed each area, voting on what we wanted to include in our proposal. Our proposal then went out for comment, and this time we received 15 comments for recommended language changes or additions. Our committee then reconvened to vote to either accept or reject those recommendations and then provided the committee’s decision back to those who submitted change requests. That was the process we followed for developing the final proposal that came to the Congress floor. It is definitely a more extensive process to start a new section from scratch versus just changing existing language. I was very fortunate to have great committee members who offered valuable input and time to allow us to put forth a solid proposal to congress.

STN: What were the proposals and what did the states pass? Was there anything surprising to you?

Bryan: The committee knew going into this that this section was new historical and many had varying opinions on it. We were expecting a lot of discussion around it. The final wording will be forthcoming incorporating the changes that occurred on the floor. (Editor’s note: The national specifications and procedures were under review by the editing and technical committees at this report.)

The one surprising thing for me as the writing chair was that I had preconceived ideas about which areas would be more controversial than others, so I was surprised to see that the driver training section was the one that received the most change. We had really intended that section to be a framework for those states or localities looking to implement training requirements. Overall, all the sections remained with modifications that were proposed and accepted by the congress, and this allowed the committee to achieve our initial goal of adopting a minimum framework to ensure safe transportation for students.

STN: What stood out most to you about your entire NCST experience?

Bryan: Due to COVID-19, our normal five-year process was extended to 10 years, resulting in a significant number of veterans familiar with this process retiring. There were many new delegates and delegate chairs who were attending the NCST for the first time at the 2025 congress. Even with many new individuals and a more extended hiatus, we were still able to achieve a highly successful congress that was completed ahead of schedule. This wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of all the individuals involved in this process. Another impressive aspect of NCST was viewing the table decorations featured by various states. It was great seeing the state pride across the Congress floor.

STN: Thank you.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted for the July 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

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The first day of the new school year near Austin, Texas, started in a way no transportation professional or school official would ever want. Thankfully, everyone involved in the rollover crash on their way home have since been released from the hospital.

Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services confirmed a school bus rollover involving Leander Independent School District occurred Aug. 13 at 3:15 p.m. The school bus, which primarily transports students to and from Bagdad Elementary School, was transporting 42 children, leaving 12 needing transport to the hospital, including the school bus driver.

At the time of the crash, most students had not yet been dropped off.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced the day following the crash it is coordinating with the Texas Department of Public Safety on a safety investigation.

Sgt. Billy Ray, the public information officer for Texas DPS, noted the preliminary crash investigation indicates the school bus was traveling south on Nameless Road, which includes a slight curve. For an unknown reason as of this report, the school bus left the right side of the roadway and rolled over.

Medical services noted that one passenger suffered life-threatening injuries, two had potentially life-threatening injuries. However, everyone has since been released from the hospital.

The 2024 Blue Bird school bus was equipped with lap/shoulder seatbelts, per state law. The state requires model-year 2018 or newer school buses to be equipped with the three-point seatbelts. School districts can opt out if the board determines that the cost exceeds the district’s budget and votes on it during a public meeting.

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Information on whether students were wearing their lap/shoulder seatbelts was unknown at this time. But state law says students are required to wear the occupant restraints if the school bus is equipped with them.

Leander ISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing noted that information on the school bus driver was limited, but they are a “seasoned veteran bus driver.”

Gearing added that in addition to the deadly Central Texas floods last month, the Leander ISD family has been through a lot. “This tragedy is breaking our hearts,” he said. “We want each of the students and their families to know that our prayers are with them. Our thoughts are with them. And we will do everything in our power to support them.”

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The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) announced Minakshi Chilagani, a student at River Trail Middle School in Johns Creek, Georgia, is the overall national winner of the 2024–2025 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

The poster contest, organized annually by NAPT, is a long-standing tradition that encourages students to engage creatively with school bus safety messaging. It not only promotes awareness but empowers students to become ambassadors for safe school transportation in their communities.

Chilagani’s detailed artwork was chosen from student entries across the country in five different grade groups. Her poster will be featured nationwide during National School Bus Safety Week, happening Oct. 20–24, 2025. This year’s theme, “Safety First – Safety Always,” really comes through in her creative take on how to stay safe both on the bus and around it.

The winning poster was praised for illustrating core safety messages such as the importance of situational awareness, listening to the school bus driver, lining up properly while awaiting to board, staying seated during the ride, and avoiding the “most dangerous danger zone” around the bus.

In addition to NAPT, the panel of judges included the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and the National School Transportation Association. Each entry was evaluated based on safety impact, originality, artistic quality, and visual effectiveness.

Other students from across the country were also recognized as divisional winners in their respective grade categories. Among the younger divisions, Skylar Roque from Smyrna Elementary in Georgia took first place for grades K–2. Harshini Lingam Muhilan from Unity Charter School in Morristown, New Jersey, won first place in grades 3–5. Chilagani also placed first in her own category, grades 6–8. In the Special Education division, first place went to Jace Reeves from Feagin Mill Middle School in Warner Robins, Georgia. Emma Machiski from Shenendehowa Central School District in Clifton Park, New York, won first place in the Computer-Aided Drawing division.

Looking ahead, the theme for the 2025–2026 contest will be “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.” Students may begin submitting entries between Nov. 2, 2025, and April 3, 2026. Full contest rules and submission information are available here.

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The “Bus Buddies” program returned to Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas, making the first school bus rides of the new school year a safe and fun experience for students.

An initiative that’s been at Cypress-Fairbanks for over a decade, the Bus Buddies program is designed to help younger students in the district’s 59 elementary campuses who are learning proper school bus safety and the route home from school. The program has one volunteer per school bus to ride with the students and ensure they know which stop to exit the bus. Kayne Smith, Cy-Fair ISD’s transportation director, said that the volunteers come from the community, school administration, and school board members.

The volunteers rode along with the students for the first two days of school to “assist school bus drivers to ensure our youngest riders ride safely, including wearing seatbelts, staying seated, and most importantly, ensuring they know safely exit the bus at the correct stop on the first day of school,” explained Smith.

“This has been a very successful program with hundreds of volunteers in our district. We are very fortunate for this support from our administration, Board, and community for our drivers and our youngest students on these first days of school,” he added.

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A Nashville family is raising serious concerns after a 5-year-old kindergartner with autism was mistakenly placed on a school bus and then left wandering alone for nearly an hour on Monday afternoon, reported WSMV 4.

Zontrail Brinson, a nonverbal student at Ida B. Wells Elementary School, was supposed to be picked up by a parent at school dismissal. However, school officials said there was a “tagging error,” and Brinson was placed on a school bus then dropped off several blocks away, alone and unsupervised.

“It’s scary. I wouldn’t want to be alone by myself, especially being nonverbal,” said Rosalind Derrick, Brinson’s grandmother.

She explained that the family only learned of the incident when Brinson’s mother arrived at the school to pick him up and was told he wasn’t there.

Derrick told local news reporters that Brinson was dropped off at the intersection of 7th Street and Howerton, near Meigs Middle School, and began walking down the sidewalk. She said the school bus driver briefly spoke to the child but received no response and allowed him to exit the bus.

“When you didn’t see an adult, you should have just called the school or taken him back to the school,” she advised.

Brinson was eventually located by a police officer at a nearby playground and safely reunited with his family. While thankful unharmed, Derrick said the ordeal is every parent and guardian’s nightmare.

“I’m a praying grandmother. I was just praying and trusting that he would be found and everything would be okay,” she said.

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) acknowledged the incident and apologized.

“We deeply regret the distress this caused the family and are grateful the student was found safe,” said Sean Braisted, a district spokesperson. “As soon as the school was notified, staff and a school resource officer responded quickly and located the student at a park near his home. The school and transportation teams are reviewing the incident and reinforcing dismissal protocols to help ensure this does not happen again.”

Braisted clarified that as part of MNPS’s onboarding process, all kindergarten students zoned for school bus service receive a transportation tag. In this case, a teacher mistakenly attached a bus tag to Brinson’s backpack, which led to him being placed on a school bus despite the family’s plan for him to be picked up.

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As one of the largest school transportation operations in Illinois, Indian Prairie School District 204 runs a fleet of nearly 300 vehicles and more than 1,200 routes. When the impact of the bus driver shortage grew in 2019, maintaining this operation required a greater number of substitute drivers. Ron Johnson, the district’s director of support operations, looked to assist their sub drivers — as well as address a need for improved parent communication — with technology.

Indian Prairie has a longstanding partnership with Tyler Technologies, having been a user of Tyler’s routing software since 2008. Johnson turned to Tyler for solutions that would integrate with their existing software, ultimately becoming an early adopter of Tyler Drive tablets in the 2018-2019 school year. With Tyler Drive tablets installed on the district’s vehicles, paper route sheets were eliminated. Regular and substitute drivers gained turn-by-turn voice navigation through the tablets, reducing driver distraction — and, thereby, increasing student safety.

To learn more about Tyler Technologies’ student transportation solutions that connect drivers, routers, and parents, watch their Tyler Drive webinar.

Driving Efficiency

Tyler Drive tablets have also helped increase route efficiency and on-time performance at Indian Prairie.

“Before implementing Tyler Drive, our on-time network was 80.02%,” said Johnson. “Pre-pandemic, Tyler Drive helped us increase our on-time network to more than 97.50%. In 2024, with a shortage of 15 drivers, we were at 95.33%.”

Johnson attributes these improvements to drivers sticking to the approved routes that Tyler Drive guides them through. Substitute drivers are less likely to get lost, and visibility into driver activity and real-time GPS tracking helps identify inefficiencies.

Keeping Parents in the Know

In addition to using Tyler’s student transportation software and Tyler Drive tablets, Indian Prairie keeps parents informed with Tyler’s parent communication mobile app.

“Our parents were asking for a way to be alerted when a bus would arrive late and to receive timely communication from schools about bus incidents,” said Johnson. The parent app integrates with the district’s other Tyler solutions, leveraging data and dynamic communication that delivers an improved experience and real-time information for parents.

Johnson said, “Parents have access to route information and ETA, and we can notify parents of a delay on their specific route.”

Tyler’s parent app is flexible, allowing both manual and automated information and communication. While districts can manually send targeted messages to parents, approved updates in Tyler Drive automatically sync with the parent app. This gives parents instant notifications about changes to the driver, bus, or ETA for their children’s routes, without adding to the transportation team’s workload. Tyler Drive’s turn-by-turn directions also support parent peace of mind — substitute drivers can follow routes exactly as the regular drivers do, so parents know what to expect.

Leaders in Driver Support

Beyond improving their own operations with Tyler’s solutions, Indian Prairie has helped pave the way for other Illinois districts looking to implement in-vehicle driver tablets like Tyler Drive.

“We worked with the State Police, Local Police, and Department of Transportation to ensure we were incorporating safe and sound practices in the use of a Mobile Data Terminal (Tyler Drive), including the installation location and driver best practices,” said Johnson. “We wanted to ensure we were not adding a device that would create a driver distraction, as some agencies were concerned about.”

Citing increased safety for students, the district also coordinated with its State Board of Education on legislation that could make the purchase of driver tablets a reimbursable transportation expense.

Indian Prairie’s efforts — from driving legislation to establishing best practices — can help other districts reap some of the same benefits Johnson’s district has.

“We wanted a full-scale solution to solve on-time network problems, driver route reliability, parent communication, and real-time route information that was accurate,” said Johnson. “Tyler Drive does that for us!”

Tablets Support Efficiency and Drivers

Tyler Drive in-vehicle tablets support full-time and substitute drivers with optimized routes that boost on-time performance. Tyler Drive provides:

• Connected routing — Tyler Drive integrates with Tyler’s routing software, ensuring each vehicle’s route is accurate and updated to help drivers stay on track.
• Up-to-date communication — Route changes in Tyler Drive are automatically reflected in Tyler’s parent app, instantly notifying parents or guardians of a new driver, bus, or ETA.
• Turn-by-turn directions — Drivers get intuitive navigation without the distraction of paper maps and student lists.
• Maintained guidelines — Routes are calculated based on predetermined rules and riders’ needs to provide safe pickup and drop-off locations.
• Integrated messages — Drivers can receive messages from dispatchers with information about stops to skip, construction to avoid, or any other critical information.

Learn more about Tyler Drive in this webinar: Connecting Drivers, Routers, and Parents with Student Transportation.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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Phoenix Motor Inc., known for building heavy-duty transit buses and helping electrify medium-duty vehicles, announced John Walsh is stepping in as the new president of Phoenix Motor and CEO of PhoenixEV, the company’s U.S.-based commercial electric vehicle brand.

Walsh will oversee the company’s American operations, focusing on scaling production, accelerating adoption of zero-emission solutions and expanding market share in the commercial and transit EV space. While it’s unclear why Denton Peng is stepping down as President of Phoenix Motor, he will continue to serve as the chief executive officer of Phoenix Motor Inc. leading the company’s global strategy, innovation initiatives, and international operations.

“We’re excited to welcome John to our team,” said Peng in a press release. “He brings a deep understanding of the transit and EV markets, along with a demonstrated ability to scale high-growth transportation companies. With more than three decades of experience and a record of operational excellence, we’re confident John will help PhoenixEV accelerate its mission to deliver clean, quiet, and intelligent mobility solutions across the U.S.”

Walsh is an experienced executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience in the transit and electric mobility industries. His most recent role was as president of EO Charging Americas, where he led large-scale commercial fleet electrification across North America.

Prior to that, he served as chief commercial officer at Proterra, overseeing record-setting electric transit bus sales and managing its transit, powered and energy business units. He also held key leadership positions as president and COO of Davey Coach, president of REV Bus Group, which included nine business units such as ENC and Collins Bus Corporation and CEO of MV-1/VPG, a specialty OEM for the paratransit market.

Walsh brings not only deep operational expertise, but also a strong track record in business development, negotiation and strategic planning, honed through decades of executive experience in the automotive and commercial transportation sectors. A graduate of Methodist University in North Carolina, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

“I’m honored to join Phoenix Motor at such an important inflection point,” said Walsh in a statement. “PhoenixEV has a remarkable legacy in electric transportation, and with our coast-to-coast operations, industry-leading EV platforms, and deep customer relationships, we are poised for strong growth. I look forward to working with our team to strengthen execution, build backlog and deliver outstanding zero-emission products for our partners and communities.”

In his role as CEO, Phoenix Motor said Walsh will be responsible for driving the brand’s U.S. business strategy, expanding production capacity and accelerating adoption of its all-electric transit and commercial vehicles. The appointment comes as Phoenix ramps up its efforts to serve municipal, corporate and government fleet customers across the nation amid growing demand for sustainable transportation solutions.

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