RENO, Nev. — “Amazement artist” Jon Petz used a dynamic combination of magical entertainment and emotional stories to show STN EXPO West attendees the power of simple moments.

Petz had previously addressed over 100 directors at Saturday’s Transportation Director Summit, where he demonstrated how even the most challenging situations that transportation directors face can be solved through passion driven performance.

He opened the Monday morning keynote with a story about his father, who shared a magic trick with him as a child. He noted for the attendees that one moment changed his entire emotional connection with his father and is a memory he remembers decades later. He also said that he still remembers his school bus driver, Mr. Pope, who he described as the kindest man.

“I think today, in this room, you were supposed to be here. On this exact day, with these exact people, at this exact time,” Petz said.

He proved this sentiment with a magic trick. He asked for numbers from various attendees and performed a math equation. The answer resulted in the exact date of Monday’s keynote and the time of day he was performing the trick.

“Magic is about creating moments,” he said. “And we all do this in what we do and who we are.”

As an “amazement artist,” Petz said he wants to share how to harness the opportunities to create a moment that people will remember. No one talks about average moments.They talk about impactful moments.

“When you perform a diabolically impossible trick as a magician on stage, there are two things that happen. One the whole audience asks, ‘How did you do it?’ But after that, the cool part is they come right up to you and say, ‘Do it again.’ How great would it be if people say that about what you do?”

He explained that our brains literally remember special memories differently with a burst of dopamine and serotonin that plants itself in a unique way in your mind. After performing a trick where he made an attendees’ $100 bill disappear and reappear inside a lemon, Petz noted that even when you think you know what’s going to happen, there is still a moment of anticipation. He said instead of trying to raise the bar, he tries to raise the bar one small bump at a time.

He shared a story of a time he was traveling with his daughters, and the airline pilot created a unique and humorous experience for the passengers. He did this by initially saying that this flight was only his second one, alluding to ever, which created a tense moment with the waiting passengers who had been preoccupied with their cell phones. The captain soon added that it was his second flight of the day, which relieved the anxious passengers and instantly bonded everyone.

Petz said he later asked the pilot, Capt. Denny, why he said what he did. He replied, “I like my aircraft to be different,” which Petz noted was creating a moment out of the mundane.

Despite only having that one meeting, years later, Petz attended Capt. Denny’s retirement party and rode on his final flight. The initial flight made that much of an impact on him. He also noted that Capt. Denny would call the parents of unaccompanied minors on his flights to assure them that he would get them to their destination safely or show passengers who had pets in the cargo hold photos to prove they were alright

“Mutually beneficial relationships are not something we conquer, “he said. “It’s a series of simple moments that matter to those that we serve.”

Petz used the example of school bus drivers smiling at a student, and that the interaction might be the only positive one the student experiences all day. Something so simple, he said, creates trust, loyalty and connection.

He explained as a magician he identifies touchpoints and reimagines these moments. Amid the stress of student transportation, sometimes professionals forget how impactful those roles are. He asked the attendees, “What is your story? What do you want it to be?” He noted that the moment of connection is different for every one of us.

Petz shared an impactful story about a time he was asked by a charity to perform magic tricks at a children’s hospital. One of the children was a very sick 9-year-old boy named Nathan. His dream was to become the most famous magician in the world, but he was battling a serious illness.

The situation made Petz nervous, he recalled, as he felt he was “just Jon.” How would he be able to help the boy?

Petz decided to accept the invitation and experienced a moment of shock when he realized how sick Nathan was and that a priest was present. But when Nathan saw him, his eyes lit up and he excitedly participated in magic tricks. He performed a trick where he conjured up a seven of hearts card with Nathan’s name on it and magically made it stick to the ceiling above the hospital bed. Petz even performed a trick with the priest’s credit card.

The story wasn’t over, however, as five months later Petz ran into the same priest. When the priest recognized him, he pulled out the credit card that Petz had put his picture on and shared that Nathan had died eight hours after Petz left the hospital. The priest said that Nathan’s family had retrieved the seven of hearts card from the hospital ceiling and placed it in Nathan’s casket, as it represented the last happy moment they had with him as a family.

“Share the things you have,” said Petz.

He continued that emotional experiences are what fuel our passion. He recalled watching motorists illegally pass school buses when he was taking his daughters to school and would reach out to the districts to report the incidents.

Petz encouraged the attendees to reach out and help others find their value. “That’s why you’re here,” he said. “To understand your value.” He encouraged attendees to continue to connect after the show ends, be here next year and expand their network and knowledge.

“You are not just anybody, you are the best at what you do, or you wouldn’t be here,” he told the audience. “We’ve proved that you’re in the right room with the right people at the right time.”

He then prompted attendees to ask themselves the question, “Do I perform to create an amazing moment, or do I perform just enough to get by?”

Petz wrapped up his address by saying that he shares seven of hearts cards at his events, hoping that one day one of the cards will reach Nathan’s family. He asked what could have happened if he had said no to the invitation to see Nathan? He advised attendees to take advantage of the opportunities where they can say yes.

“This room will never happen again. You are here with a purpose,” said Petz. “And STN, it’s showtime.”

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Related: Sharda Presented with Innovator of the Year Award at STN EXPO West

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RENO, Nev. — Transportation directors from six school districts across the U.S. shared the grand and simple techniques they use to increase employee satisfaction and win a Top Transportation Teams Award.

The Top Transportation Teams award is in its third year. The three winning districts in the category with 100 or more employees consist of Hoover City Schools in Alabama, Prosper Independent School District in Texas and Goddard Public Schools in Kansas. The remaining three districts won for the under 100 employees category: Pembroke Central School District in New York, Wa-Nee Community Schools in Indiana, and Franklin Square Union Free School District in New York. Pembroke CSD won the highest overall rank and Prosper ISD had the most people participate. Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of award sponsor Transfinder, led a Monday Lunch and Learn panel with the districts’ transportation directors at STN EXPO West to discuss the reasons for their success.

“We’re not just coworkers, we all look out for each other,” said Gregg Fox, director of transportation for Franklin Square. He said he encourages his drivers to have a positive impact on every child’s day.

Julie Lawson is the transportation supervisor for Pembroke CSD, which also won in 2023. She said it’s all about relationships since her district is in a small town with students and drivers often knowing each other.

Amy Rosa, director of school safety and transportation Wa-Nee Community Schools – another repeat winner from last year – spoke to the good wages and positive relationships with district administration that make her school bus drivers feel supported.

Transportation is often the forgotten department in a school district, noted Sean Hollas, transportation director for Goddard Public Schools. Due to his previous role as a school principal, he said he knew making workplace culture a priority was key to employee satisfaction.

“It’s all about the people,” concurred Brad Hayne, director of transportation for Hoover City Schools, who made it a point to bring several team members to STN EXPO. “You have to be thankful that they’re there, because they could be driving for anyone.”

Teri Mapengo, transportation director for Prosper ISD, agreed that it was important to visibly support bus drivers and keep an open-door policy, so they feel heard.

Focused on Workplace Culture

Goddard Public Schools’ workplace culture was severely lacking when Hollas arrived. He observed from his experience in improving it, that keeping employees with ambivalent or hostile attitudes can harm overall team morale.

When making changes like implementing new technology, Hayne said, “You have to seek out the people who have sway in your department. Get them into your vision.”

Mapengo agreed that getting the loudest people on your side can greatly progress a leader’s ideas.

Fox said he drives the day’s earliest school bus route so he’s visible to his team members and the community, showing that, “I’m one of them, I’m in the field with them.”

Lawson said she likewise sits near drivers in the morning and throws pizza parties to make them feel comfortable talking with her.

“That’s what makes culture stick,” Civitella enthused.

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Rosa shared that she has no driver shortage, which she attributes to good wages and benefits, positive word-of-mouth and the feeling that it’s a mission not a job. Being flexible with scheduling has netted her first responders and school staff who are able to drive part-time. “Now we have a line of people waiting to get in,” she said.

Civitella agreed with panelists that so-called small things like happy birthday wishes, handwritten notes, and emailed congratulations go a long way. “It’s all part of getting people recognized,” he said. One attendee who used to work for Mapengo got emotional as she shared that she still kept her former boss’ handwritten notes to look at.

Fox switched from a catered meal to a potluck to better reflect the cultural diversity and honor the contributions of all his employees. Mapengo added that potlucks are good opportunities for districts with tight budgets to still bring their teams together.

Panelists agreed that making improvements to broken or dirty appliances and break room furniture helps show transportation employees that they are valued and gets them more engaged.

Other techniques attendees added included themed dress-up days, holiday celebrations, March Madness brackets with prizes like having your route covered, personal holiday texts, and personalized conversations.

Mapengo added that a small but significant modification she made was changing “substitute drivers” to “support drivers” for a more inclusive feel.

Could Your District Be a Top Transportation Team?

All panelists agreed that the Top Transportation Team process was a worthwhile experience and they will try to win another award for their teams next year.

Fox stressed the importance of offering employees the chance to give their opinions, even negative ones. He and Rosa agreed that the national recognition by School Transportation News, presenter of the STN EXPO, is a nice change from the usually negative press that transportation gets, even as professionals successfully and quietly run multi-million-dollar organizations every day.

“Remember to keep it about the people,” Hollas said. He also advised cultivating good relationships between drivers and students’ parents.

Hayne noted that data, like the employee surveys that are used to determine the Top Transportation Team award winners, are important and inform his future operations. Show your people their voice matters, he said.

“It’s good to be good but it’s better to be great,” Mapengo commented.

Rosa said she sometimes zooms out on Transfinder’s bus routing map to see operations across the country to gain perspective in the midst of heated situations with a parent or principal. “We’re all in this together,” she stated.

Civitella reminded attendees that the Top Transportation Teams program is free for school districts to enter and includes a copy of the employee survey results. They also don’t have to be a Transfinder client to participate. The winners receive complimentary STN EXPO Main Conference Attendee registration, hotel and airfare.

“There’s always going to be ways you can improve,” he said.

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RENO, Nev. — Katrina Morris, the executive director of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, is the 18th recipient of the Peter J. Gandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence.

The award, sponsored by Q’Straint/SureLok, was presented to Morris on July 14, during the STN EXPO West opening session by Linda Grandolfo, Peter’s widow. Linda keeps Peter’s legacy alive by telling his story every year, enlightening newcomers and reminding frequent attendees of his impact on school transportation.

“He would want all of you to make some connections at this conference, meet some people that you’ve never met before,” Linda said. “Over the years, he learned, he grew and he increased his circle of friends in this industry. It’s comforting to know that I have been giving this award to so many deserving professionals, and then I read about our 2025 winner, —[Peter’s] impact in the field of student transportation remains to this day with so many of you today. We are actually fortunate to have some of our past winners with us.”

Among the past winners in attendance were Alexandra Robinson (2017), industry consultant and previous New York Director of Transportation; Pamela McDonald (2021), retired director of transportation at Orange County Public Schools in California; and Julie Hrebicek (2023), Magnolia Independent School District in Texas.

Linda Grandolfo added that she’s proud of the past recipients and their dedication to yellow school buses. “The responsibility that each of you accepts every day, no matter your area of student transportation, is something you greatly valued,” Linda said, adding that Morris is a leader in student transportation.

She noted that Morris is respected across Michigan for work as director of transportation for the West Shore Community School District, which primarily serves K-8 students with disabilities. She recently transitioned to a consultant role with the district to become the full time MAPT executive director.

Morris is also recognized in her state and beyond for her dedication to safety training and best practices. She is a former president of the MAPT and was instrumental in developing statewide school bus driver security training, the impetus for a state law, since 2002.

Her start in the industry began over 20 years ago as a school bus driver and dispatcher.

“Our 2025 winner, much like Peter is a constant learner who loves building relationships with kids and actually loves their job, she takes their job very seriously and is most proud of getting an $810,000 grant for school bus safety and security, which is now mandated in Michigan,” Linds said.

The Michigan school bus driver security training program is now taught in 35 states. “I watched the video as I was preparing for this speech. It is incredibly powerful,” Linda said, adding that after a six-year battle with the state of Michigan, the Michigan House passed a school bus safety package in 2022.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure every year to present the Peter Grandolfo award to the winners,” said Lisa Nippolt, the western region manager of Q’Straint’s school bus and paratransit market. “This award is really about dedication. It’s about unwavering commitment to ensure that all the children you know are safely transported. And for that, we are immensely grateful to everyone in this room, but congratulations and big thanks to [Morris] for everything that you do.”

Upon accepting the award, Morris said that she was just talking about the Grandolfo award Sunday night and the impact Peter had on the industry.

“To be honored by your husband and his award, I can’t tell you how much that means,” she said. “I’m usually not short for words, but I’m just shocked right now. And you guys thought enough of me that in what I do — it’s all of our passion. It was Peter’s passion too, and we’re just glad that we were able to share that together. So, thank you guys for this award.”

Morris’ Impact on the Industry

Morris has been in the industry for 21 years, starting as a school bus substitute driver. From there, she moved into an office position, which is where her career trajectory took off.

“My passion was really for what people didn’t know about what we do, and it was like, these bus drivers are so phenomenal in what they do for our kids and how big of a role they really play in their lives, and people don’t realize that,” she told STN after the announcement.

She said the perception is that anyone can drive a school bus, but Morris noted that you can’t teach an applicant how to love and care for kids. “I just wanted my passion for that part of it to be heard and for people to really tap into what it is that we offer for our students,” she said.

Noting laws, rules and regulations, i’s the desire to keep improving the driver experience and student safety that keeps Morris engaged with the industry. “We’re all here for the students and their safety,” she said. “But at the same point, we have to remember that we have to get the drivers to where they have to be. We need to remain focused on the drivers and what they need as well as what the kids need. When we both work together in those conjunctions, then we wind up with beautiful outcomes.”

She said the industry is currently shifting its perception about school bus drivers by realizing they play a larger part of the overall district’s success. “I will always come back and fight for the kids and fight for our drivers and fight for what’s right and what they deserve,” she said.

And Morris continues to do just that. Following high profile school shootings, lockdown training became critical for schools. But she noted that school bus drivers were left out. When Morris heard that, she took it upon herself to work with city and county law enforcement as well as the emergency manager to write the curriculum for Proactive Response Training for School Bus Drivers, which has now gone nationwide.

Her current project is a national campaign in conjunction with NASCAR, which she has been working on for the past five years. The goal is to release a commercial that shows a NASCAR driver and school bus on the same racetrack. The driver would see the school bus come stop and follow suit, saying something to the effect of, ‘Even I stop for the red flashing lights of a school bus to help protect all of our kids.’

“My voice is only so loud, but NASCAR has a loud voice, and they have a big target audience,” Morris said, adding that campaigns with people like NASCAR continue to elevate what a school bus driver does.

“It’s helping with the driver shortage to start elevating our people up to where they really need to be,” she said. “No, you may not need a degree, but you need a whole lot of training.”

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Following the presentation of the 18th annual Peter J. Grandofo Memorial Award of Excellence to Katrina Morris of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, Jon Petz delivered a touching, magic-filled keynote address.

Green Bus Summit sessions and Bus Technology Summit labs and demonstrations continued for a second day. Breakout sessions covered topics such as KPIs, electrification, special needs, AI, the recent 17th National Conress on School Transportation, and fuel and energy. A lunchtime panel gathered the six winners of Transfinder’s 2025 Top Transportation Teams award to share their advice.

In the evening, attendees and vendors enjoyed dinner, drinks and networking on the Trade Show floor, with entertainment from roving magic acts.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative & STN staff. 

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RENO, Nev. — The second day at STN EXPO West saw the return of the four-and-a-half-hour seminar “So, You Want to be a Transportation Supervisor?”, presented by transportation professionals and industry veterans Alexandra Robinson, Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, Timothy Purvis and Pamela McDonald.

The seminar began Saturday with introductions from the attendees, during which they shared how many years they have worked in transportation and the variety of roles they have held within the industry. This year, the most experienced sat in the room, representing a total of 1,400 years in the industry, across 72 participants.

“It’s about passion, purpose and connection,” said Vann-Jackson, chief support services officer for Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma, as she highlighted the importance of building relationships within teams.

Attendees at the session were encouraged to build a vision and lead with relationships. One suggestion provided by Vann-Jackson was to get to know employees. “People don’t want to be pulled along; they want to follow. You have to be a leader, and you achieve this by building relationships,” said Vann-Jackson.

She emphasized that one small change can make a big difference. Instead of calling employees into the office, meet them where they are, such as in the break room. Informal settings create comfort and encourage honest conversations. Asking about their lives, and what makes them happy. What do they enjoy outside of work? These types of conversations can create a sense of trust and loyalty.

On the other hand, McDonald, a retired transportation director for Orange Unified School District in Southern California with over 34 years of experience, addressed the importance of promoting and building relationships.

McDonald emphasizes that relationship building shouldn’t stop at the bus yard but rather expand to build connections across other district departments, visiting other school sites, or introducing oneself to board members. Whether it’s recognizing the school nurses on Nurses’ Day with a proclamation or sending retirement or birthday cards, small gestures can go a long way in strengthening interdepartmental relationships.

Nashawn Craig, assistant director of transportation for Taylor Schools in Michigan, started driving a school bus five years ago when he was 19. He slowly moved up from there, becoming a dispatcher and now an assistant director. However, he said, he was very close to his school bus driver when he was younger.

“I’ve always just had a love of school buses,” he shared with STN during the session. “It’s just been a thing for me. And my bus drivers when I was younger, they cared about me more than anybody. And that kind of stuck with me. So, I wanted to be that person for other people within the industry.”

Craig, a first-time STN attendee, said he attended the session to hear more about others’ stories, what people have done in similar situations and recommendations they have.

“I’ve only been the assistant director since July 1, so I’m looking to see what other people have gone through, hear their stories, what resources that they use,” he shared. “So that way, when I eventually move up into a director position, that I have things and people to talk to and relate to and resources.”

During the seminar, Purvis, owner and principal consultant for Pupil Transportation Information, dove into the transformative role of data-driven decision making, encouraging district leaders to leverage data as a strategic asset rather than just a compliance measure.

Purvis emphasized that key performance indicators (KPIs), which are the backbone of data-driven management, are essential tools that public and private sectors alike are embracing to boost efficiency.

The seminar concluded with former executive director of transportation in New York City and in San Diego, California, and current industry consultant Alex Robinson addressing a fundamental question: What does a healthy organization feel like?

“If you hesitate when asked whether a child is safe riding a particular school bus with a specific driver, then that driver shouldn’t be behind the wheel,” said Robinson. She challenged attendees to reflect on their own feelings about their workplaces.

Ultimately, Robinson emphasized that the strength of any organization lies in its people and their shared commitment to growth and excellence. Recognizing the symptoms of dysfunction, embracing hard truths, and fostering leadership development are all part of the journey toward building a healthier workplace.

Three attendees from Sweetwater County School District #1 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, also attended the session, looking to absorb as much information as possible.

Josh Henderson has been in the district for six years, starting as a driver, transitioning to a trainer and CDL third-party tester, before becoming a route coordinator. He shared that last school year the district director resigned, and Henderson threw his name in the hat, along with another internal employee, who received the position. He said the class provided him with a lot of knowledge about what goes into being a director and what the future would hold in terms of that position.

He said he’s a people person and really connected with the stories relating to fostering department culture and engaging with staff. First-time attendee Amanda Vincent who started at Sweetwater County School District #1 as a school bus aide 19 years ago, then transitioned to a driver, then a dispatcher, and now she does over the road and in town field trips and specialize in specials transportation routes, shared that she came to the session to learn how to have that open communication between staff members.

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RENO, Nev. – A Sunday Green Bus Summit session at STN EXPO West featured the opinions of two transportation directors and a fleet maintenance supervisor that use propane in their bus fleets.

Stephen Whaley, alternative fuels manager for Blue Bird, charted how the California Air Resources Board will require heavy-duty NOx emissions to meet the standards of 0.035 g/bhp-hr in 2027. The propane school buses offered by Blue Bird and its drivetrain partner ROUSH CleanTech exceed these standards at 0.02 g/bhp-hr, he said. He also reviewed the safety and abundance of propane autogas as well as the ease of fueling.

Panel moderator Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas for the Propane Education and Research Council, asked the three transportation employees who made up the rest of the panel about their experiences with propane school buses.

Peninsula School District in Washington is the third bus fleet that Director of Transportation Dawnette Wright has transitioned to propane. She advised building trust by bringing in vendor partners to answer questions and educate both drivers and mechanics. Her diesel bus total cost of ownership (TCO) is $1.10 per mile while her propane bus is 56 cents per mile. She shared that the $50,319 she saved in one year by using propane buses will enable the hiring of another staff member.

Casey Jebens, director of transportation for Sherwood School District in Oregon, has 40 buses, about half of which are propane. He noted that as a former driver-trainer, he understood the importance of obtaining both stakeholder and staff buy-in on such a project. It wasn’t a hard sell, however. With Sherwood being a small town near Portland, student health due to low air quality around diesel buses was a concern. Fuel cost effectiveness and maintenance ease sealed the deal.

“When the cost to run your propane bus is about half that of your diesel bus, it pencils out very quickly,” he added.

Wright and Jebens underscored the need to communicate with and rely on fuel vendor partners to accommodate unique district needs, access wet fueling via a mobile tanker if needed, and perform necessary maintenance as part of the contract.

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Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor Raymond Manalo, Jr., explained that San Juan Unified School District near Sacramento, California is both urban and rural and transports about 1,000 students with special needs. Desiring to diversify the bus fleet and recognizing the lack of support for electrification at the federal government level, the district has recently added 35 propane buses to its fleet. Drivers are skeptical but undergoing expert training and ROUSH CleanTech is training technicians. Wet fueling is taking place as infrastructure is still being planned.

Although there are hurdles in introducing propane autogas to a district that hasn’t experienced it before, Manalo expressed optimism for success through training and partnerships. Shop modifications and specialized training would be more intense with electric buses than with propane, he commented, drawing from his experience as vehicle maintenance manager at nearby Twin Rivers Unified School District, which made headlines for its enthusiastic electric school bus adoption.

All the panelists agreed that there were no significant issues sending their propane buses on the road for regular routes. Jebens said that if anything, older diesel buses elicit more reliability concerns. He added that education helps familiarize the community with the new vehicles as well.

Wright and Jebens expressed appreciation for the cleanliness of propane buses due to lack of particulate matter as well as their quietness, two factors that reduce student behavior incidents.

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RENO, Nev. – The morning began with a presentation of the Innovator of the Year award to Gaurav Sharda of Beacon Mobility and a CEO “Tech Talk” by Zonar CEO Charles Kriete.

Attendees gathered in-depth information and hands-on experience during sponsored Green Bus Summit and Bus Technology Summit sessions throughout the day. More sessions took place on school bus Wi-Fi, passenger safety, clean bus implementation, funding sources and mock casualty exercises.

An all-day electric circuitry training was led by David Roper, a veteran automotive instructor who works with Clean Cities in Southern California.

The evening’s Ride & Drive + Live Technology Demonstrations took place outdoors and provided not only opportunities for vendor connection but also the chance to get up close and personal with the latest in clean bus technology.

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RENO, Nev. — Innovator of the Year Gaurav Sharda expressed his gratitude when he accepted the award Sunday morning during the opening session at STN EXPO West.

Sharda joined Beacon Mobility as the vice president of HR technology in October 2021 and currently serves as chief technology officer. But his technological and human resources background far exceeds his time at Beacon. He grew up in India, receiving his bachelor’s degree in engineering, electronics and communications before moving to the U.S. in 2009. He then obtained a master’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Iowa.

When looking at award nominations, STN President and Publisher Tony Corpin said the selection process is not taken lightly and the individuals selected embody the spirit of the award. The Innovator of the Year award, presented in conjunction with the National School Transportation Association, looks at a broad spectrum of “amazing” individuals who represent school transportation, safety, innovation, thought leadership and people.

“It’s a people business,” he said, adding that when selecting the winner, nominations are graded based on how the individual is looking out for the students and how to benefit students and the communities that they serve.

“This individual is without a doubt one of the most humble, generous, forward-thinking, people-centric individuals that I’ve met,” Corpin shared. “He has taken some of the things at Beacon Mobility and really made it integrate with partners using AI and technology and created an app that allows the drivers to communicate within the ecosystem.”

He noted that Beacon Mobility CEO Judith Crawford had nominated Sharda. “And after we saw him, we thought, ‘Wow, what an amazing individual.’’

Sharda noted when accepting the award that it was such a humbling moment. He thanked members of STN, NSTA and individuals on his team who were part of the journey.

“I’ve learned a lot from everybody and the entire Beacon Mobility team,” he told the STN EXPO West attendees. “I’ve got a few people supporting today here, and just doing things to serve our drivers or serve our customers and create the best experience for all the riders we serve on a daily basis.

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“It’s been an exciting journey, a very humbling journey, and learning with each passing day,” he continued, adding that it wouldn’t have been possible without support from vendor partners.

He said that he is very grateful for all the people who have gone along for the journey, and noted this is just the beginning of what’s possible in terms of AI and technology.

“We are in the infancy stages,” he said. “I think we can do a lot more for our drivers, for our buses, for our customers, the riders and special needs. It’s a big part of their day, their lives, and we want to use technology to create the best rider experience and provide a caring, reliable and connected experience.”

Read more about Sharda in the July issue of School Transportation News and listen to his STN podcast interview.

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RENO, Nev. – Zonar CEO Charles Kriete promoted technology-driven solutions to the many challenges facing school transportation such as school bus driver deficits, illegal passings, onboard student bullying and budget squeezes.

“The path forward is a connected data system,” he declared during his CEO Tech Talk Sunday morning at STN EXPO West. He explained that elements, including AI-powered video leading to actionable insights, telematics, route optimization, and real-time parent connection, can be used to help inform school district personnel and vendor partners for a smoother overall operation.

He explained Zonar’s all-in-one solution with optimized routing, turn-by-turn driver directions, electronic vehicle inspection, electric school bus monitoring, GPS, stop arm cameras, real-time diagnostics, internal cameras, maintenance data, student ridership tracking, a parent app and more.

The company listened to what student transporters wanted and is leveraging AI to optimize operations, Kriete underscored.

“Not artificial intelligence, actionable intelligence,” he quipped. “Data is a very valuable thing but there’s a lot of time spent trying to convert that data into something useful.”

Safety and efficiency are paramount, he summed up. He encouraged attendees to remember that they are in the business of student access to education and must keep that as the priority.

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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Jon Petz, a former sales executive turned professional magician and the “World’s Only Amazement Artist,” demonstrated through magic tricks and puzzle solving that “moments of amazement” can provide opportunities for real connection.

“We fall in love with how difficult a problem is, but what if we tried to simplify it?” he queried at the Transportation Director Summit on Saturday morning. He presented a series of brainteasers with simple solutions, like the college student who suggested letting the air out of the tires of a truck stuck under an overpass.

The transportation directors, managers and vendor partners gathered in the room at The Chateau at Incline Village to discuss examples of novel solutions that they or their teams had come up with in their districts. These included developing an in-house student behavior management class with input from teachers, having a vendor refuel buses to avoid driver overtime and accidental school bus damage at the gas station, and inviting district administrators to work a day as a school bus driver so they gain empathy before making detrimental rules.

While some problems may have simple solutions, Petz confirmed that the jobs transportation directors perform is not at all simple. He posed a word problem: A plane is going down and some passengers need to be thrown off to reach the weight limit. He provided sheets with fictional passengers’ ages, weights and employment status and had the tables discuss who should be thrown off the plane. The exercise showed that everyone comes to different moral and ethical conclusions.

Big decisions cannot be reduced to numbers on a page, he said, which is why leaders must get curious about their employees and clients. He shared a story of a room he once  observed, where a company leader celebrated huge revenue numbers while the team members seemed disengaged.

“Think about those people we serve and how we can serve them better,” Petz stated.

Throughout the day, he called attendees on stage to assist in magic and card tricks, enrapturing the crowd. He demonstrated the need to maintain a poker face in certain difficult situations, like when speaking with a difficult administrator or employee, by passing out playing cards to participants and using their facial cues to guess the correct cards.

Another way to connect with team members is to get vulnerable and share scary or “scarry” — referring to scars many of us still carry — stories. Attendees shared harrowing or gory tales with their tables and then the whole room as Petz explained that such exercises teach us so much about the people we see and work with every day.

“As leaders, we have to put ourselves out there,” Petz stated. He held up a $20 bill and asked who wanted it. Nearly every hand in the room went up but only two people got out of their seats and came forward to get it.

“You become a leader by title, but that doesn’t make you a leader,” Petz said. “Purpose is what drives your passion to do more than what you have to do.”

He recounted a stellar experience at a grocery store, when all employees enthusiastically told him about each department and sent him off with food samples. The CEO later told him, “I empower my people to make decisions that are best for each customer.”

“How do you empower your people?” Petz asked, adding that the ideas discussed during his presentation can help attendees not only better connect with others at the conference, but also their district team back home.

He lastly led attendees through a mimed event in which the audience supported the illusion of a magic trick, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the right moments so that the recipient had an unforgettable moment.

“The simplest of moments are significant for those who we serve,” Petz summed up.

Related: STN EXPO East Offers Sports Lessons for Transportation Leadership
Related: (STN Podcast E262) Assess & Fix: The NJ Transportation Director Managing 63 Contractors
Related: Donning a Leadership Cap
Related: (STN Podcast E199) Managerial Perspectives: From Dairy Farming to Black History Month
Related: Hypnotist ‘Trance-forms’ Transportation Director Summit Minds

Jon Petz will present his keynote “Significance … In Simple Moments” Monday morning at Peppermill Resort Casino.

The post Magician Teaches Transportation Directors About Connection at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

RENO, Nev. — The National School Bus Inspection Training Program developed by school bus maintenance and inspection expert Marshall Casey, formerly the director of maintenance for the South Carolina Department of Education, trains technicians on how to conduct regular vehicle inspections, above and beyond state or federal Department of Transportation guidance.

Friday’s agenda included six hours of classroom instruction, including preparation for a written exam. On Saturday, attendees traveled to Washoe County School District’s south transportation facility, practiced identifying defects on real school buses and got an overview of electric school bus high-voltage identification.

The class was taught by school district fleet maintenance professionals and representatives from Long Beach (California) Clean Cities, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

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RENO, Nev. — Jon Petz, a former sales executive turned professional magician, led dozens of transportation supervisors and vendor partners in discussions about creating genuine team connections.

Another group was bused Saturday to nearby Washoe County School District for the hands-on portion of the National School Bus Inspection Training, which included hands-on identification of defects on real school buses and an overview of electric school bus high-voltage components.

Back at the Peppermill Resort Casino, Darren Reaume of sponsor Q’Straint/Sure-Lok led an advanced course designed for experienced transportation directors, supervisors and trainers on wheelchair securement, troubleshooting techniques and best practice recommendations.

Additionally, the “So, You Wanna Be Transportation Supervisor?” seminar returned with an all-star panel of student transportation experts that provided best practices for attendees who wish to transition into a supervisory role, or who are looking to brush up on their managerial skillsets.

The day closed out with a “Fire & Ice” themed welcome party sponsored by Transfinder and School Bus Logistics.

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RENO, Nev. – STN EXPO West kicked off with a welcome reception on Thursday evening and proceeded into intensive training classes on Friday.

Dick Fischer and Pete Baxter, who together have over 100 years of service in pupil transportation and are both are expert witnesses in court for legal cases involving school bus collisions, led a class on school bus accident investigation.

The specially developed National School Bus Inspection Training Program and the official NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training also took place, as well as a new 4-hour seminar on school bus routing.

AMF-Bruns also presented its Mastering Wheelchair & Occupant Securement Training Certification Class.

The education continues Saturday.

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RENO, Nev. — In a four-hour seminar on routing, consultant Kerry Somerville spoke to attendees at STN EXPO West about everything from implementing routing software and the RFP process to training and using the software.

Whether attendees came to the class Friday to become up to date on the offerings after retirement, or because they were a school bus driver being told to route themselves, or even due to being the director of safety and wanting to see the benefits of routing, all left with a deeper understanding of route specifics.

“I’m not here to talk bad about [any company], but I want you guys to be aware, to ask questions about what you’re buying and how you’re implementing it,” said Somerville owner of Transportation Planning Solutions as well as a transportation supervisor for Show Low Unified School District in Arizona.

Related: (STN Podcast E263) Not an Easy Button: Expert Gives School Bus Routing Technology Tips

Somerville explained that the RFP is the district’s opportunity to specify exactly what they want and need from software. “Designate who’s going to run the software,” he shared, adding that there needs to be a backup in case that person is unavailable.

He noted that when creating the RFP, one needs to be realistic and not ask for things that aren’t possible. Similarly, he noted it’s important to be prepared to pay for solutions that meet the requirements being asked for. He also advised not asking for good references, which any company can provide. Instead, he suggested asking about failed implementations and why they occurred.

Somerville noted that a phased implementation is a better approach, rather than implementing technology all at once. And while some districts have the expectations that the lowest bid must be accepted, that may mean they don’t get the features or functions they want or need.

One attendee shared his operation is in search of its third routing software.

When discussing what is wanted versus what is needed, Somerville noted that the bandwidth of people and the size of operation play important roles. Ask yourself, what is your end goal, he noted, adding that sometimes it’s not necessarily about implementing a new product but training on a current one.

Once new routing software is implemented, the next stage is training. He noted that five days of intense training may seem like it’s the best approach, but when it gets to day five, employees might have forgotten what you learned on day one. Instead, he advised districts engage in continuous ongoing training, citing the importance of creating a training plan.

He also said training is both the vendor and district responsibility and should include routes. If a district is implementing remote training, he said it’s important to determine if it will really work for the team.

Other aspects of implementation include student data and working with one’s IT department to make sure the nightly download is accurate. He also advised working with the district’s management team to ensure that student data is accurate and highlighted the importance of how good address data is critical.

Plus, he asked, how does your software handle changes such as adding students and routes, changing bus stop locations and deleting information? “There is no such thing as a perfect map,” he said.

He outlined pros and cons to the various type of maps available.

Maps change, Somerville explained, and there needs to be away to update them. Plus, he added that data affects the quality of routes. For instance, a left turn may have a greater penalty than a right turn, adding that UPS trucks in the U.S. are programmed to minimize or avoid left turns due to safety and efficiency benefits. On the other hand, being able to adjust speed data via software can make a significant difference in the accuracy of your runs. Other data that affect routing include attendance boundaries, hazards and walk zones.

Related: STN EXPO Scholarship Winner Has Personal Passion for Student Transportation Safety
Related: Innovation Awards Returns to STN EXPO, Vote on Site
Related: Download App for 2025 STN EXPO West Conference

Somerville said optimization should be used as a tool, not a solution. He said every year there’s a big story about a school district being promised to save millions of dollars with optimization and then it failed day one of school start up. He said all data elements affect optimization. He advised testing the runs — everything from timing, routing, time spent at each stop, and speed — the software products prior to the first day of school.

Overall, when using software, he advised using it every day as practice makes perfect. He said he finds that most school districts only use about one-tenth of the function that the software can do. “Keep the data fresh,” he said, adding to avoid the “this doesn’t work trap.”

This, he said, is why it’s important to get what you want in the RFP process.

He concluded by urging the audience to not give up. “Learning new software, new ways of doing things can be a challenge, difficult and frustrating but the reward is at the end when you can provide the answers people need quickly and easily,” he said.

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RENO, Nev. — STN EXPO West kicked off with school transportation experts Richard Fischer and Peter Baxter, who presented the “School Bus Accident Investigation: Be Prepared for a Lawsuit” session.

“You need to know more than you need to know,” said Peter Baxter Friday as the four-hour-long accident investigation session began. With the play on the famous Oscar Wilde quote, Baxter aimed to emphasize the need for transportation professionals to acquire more knowledge than they believe they will need to know in the industry.

Attendees at the session were taught about the importance of safety and preparedness within the student transportation sector, particularly as it pertains to handling incidents involving school buses. Both Fischer and Baxter said their goal was to equip attendees with essential skills in mitigating risks associated with school transportation.

Dick Fischer is widely recognized as the Father of School Bus Safety Week for successfully petitioning President Richard Nixon in 1972 for the first federal proclamation. He and Pete Baxter, a retired state director of student transportation for the Indiana Department of Education are both members of the National Association for Pupil Transportation Hall of Fame. Baxter is one of only two people to serve as president of both NAPT and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.

Fischer, who was recognized at the 2024 STN EXPO West with a lifetime achievement award, noted that the main priority of transportation professionals should be the students they transport. He emphasized the acronym “GOAL,” short for get out and look, when addressing how drivers should not be reluctant to exit the bus when they can’t see if a student crossed or to do a  maintenance check on the bus if needed during a route.

Fischer explained that many student transportation professionals believe that it is illegal for school bus drivers to exit the vehicle while on route. However, that is not the case. Currently, California is the only state where drivers must get off the bus to cross the road with elementary students when the bus is stopped on the opposite side of where the student’s home is located. This law was established in 1932, and since then reportedly no student or driver has been killed by an illegal passing incident.

During the seminar, Fischer transitioned into the topic of the danger zone, which refers to the 10- to 12-feet hazardous area surrounding school buses where students are at the most risk during loading and unloading. He highlighted the importance of being able to look over the hood of the bus when driving.

A scenario was acted out, where two attendees with different heights represented the difference between a shorter and taller school bus driver and how their respective danger zones are different. Fischer explained the importance of setting the driver’s seat at its lowest point to get an accurate description of the true danger zone for each driver. The ability to maintain awareness of one’s surroundings is pivotal in preventing incidents and ensuring student safety.

When the question, “What do you think the toughest task is in preventing a collision?” was asked by the speakers, many attendees were quick to respond. Some of them agreed that the toughest task is predicting the other behavior of other motorists on the road.

Fischer recommended that school bus drivers conduct department safety meetings. He suggested for directors of transportation and/or safety trainers to assign a month to drivers for organizing safety meetings while sharing ideas with them on what they could discuss during these meetings.

He also pointed out that school districts with school buses equipped with cameras should look at the recorded videos on a daily basis to prevent school bus related incidents from continuously occuring. Safe behaviors that are rewarded will be repeated but wrong behavior that is not called out or reported will be repeated as well. This is why both Fischer and Baxter emphasized the importance of reporting any unprofessional behavior instead of looking the other way. They referred to this as “CYA” or covering your “Adam’s apple.” In other words, the advised taking appropriate measures to protect oneself from potential blame, legally or otherwise.

Related: Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Offered for STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO Scholarship Winner Has Personal Passion for Student Transportation Safety
Related: Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West

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DENVER, Colo. – EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced a major investment in technology and talent as part of its bold vision to redefine the modern student transportation experience. EverDriven’s commitment is driven by a clear mission: to build a future where every student’s journey is safe, reliable, and fully transparent. Central to that mission is future-proof technology that puts students, caregivers, and districts at the heart of our approach.

“As we look ahead, we see technology as the key enabler of modern student transportation, where seamless access, real-time visibility, and peace of mind are the standard for every ride,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “This vision drives our investment in both world-class talent and next-generation technology. We’re not just responding to today’s needs; we’re actively building the infrastructure for tomorrow’s student journeys.”

To realize this vision, EverDriven is expanding its product engineering hub and tripling its technology workforce, adding new roles across product development, UI design, engineering, and quality assurance. This investment will accelerate platform innovation and support the infrastructure needed for a more intelligent, user-centered transportation system—one that evolves alongside the changing needs of the districts, caregivers, and students EverDriven serves.

EverDriven’s innovation rollout is already underway, with new features launching in August, including real-time vehicle tracking, historical trip analysis for smarter routing, and automated driver assignment capabilities. These advancements mark the first step in a broader strategy to set new standards for safety, efficiency, and transparency in student transportation.

“We’re investing in the people and technology that will define the future of student transportation,” said Mon-Chaio Lo, Chief Product and Technology Officer at EverDriven. “Our next-generation platform will empower districts, caregivers, drivers, and students with the tools they need for the safest, most efficient experience with 360-degree visibility today and for years to come.”

To learn more about EverDriven’s commitment to modernizing student transportation through a tech-enabled, human-led approach, visit https://www.everdriven.com/technology/.

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

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An Arkansas transportation director and payroll specialist sang the praises of integrated technology company Bytecurve.

Using manual paper timekeeping is a common issue in the industry, said Bryan Mitchell, marketing director for Bytecurve parent company Transit Technologies, during a sponsored webinar Tuesday. He reviewed how school bus operations are complicated by elements like increased transportation costs, driver shortages, inflation, angry parents, payroll errors, union pressure and siloed tech systems. He noted that while half of U.S. students rely on bus services, school bus drivers have decreased by 15 from 2019 to 2023.

“There is so much pressure on transportation to operate darn near perfection,” he quipped. “These challenges are profound.”

Jonathan Agenten, director of North American sales for the scheduling, dispatch and payroll solution that is Bytecurve, reviewed how combining GPS tracking, routing and payroll systems though a customizable dashboard helps districts provide automation and easy answers for both parents looking for their kids and staff needing to get paid.

“You as transportation professionals should not have to spend time on the things that run well,” Agenten said. “Our system is dying to be customized specific to your department’s needs, your rules and the way you pay your people.”

Russellville School District in central Arkansas transports 3,200 students on 43 daily routes covering 99 square miles. Transportation Director Christopher King said payroll was previously a process taking up to 15 days per month and involving inaccurate entries, extra time required to verify them and a 4 to 5-inch stack of timesheets to be signed.

“We were spending hours and days on tasks that should take us minutes,” he said. “It was almost a stone tablet and chisel, that how we did payroll.”

King shared how the district modernized by replacing those outdated, paper-based payroll and dispatch systems with a fully integrated solution powered by Zonar GPS and tablets along with Bytecurve’s digital timekeeping and payroll platform. He shared that tracking the time spent, staff needed and stress involved in the manual processes helped convince administration that the Bytecurve solution was a good investment.

Christina Herdman, Russellville School District’s payroll specialist, spoke to how the phased roll-out required school bus drivers to accept the new processes. Most drivers are between 50 and 80 years old and some needed her help to set up the apps on their phones. Having rapport goes a long way, she added. “When they come into your office, give them your time. It goes a long way,” she said.

She relayed that over 95 percent of Russellville’s drivers, even those who use flip phones and are “terrified” of technology, have adjusted. She shared how staff are pleased with how easily they can clock in and out or adjust their timesheets.

Related: Technology Adoption, Utilization Panel Discussion Planned for STN EXPO West
Related: (STN Podcast E259) Feel the Passion: Debates on Wi-Fi, Technology, Alternative Transportation & Safety
Related: Roundup: Bus Technology Summit at STN EXPO Charlotte 2025
Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: New Technology Provides Data to School Bus Routing

Stats shown during the webinar confirmed that the district has nearly eliminated payroll errors. This has saved 10 hours per week in driver communications and payroll reconciliation, and resulted in $15,000 monthly labor cost savings, even after wage increases.

Having a one-stop shop to monitor school buses and handle employee information streamlined operations and saved valuable time, King confirmed. Herdman noted that procedural changes and driver substitutions can easily be made through the system and pushed out digitally to affected parties. Communications are vastly improved and any type of reports needed can be quickly pulled.

“It has changed our lives, changed the way we operate,” King declared.

“It’s amazing,” Herdman agreed. “Payroll went from 1,000 manual tasks to [pressing]five buttons.”

Both King and Herdman praised Bytecurve’s customization and customer service, with most questions answered in hours.

Bytecurve technology is used on 55,000 buses and by over 60,000 employees nationwide, said Mitchell. Field trip management software busHive, interior cameras, and AI-powered safety solutions like driver monitoring systems and lane departure warnings can be used in tandem.

Leveraging technology thoughtfully and accurately helps put dollars back into the classroom and save administrative staff’s time, he added.

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post Arkansas District Uses Technology to Save Money and Time appeared first on School Transportation News.

The official app sponsored by Transfinder gives attendees of STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, all the event information they need, as well as a place to make connections.

1. Download the EventScribe App

Search for “Eventscribe” on the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Alternatively, scan the QR code below with your phone and it will automatically direct you. 

Install and open the app. Find your event icon in the Upcoming Events (bottom row) or search for STN EXPO West.

2. Log in to the App

Once the event is selected, you will be prompted to log in. Enter your email address and password (the same credentials you used to register for the event – password is your Registrant ID).

3. Access the Event Features

After logging in, you can access event schedules, session details, speaker information, exhibitor lists, and more.

Browse the event information and create a personal schedule by tapping on the star next to presentation titles. If you pre-registered for a session, it will show up as a “Favorite” session.

Tips!

Download the app before you go! Wi-Fi connection onsite can affect the functionality of the app.

The four icons at the top of the home screen allow quick access to information on Schedules, Speakers, Exhibitors, and the Activity Feed. Also on the home screen are shortcuts to the Scavenger Hunt, Trade Show Floor Plan, list of Attendees, and Event Information.

Use the Schedule tab to see all the available sessions and select the star button next to your chosen ones to create personalized schedules for the week.

From the app homepage, access lists of Attendees and Trade Show Exhibitors. Send connection requests to other attendees and mark the star next to vendors who you meet and chat with to keep the conversations flowing even after the conference.

Share your thoughts! After each session, complete a quick three-question survey to provide feedback. Near the end of the conference, an overall evaluation will be available for your general impressions. Your input is greatly appreciated!

The Illusion Challenge Scavenger Hunt starts on Monday, July 14, the day of the Trade Show. Visit vendor booths to scan QR codes and unlock questions to answer. The more Trade Show booths you visit and correct answers you give, the faster you climb the leaderboard toward some slam-dunk prizes!

As always, stay tuned at stnonline.com and social media channels for extensive conference and trade show coverage, including articles, photo galleries, videos and more.

Related: STN EXPO East Presents Tour of Thomas Built Buses Plant
Related: STN EXPO East Keynote Speaker Brings Dynamic Performance Strategies to North Carolina
Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East
Related: STN EXPO East Sessions Focus on Fire Safety, Partnerships with First Responders

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Washington D.C. parents who have kids with disabilities are now able to select transportation preferences for the upcoming school year via an online portal.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education released a statement on June 25 by State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell, encouraging parents and guardians with children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that lists yellow bus transportation as a service to log on to the new OSSE Parent Portal. This online tool empowers parents to directly select transportation preferences for the upcoming school year.

According to the statement, the OSSE Parent Portal opened on June 9, and parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up by submitting their transportation preferences by July 11.

“By putting parents directly in the driver’s seat, we are not only streamlining the process but also placing decision-making power where it belongs, at the family level,” said Mitchell via the statement.

Once parents log into the portal, they will have the option to choose their preferred language from among six options and select from three transportation options: No Transportation Needed, Parent Stipend Program (available to students who have previously utilized OSSE transportation services, except for students in pre-K through third grade students, for whom the stipend option is automatically available), and OSSE-DOT Transportation.

The process should take less than five minutes. Once parents’ information is completed, transportation details need to be confirmed, including any necessary accommodations such as arrangements for a one-to-one aide, school nurse or booster seat as per the student’s IEP. The new portal reportedly ensures accuracy of transportation needs and allocates buses to students in critical need of transportation services. For more information, parents can visit this link.

Related: Passion for Transportation Shines Through Washington ‘Rising Star’
Related: Washington Law Provides Contracted Bus Drivers Same Benefits as District Employees
Related: Celebrate Accomplishments When Transporting Students with Disabilities
Related: Washington Students Aid School Bus Driver Who Lost Consciousness

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The fourth annual STN EXPO Innovation Choice Awards program returns to STN EXPO 2025 in Reno, Nevada.

The program is open to any individual, organization or authorized agent that exhibits at STN EXPO West and promotes school transportation products. The four categories are Best Hardware, Best Software, Best Safety Technology, and Best Green Bus Technology. Attendees can vote on-site July 13 through July 15. 

Attendees can scan QR codes at each participating exhibitor booth to cast votes during the STN EXPO Trade Show and Magical Networking Event on July 14 and the Trade Show on July 15. Winners will be announced at a later date.

View the list of exhibitor products below. Exhibitors submitted their own product descriptions that have been edited for space and clarity.

AlphaRoute (Booth 113)
Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: Alphie AI by AlphaRoute
Meet Alphie—the smart, simple and secure AI assistant built to make every routing professional’s life easier. Your district routing team already knows the right questions to ask. But digging through massive datasets to find meaningful answers can be tedious and time-consuming. That process is much faster in AlphaRoute’s intuitive software, but why bother making even a few clicks when Alphie can answer your question immediately? This user-friendly tool lets your team ask plain-language questions like, “Which routes consistently run late?” or, “What route is Johnny currently assigned to?” And it delivers instant results, from summary stats to detailed charts. From metrics for morning meetings to data deep-dives that fix recurring headaches, Alphie AI delivers clarity in seconds. Precise, insightful, and easy to use—just ask Alphie!

AngelTrax (Booth 628)
Category: Best Hardware, Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Vulcan Series BEV360 Bird’s Eye View 360-Degree Camera System
Developed specifically to keep kids safer around the school bus, the BEV360 Bird’s Eye View 360-Degree Camera System is your school bus fleet’s next step toward safer students and safer streets. Using AI detection technology, the BEV360 identifies students around the school bus in real time and warns the driver when students enter the danger zone in close proximity to the bus. The BEV360 features four 1080P cameras for a panoramic view of the vehicle’s surrounding area, a seven-inch monitor for the driver’s real-time reference, and a system control box for storage and AI technology. The system captures clear video and stitches all views together, forming a 360-degree bird’s eye view displayed on the monitor. The BEV360 has two microSD card slots for recording as a stand-alone unit and is compatible with Vulcan Series recording units for simultaneous recording of additional cameras and for live view and live tracking features when equipped with optional software and an active Internet connection.

Blue Bird (Booth 321)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: 4Front
Ensure driver safety and minimize the impact of frontal crashes with IMMI’s 4Front frontal airbag for school buses. The robust size and weight of these vehicles make them susceptible to severe collisions, underscoring the importance of advanced safety measures. IMMI’s 4Front airbag provides essential protection for bus drivers, reducing the risk of injuries in frontal accidents. Elevate your commitment to safety on the road and prioritize driver well-being with this innovative solution, a crucial addition to any school bus aiming for a safer and more secure driving experience.

Bosch (Booth 300)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: MHT Front Camera ADAS
School buses carry our most precious cargo to our most valued institutions. Bosch has brought some of its most advanced technology to help significantly reduce our nation’s school buses from collisions with others on the road. Be it children running to get to the bus stop, bicyclists sharing the road on their way to school, or other vehicles making abrupt lane changes, our Bosch Front Camera Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) can actively help to prevent and minimize possible incidents. For increased safety, our Bosch Front Camera ADAS solution can also assist to maintain the school bus in its lane if the bus driver gets distracted, and even warn the bus driver if driving above the posted speed limit. Below are a list of features that can be added to any school bus: Collision mitigation by Brake Lane Keep Assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition.

Confluence Security (Booth 142)
Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: District Security Center Fleet Monitor
Confluence Security is redefining what’s possible in school bus security solutions. We move beyond the outdated model of isolated bus DVRs and introduce a modern, Open-Architecture Enterprise Security Platform purpose-built for K–12 pupil transportation. As school districts adopt unified security ecosystems across campuses, the lack of true integration options for school buses has become a major gap. Confluence Security fills that gap. We educate the pupil transportation market on the advantages of combining best-in-class components from multiple manufacturers into a single, unified platform—one that delivers intelligent, accurate, and immediate data to Security Operators, empowering proactive intervention.
We call this approach: ProAction! Our platform builds on the included fundamental features of security systems such as: Bi-directional live video and audio, access control, license plate recognition, IoT sensor integration, and real-time network management.
These standard features work in concert to enable AI-verified event notifications delivered to the appropriate responders. Whether it’s SROs, school deans, or local 911/LE dispatch, authorized personnel can view live video and audio to interact with students and drivers. Our Federation-as-a-Service (FaaS) model enables secure sharing of information across internal departments and external agencies without the need for direct IT network connections. This secure cloud tool promotes effective collaboration during incidents, allowing for immediate teamwork while maintaining organizational independence.
To further streamline response, our platform offering features Intelligent Automation, guiding operators with real-time decision support and response protocols. Events are logged, categorized and stored using cloud-based digital evidence management systems (DEMS) – fully integrated with law enforcement CAD/RMS systems. All digital evidence is stored in a government-grade, secure cloud environment and organized by case number, forever.
Fulfilling CORA/FOIA requests is now as simple as sending an email with a permission-based link, reducing processing time from days to mere minutes. In an era where AI and advanced analytics are transforming school security, transportation systems are still largely bound by analog, proprietary, and siloed technologies. At Confluence Security, we’re working relentlessly to change that. Through evidence-based research and development, we’re bringing the power of enterprise-grade, intelligent security to school bus fleets – ensuring they are as secure, connected, and capable as the school buildings they serve.

First Light Safety Products (Booth 309)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Fully Illuminated Stop Arm
First Light’s Fully Illuminated Stop Arm delivers maximum visibility to your stopped school bus when recognizing it is needed the most: in darkness, dusk, dawn, poorly lit roads, fog, rain, and snow. They are, by far, the brightest and most noticeable stop arms in the world.

Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Illuminated School Bus Sign
First Light’s Illuminated School Bus Signs convey to oncoming motorists the importance of the school bus when transporting students. They are large visual warning lights that replace the SCHOOL BUS decals and backlit signs.

First Student (Booth 542)
Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: HALO
HALO is First Student’s proprietary, purpose-built technology platform designed to fundamentally transform how school transportation is managed, delivered and experienced. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions retrofitted for school use, HALO was developed from the ground up by the largest K-12 transportation provider in North America to meet the specific needs of school districts, drivers and families. HALO unifies every key aspect of transportation operations, routing, vehicle maintenance, safety monitoring, driver management, EV charging, vehicle tracking, and real-time communication, into one seamless, intelligent system. The result is a data-driven platform that gives school districts live visibility into day-to-day operations, equips drivers with intuitive tools that enhance performance and safety, and delivers families real-time transparency and peace of mind. The impact is real and widely recognized across the industry. HALO isn’t just a concept, but a proven platform delivering measurable results in efficiency, accountability, and service quality. It’s redefining what’s possible in student transportation.

Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: First View
First View, powered by HALO, is transforming how school districts and families experience student transportation, bringing real-time visibility, reliable communication and peace of mind to every ride. First View is a secure, GPS-based tracking and communication platform that connects school transportation teams with the families they serve. Through the district dashboard, administrators gain operational control and system-wide visibility. The parent mobile app empowers caregivers with timely, accurate updates on their student’s trip, whether on a yellow bus or alternative vehicle. With First View, districts can: Monitor the status of every vehicle and trip in real time, track both school bus and alternative transportation journeys, send instant service alerts to families for delays or route changes, review trip history and vehicle details for greater transparency. Plus, families can track their student’s bus or vehicle in real time, monitor multiple students from one account, receive customizable ETA alerts and notifications and plan their day with confidence, knowing exactly when and where their student’s vehicle will arrive. Already in use by over 13,000 schools across 605 school districts and trusted by more than half a million parents, First View is delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, communication and family experience. As the most used vehicle tracking app by a K-12 transportation provider, it’s not just innovation in theory, it’s innovation in action, making school transportation safer, smarter, and less stressful for everyone involved.

Freedman by Lippert (Booth 447)
Category: Best Safety technology
Product/Solution: SeatLink
Freedman’s SeatLink Seat Tracking Information System is designed to enhance passenger safety across various bus types—including school, paratransit, midsize, and heavy-duty buses—by providing real-time monitoring and reporting of seat occupancy and seatbelt usage. This advanced system supports up to 90 passengers and uses wireless communication between individual seat modules and a centralized head unit display. It alerts drivers to critical safety conditions, such as when a seat is occupied without the seat belt fastened, when the belt is engaged before the seat is occupied, or when a module experiences a low battery or malfunction. With battery-powered or optional wired modules, IP67 compliance for durability, and Intermittent Fault Filter (IFF) technology to reduce false readings, SeatLink delivers a robust, scalable solution that directly supports safer passenger transport and more informed oversight.

Geotab (Booth 523)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Geotab Vitality
Geotab’s new driver retention and rewards program, Geotab Vitality is here! Telematics platforms like Geotab can tell you about what your drivers can do to be more safe, but often the coaching process costs you drivers. Geotab Vitality is a “carrot” program where drivers earn rewards for good behavior, see the things that they could do to earn rewards faster by driving safer and collect their gift cards all in one app or portal. Learn how AI determines collision risk and rewards drivers, while giving transportation directors what they need to get kids to and from school safe and sound.

HopSkipDrive (Booth 125)
Category: Best Software, Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: HopSkipDrive RideIQ | Specialty Transportation
HopSkipDrive is revolutionizing student transportation with new offerings included in RideIQ, an innovative platform that seamlessly manages diverse student needs, including those requiring wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), rider assistants, and car seats. This expansion, coupled with our industry-leading safety protocols and technological advancements, positions HopSkipDrive as the best-in-class software for student transportation.
Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles (WAV): Ride organizers can book, track and manage WAV rides directly within the HopSkipDrive RideIQ platform — all in one place for simpler, more consolidated ride management. This new offering is designed to provide seamless ride booking for students who require wheelchair-accessible vehicles, live ride status and visibility across RideIQ and daily queue platforms, and direct communication with the driver for all rides. WAV rides will be fulfilled by educated, vetted CarePartner drivers using specially equipped vehicles, giving your riders a safe and reliable transportation experience. Rider Assistants: For riders who require extra support, HopSkipDrive’s Rider Assistant program provides an additional adult to be present during the ride. Ride organizers can request a rider assistant for a ride directly in RideIQ with live ride tracking and real-time status updates. On-site staff will be able to see in RideIQ which rides include a Rider Assistant. Additionally, rider assistants are vetted and background-checked and receive education to support students with special needs. This service is designed to help meet IEP transportation requirements, ease transitions and provide students who need extra attention with support from pickup to drop-off.
Car Seat Rides for Ages 4 Through 6: Ride organizers can now book rides for younger students needing a car seat directly through HopSkipDrive, with a highly vetted CareDriver who will arrive with approved car seats. Our car seat program was developed in collaboration with leading child safety experts and is led by Britney Lombard, a former Safe Kids Worldwide specialist. It’s backed by our Safety Advisory Council to ensure the highest safety standards.
Safe Ride InSight: HopSkipDrive’s new in-ride camera program, designed to add a new layer of safety and transparency for both riders and CareDrivers. Safe Ride InSight automatically records designated rides using dual-camera dashcams (forward-facing and interior) and captures video and audio that operates alongside our advanced telematics system. Safe Ride InSight is available only on select rides where enabled at the rider level, with strict privacy and data protocols. Now, with Safe Ride InSight, ride organizers can confidently book rides for students, knowing there’s enhanced accountability and greater peace of mind, backed by HopSkipDrive’s industry-leading safety program.

LockNClimb, LLC (Booth 101)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: 44LNCTRKENG
This rolling ergonomic safety ladder with its 44-inch-high platform has revolutionized the way bus maintenance technicians can reach most all service points around the exterior of the school bus. It has been designed with input from safety managers, shop supervisors and mechanics. Its wide base slides around the tires and under the bus carriage to allow close working access to engines, windshields, running lights, top edges, rear lights and door frames. Technicians climb using the OSHA recommended three points of contact between yellow safety handrails to the extra wide slip resistant platform to perform their work. Proven to prevent costly accidents and injuries, these ladders provide a stable and comfortable working platform that increases efficiency, productivity and morale, thus positively affecting the organization’s bottom line. These ladders are built one at a time in the USA and have been engineered to meet all applicable OSHA and ANSI standards. They are OSHA rated 1AA Special Purpose and tested to exceed ANSI 375lbs. Currently used by bus and trucking companies all over North America.

Mayser USA (Booth 444)
Category: Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Drag Detection Door Seals
Redesigning school bus door seals with electrical sensitive edges to be able to detect all obstructions. This includes objects as small as a backpack strap, thus creating an ‘anti-drag’ door system. Every year, multiple kids are dragged by school buses and injured, and this anti-drag solution prevents this accident from ever occurring. The state of Maine has also mandated obstruction detection on all school buses sold in Maine starting in 2025.

Pro-Vision (Booth 120)
Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: CloudConnect 4G Live
CloudConnect 4G Live takes school bus video management to the next level with real-time streaming and remote video uploads over 4G. Instantly view live footage from any vehicle and retrieve video files without waiting for vehicles to return to Wi-Fi range. It’s a secure, cloud-based solution that eliminates manual downloads, simplifies access and enhances situational awareness across your fleet. With automatic event uploads, system health monitoring and customizable user access, CloudConnect delivers complete control, anytime, anywhere—helping you respond faster, reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency. It’s the future of bus video, available today.

RIDE Mobility (Booth 531)
Category: Best Green Technology
Product/Solution: Blade Battery
The groundbreaking Blade Battery redefines the electric vehicle power landscape. This innovative lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery features a direct cell-to-pack design, utilizing thin “blade-like” cells that eliminate the need for conventional modules. This award-winning green technology, ensures both safe and dependable transportation.

Transfinder (Booth 201)
Category: Best Hardware, Best Software, Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Stopfinder Digital Card ID
Student ID cards could become a thing of the past with this technological advancement, turning a student’s cellphone into their ID card. Students with Android or IOS phones can scan when entering the bus for ridership tracking purposes. This advancement eliminates the need for substituting RFID cards and/or replacing lost costs. This technology augments Transfinder’s parent app Stopfinder, providing parents peace of mind that their child made the bus and tracking the bus’s location.
Wayfinder Reader: With the latest advancement in Wayfinder embedded tablet and reader hardware, communication breakdowns that result from a bus breakdown are a thing of the past. Interaction between the hardware (reader and tablet) is seamless so when a driver removes their tablet from a broken-down bus and installs it on another bus, the information about the “new” bus is read and delivered to users of the Stopfinder parent app. No longer will transportation staff need to scramble to communicate with parents about the bus change or field calls from concerned parents who are no longer seeing their child’s bus moving along a planned route.

Category: Best Hardware, Best Software, Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Transfinder Enterprise
Route Visibility: Transfinder’s Wayfinder ETA Dashboard and its real-time capability can now be shared with school building personnel and other stakeholders in Viewfinder, identifying when a bus will be arriving at a stop or a school building. A bus can be seen on a map in real-time, where the bus is headed on the planned path, how long the path is and if the bus is off path, what adjustment will be made to return safely on path while abiding with the safety algorithms set by the routers. The increase in communication with dispatchers and routers allows them to understand what is happening during the routes and make changes on up-to-the-minute conditions. With this capability, communication is enhanced among key stakeholders.
Attendance Routing: The driver app, Wayfinder, can also automatically generate the most efficient route based on who is getting on the bus. For example, a late bus can have different students riding different days depending on the activities they participate in. When students scan their ID cards as they get on the late bus, for example, the safest and most efficient route is created for the driver.
Posts: Users can post on any record type, such as a student, trip or vehicle to facilitate a conversation around that record. That information is accessible across all Transfinder solutions. This makes critical information available to key personnel. For example, the posts (pictures, texts or other data) can provide details about problems related to stops or vehicles or ongoing behavioral issues with students.
Student Lookup: Viewfinder expands its capabilities for student lookup to include not just RFID and bar/QR codes but student phones as well, so teachers walking through the halls can scan to have access to pertinent information.

Category: Best Hardware, Best Software, Best Safety Technology
Product/Solution: Map Incidents
Transfinder tackles a continuing and growing concern of students crossing busy and dangerous streets by adding functionality in Routefinder PLUS to view where students not just cross the street to get on the bus but what streets they cross on their way to the bus. With PLUS, users can embed trip and street data and logic into their maps and trips, making it easier for routers to design safer trips. This data is then seen on the driver app, Wayfinder, informing drivers which students are going to be crossing. PLUS, also gives control to routers to create only right stop pickups for particular grades or specific streets, forbidding crossing on certain streets. In addition, routers and dispatchers can add map incidents in real-time that will route drivers away from problem areas (such as a flooded road). Drivers can also identify on the Wayfinder tablet issues at a particular stop that routers can review and address. Another feature includes alerting drivers as they approach railroad crossings.

Tyler Technologies (Booth 501)
Category: Best Hardware
Product/Solution: Tyler Drive’s Dynamic Student Routing
Unexpected ridership changes and last-minute route adjustments can lead to delays and confusion — especially during after-school activities or emergencies. Tyler Drive’s Dynamic Student Routing empowers drivers to create real-time, on-the-spot routes based on students who scan onto the bus. Whether managing an impromptu after-school run or responding to an emergency evacuation where standard routes aren’t feasible, this solution ensures students are transported home quickly, safely, and efficiently — without guesswork.

Category: Best Software
Product/Solution: Student Transportation
Ensuring every student arrives safely and on time — while keeping parents informed and operations running smoothly — requires a proven transportation solution built for the modern school environment. Tyler’s integrated Student Transportation platform delivers exactly that. From vehicle routing and automatic vehicle location (AVL) to activity trip planning, fleet maintenance and a connected parent app, every module works seamlessly together. In-vehicle tablets further enhance safety and performance by supporting pre- and post-trip inspections, real-time student ridership tracking, driver communication, turn-by-turn navigation, and dynamic routing capabilities. The result? A safer, and more responsive transportation system — for districts, contractors, drivers, and families alike.

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