RENO, Nev. — The STN EXPO West Trade Show gathered dozens of vendors and hundreds of attendees to connect on the latest in school transportation products and services.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative. 

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David Weber, business development manager for School-Radio, analyzes new bus radio and communication technology solutions that can optimize district operations.

Regional Sales Manager James Holtz gives us a glimpse of the innovative new electric school bus Blade Battery from RIDE.

Amidst rapid developments in the clean fuel school bus market, Francisco “Paco” Lagunas, general manager of the North American bus market for Cummins, and Richard Garvin, director of strategy and commercial business development, present answers from the energy leader.

Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo discusses operations, technology and fostering the kind of positive workplace culture that won Prosper Independent School District in Texas a Top Transportation Teams award at this week’s STN EXPO in Reno, Nevada.

Read more STN EXPO West coverage.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with RIDE.

Conversation with School-Radio.

Conversation with Cummins

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

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RENO, Nev. — Ronna Weber, the executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services provided updates on the National Congress of School Transportation.

The NCST, which historically meets every five years to update the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, was held May 4-6 in Des Moines, Iowa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last Congress was held 10 years ago. Webber provided attendees with takeaways of the Congress, highlighting proposals from all committees.

School Transportation News was on-site and reported on the Congress.

Related: NHTSA Rulemaking at Heart of NCST Resolutions Focused on Safety
Related: (STN Podcast E258) Nuances & Challenges: NCST Recap, Trade Wars, Upcoming Safety Convos
Related: May, Should, Shall?
Related: National Congress Finishes Early After 10-Year Hiatus

Going forward, Weber said during a session at STN EXPO West Monday the 17th Steering Committee will meet in late summer or early fall to discuss and approve operating procedures for the 18th Congress. By early 2026, the 18th Congress Steering Committee will be named and by spring of next year information on the next NCST, such as dates and location will be released.

During the 17th Congress, delegates were surveyed on if they think holding NCST every five years is still adequate or if it should be held more frequently. Additionally, delegates were asked where the location should be, as Weber said Des Moines no longer is a good fit for the event.

In terms of the next NSTSP manual, Weber noted that the NCST steering committee is working with a new printer, and delegates and interested parties in attendance were able to purchase an edition with their registration.

The book is currently being drafted, Weber told STN attendees, and each writing committee will be able to look at their section before it goes to print, with very little ability to make changes. She noted that she hopes the manual will be released and available for purchase by Sept. 1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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LISLE, Ill. – National Express School (“NEXS”), one of North America’s leading providers of safe and reliable student transportation, is pleased to announce the completion of its acquisition by I Squared Capital (“I Squared”), a specialist global infrastructure investor. The acquisition, first announced in April 2025, includes NEXS flagship brands such as Durham School Services, Petermann Bus, and Stock Transportation.

Each of NEXS’ brands possess a trusted, experienced reputation as a safe, reliable transportation provider. Notably, NEXS’ most tenured brand, Durham School Services, boasts 108 reputable years in the industry and counting, which has naturally lent itself to valuable brand equity and familiarity; making it a household, trusted company across the nation. Both Petermann Bus and Stock Transportation have also built a name for themselves that has undeniably deeply rooted them in their respective communities.

Tim Wertner, CEO, National Express School, said, “Closing this transaction marks an important milestone and an exciting new chapter for NEXS. We are a trusted, safe and reliable transportation brand that represents a vital link to education for the communities we serve. Businesses like ours have the potential to have a positive impact on millions and provide the lifeblood for a functioning society, regardless of economic cycle. The combination of I Squared’s investment commitment and deep experience and expertise in the transportation sector will help NEXS to strengthen and improve our services and further build on our reputation for safe and reliable student transportation.”

Mr. Wertner continued, “I would like to thank the NEXS team members for their dedication to our mission. They have consistently demonstrated the value of our business, not just to I Squared, but to the communities that rely on us to provide them safety-driven student transportation. We are excited to start a new chapter in the history of NEXS and look forward to working together with our new partner.”

Gautam Bhandari, Global Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at I Squared, said, “We see genuine growth potential that can be unlocked at NEXS over the long-term. We are excited for what comes next and look forward to working with the whole team at NEXS as we capitalize on the opportunities in the sector together.”

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.

About National Express School:
National Express School (NEXS) was the North American subsidiary of Mobico Group, one of the premier global mobility firms. We operate across 34 states and two provinces. Our organizations share a strong commitment to provide the highest level of safety, quality, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. National Express School serves more than 400 school districts and contracts in 30 states and two provinces, and transports more than 1.2 million students on a daily basis.

About I Squared Capital:
I Squared Capital is a leading global infrastructure investor managing $45 billion in assets. We build and scale essential infrastructure businesses that deliver critical services to millions of people worldwide. Our portfolio includes over 90 companies operating in more than 70 countries and spanning sectors such as energy, utilities, digital infrastructure, transport, environmental and social infrastructure. Headquartered in Miami, our team of over 300 professionals is based across offices in Abu Dhabi, London, Munich, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei. Learn more at www.isquaredcapital.com.

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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.”

Related: Michigan’s Morris Presented with 2025 Gandolfo Award at STN EXPO
Related: Leading with Purpose: Insights from STN EXPO West’s Transportation Supervisor Seminar
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.

Related: STN EXPO West Attendees Can ‘Bet on Yourself, Bet on Your Team’
Related: Building an Elite School Transportation Team
Related: (STN Podcast E233) Fraud in New York & Cohesive Indiana ‘Top Transportation Team’
Related: (STN Podcast E230) Ingredients for Success: Driver Retention & N.Y. District Teambuilding
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024 Live Stream – Top Transportation Teams

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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Related: Gallery: Special Training Sessions Launch STN EXPO West

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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