At school bus contractor B.R. Williams, Inc., the company president and CEO credits the
foundation of its success to its people. “We’re always telling our story ending with
that we are always looking for ‘good people’,” said Chloe Williams, president and CEO. “We can teach a good person to drive, but we can’t teach a good driver to be a good person.”

During its annual meeting in Denver, Colorado in July, the National Association of School Transportation (NSTA), in partnership with School Transportation News, presented B.R. Williams the Contractor of the Year Award. “B.R. Williams is a third-generation school bus contractor operating primarily in southern New Jersey. The current president of the company, Chloe Williams, is an active member of the NSTA board of directors and she
also served as past president of the New Jersey School Bus Contractors Association (NJSBCA),” NSTA executive director Curt Macysyn noted.

“Chloe has been an integral part of several projects at NSTA, and her school bus operation is viewed as a testament to best practices in pupil transportation,” he
continued. “She and the company engage with vendor partners in a collaborative way, and B.R. Williams is always looking to improve and enhance their systems to the benefit of the students and communities they serve.” The company serving Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties has been honored throughout the past several years as the “Best of Salem County – Transportation,” Williams noted.

B.R. Williams has been family-owned and operated since it start in 1935 by Chloe’s grandfather Benjamin Riley Williams, known as a hard-working farmer who took
his children to school after milking the cows.

Chole Williams grew up in the family business, going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Pennsylvania State University. She spent a decade working at Marriott Hotels as part of a task force opening properties and then served as
general manager for the company’s Courtyard division before returning to B.R. Williams in 1996 to continue the three-generation legacy with the stipulation her parents should travel and enjoy themselves.

B.R. Williams is known for “a flexible working environment and a longstanding reputation for safe, courteous transportation” as well as deep community involvement, said Williams, adding community involvement is important to her personally and in representing her company.

Upon learning of the NSTA honor, Williams said “grateful” is the first word that came to mind: Gratitude for “my family, who taught me that hard work pays off and our staff, who comes in daily wanting to do the right thing and with a caring heart to take care of ‘our kids.”

She expressed gratitude for the school transportation industry, specifically NSTA and the NJSBCA for “bringing together competitors and vendors who are committed to supporting one another and upholding the standards that make school transportation the safest mode of travel in the nation.”

Additionally, she indicated she is, “Gateful to God. He never lets me down.” Williams said staff members noted, “being considered for such a prestigious award is a great accomplishment.

“They were excited and proud to be honored for their service and that they are viewed favorably for showing their core values not just within the company, but throughout the community,” she added.

The company’s core values are “respect, professional, friendly, dependable” with a focus on ”our family safely transporting your family,” Williams noted.

Employees take special pride in “being part of a tremendous association made up of many deserving companies,” said Williams, adding they indicated while they “don’t do this for trophies, it sure feels good to be honored.”

Employees told Williams they were even more proud to wear the company’s logo and indicated “we’re a family here. It feels like a family celebration.” Williams indicated the company’s approach to driver recruitment is to be consistent and never stop recruitment efforts.

Cover all the bases: Billboards, placemats, social media, recruitment sites, yard signs, job fairs, New Jersey’s One-Stop Career Centers, radio, newspapers, sporting event banners, flyers, back-to-school nights, and school newsletters,” she said.

Williams also advised companies to sponsor community events and speak at local civic organizations and events as part of overall community involvement.

B.R. Williams’ Driving Academy offers people the opportunity to earn a CDL for driving a school bus at no cost, a $4,000 value, for those who agree to work for the company after graduation. For school transportation or field trips, the company offers a starting salary of $26.50 an hour starting 30 days after completing and passing the course, which requires five days of classroom study and 40 hours of behind-the-wheel, instructor-led training.

No prior experience or existing CDL license is required. Applicants must pass a drug test, background check and have a relatively clean driving record.

Williams noted her company is “constantly looking for new ways to make our routes safer and our staff’s work easier.”

Ninety-nine percent of the company’s fleet is equipped with GPS, camera systems with communication capability and maintenance telematics.

Williams noted the company constantly evaluates needs and adjusts current technology capabilities as needed, adding, “Every decision is made with a careful eye on value, budget and long-term impact.”

B.R. Williams uses artificial intelligence in its operations. “We love AI for simple daily tasks, assisting in writing letters, notes and policies, evaluating options. The list goes on,” she said. “Its greatest impact has been within our safety program. Our AI-driven camera technology has elevated driver performance, strengthened accountability and made it easier to track and support meaningful improvement. Learning and understanding
the capabilities of AI is ongoing and ever-changing.”

Williams emphasized company culture centers around the staff. “It may have originated from my grandfather and carried through the generations,” she added. “But on a daily basis, our staff shows up every day with a genuine commitment to doing what’s right and living our core values.

“They bring heart, integrity and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the children we transport, always treating them as ‘our kids.’ Their dedication is the backbone of our operation,” she concluded.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the October 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: AI Takes a Larger Role in School Transportation Management
Related: Does your local superintendent prioritize the use of AI for student transportation services?
Related: Does your school district have a policy on how to use AI?
Related: District Says ‘No Looking Back’ After Using Artificial Intelligence Routing System

The post National School Bus Contractor of The Year Credits People for Success appeared first on School Transportation News.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Association of Pupil Transportation announced several winners and its latest inductee to the NAPT Hall of Fame during its annual conference this weekend.

The event in Louisville, Kentucky recognized Keith Henry, a longtime student transportation leader whose career has been marked by service, mentorship and advocacy for the profession, as this year’s solo inductee into the NAPT Hall of Fame. Henry is a past president of NAPT and currently serves as president of the NAPT Foundation. He is also the executive director of the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation.

Henry started in the student transportation industry in 1994 as director transportation for Windsor School District in Imperial, Missouri following six years of service as an aviation electrician in the U.S. Coast Guard. He moved to Mehlville School District in 1997 as director of transportation and support services and then to Independence School District as director of transportation in 2010. He joined Lee’s Summit R-7 School District as director of transportation in July 2016 and four months later began his two-year term as NAPT president. He retired from Lee’s Summit at the end of June 2021.

NAPT describes its Hall of Fame as the association’s highest individual honor, recognizing professionals whose contributions, influence and leadership have had a lasting impact on both NAPT and the school transportation industry.

“I’m not up here, I don’t think, by accident but by design. And it wasn’t not my design, it was all your design,” Henry said during his acceptance speech Oct. 4. “You all have put so much into me and that’s the why. And my why is simple. I like to help others. I like to serve others. .. I went into the Coast Guard because I wanted to help others. When I got out of the Coast Guard in 1994, I took a temporary job in a transportation department that I didn’t seem to be able to kick. Here I am.”

The 2026 NAPT Distinguished Service Award was presented to Sue Shutrump, recognizing her exemplary leadership, service and “unwavering desire to make things safer for all children on the school bus” over the past 41 years, said nominator, NAPT past-president and NAPT Foundation board member Alexandra Robinson. A retired occupational and physical therapy supervisor for Trumbull County ESC in Ohio, Shutrump is the owner of Sue Shutrump Consulting and serves as co-chair of NAPT’s Special Needs Advisory Committee alongside Robinson. She is a member of the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Tenured Faculty and long-time supporter of those who transport students with disabilities and preschoolers.

Shutrump recounted how she first became involved in school transportation in 1991, after her supervisor at the time received a phone call from a parent who expressed concern that her son was being transported unsafely to school in his wheelchair.

“I learned that she was right and I have never stopped learning since then,” Shutrump said during her acceptance speech. “And that is thanks to this incredible transportation community, full of people who are so willing to share their expertise in support of getting kids to school safer.”

Meanwhile, Jeff Hall, a school bus driver for Dickson County Schools in Tennessee, was posthumously awarded the NAPT Heroism Award sponsored by Blue Bird, for his selfless and decisive actions while evacuating students during a December 2025 school bus fire emergency, despite only being a school bus driver for four months. He died unexpectedly Feb. 10. Melissa Garton, director of transportation for Dickson County Schools, accepted the award on Hall’s behalf Sunday.

The School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was presented to Dennis Murphy, training and safety officer for Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. Murphy was recognized for his commitment to school bus driver training and for helping advance student transportation safety. He was ill and unable to attend NAPT, so his colleague Shane Mitchell accepted the award on his behalf. IC Bus created the award to recognize school districts, companies and transportation professionals with exemplary driver-training programs and includes a $500 grant to further enhance driver training within the recipient’s operation.

The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, was presented to Angela Renz, the Northeast and Southeast Quadrant Manager for Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee. The award recognizes Renz’s commitment to continued learning and to advancing the student transportation profession through education.

The NAPT Special Needs Transportation Award, sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, was presented to Pamela Kelley, transportation administrative assistant at Spartanburg School District Six in South Carolina. Kelley was honored for her dedication to providing safe, compassionate and exceptional transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.

Related: Shutrump Humbled By Grandolfo Special Needs Award at STN EXPO
Related: Update: NHTSA Seeks Fix to Child Safety Restraint Standard Affecting School Buses
Related: NAPT Opens Nominations for 2026 Board Elections in Three Regions

The post Henry, Shutrump Among NAPT Honorees at 2026 Annual Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

AVON, Ohio – The Bowling Green, Kentucky, manufacturing operation of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) has received the Governor’s Safety and Health Award, which provides special recognition for outstanding safety and health performance. The award is administered by KYSAFE, part of Kentucky’s Division of OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) Education and Training.

A representative of the state traveled to the Bowling Green facility on Aug. 26 to present the award. Plant leadership led the representative on a tour of the site and gave out snow cones to all employees.

The Governor’s Safety and Health Award is given to employers and their employees, who together have achieved the minimum required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost-time injury or illness at their establishment. The required number of hours depends on the number of employees. Bendix’s 795,508 hours without a lost-time injury exceeds the 750,000 hours required for the employee range of 251-375.

Bendix met the award’s other criteria as well: The establishment must also be free of any egregious safety or health violations for a period of 24 months beginning with the date of issuance of the citation and any pending discrimination complaint or any uncorrected or contested serious violations.

“We’re pleased that our safety efforts in Bowling Green have earned the respected distinction of a Governor’s Safety and Health Award,” said Ed Casper, Bendix safety and security director. “Everybody at the plant shares in this recognition. A strong safety culture doesn’t happen by chance – it’s built through everyday actions.”

The Bowling Green manufacturing operation, which opened in 2007, employs more than 300 people and produces the full lineup of commercially available Bendix brand foundation drum and air disc brake solutions.

About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of Knorr-Bremse, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, Bendix is driven to deliver the best solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at brake-school.com. And to learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit careers.knorr-bremse.com/.

The post Bendix’s Bowling Green, Kentucky, Manufacturing Plant Earns Governor’s Safety and Health Award appeared first on School Transportation News.

A sixth-grade student from Prosper, Texas was named the overall national winner of the 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest for artwork illustrating this year’s theme, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.”

The National Association for Pupil Transportation announced that Sai Darshana Yekolu, a student at Moseley Middle School, received the contest’s highest honor after her entry advanced through state-level competition. Her artwork will be featured during National School Bus Safety Week, scheduled for Oct. 19-23.

Judges representing NAPT, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and the National School Transportation Association evaluated the national entries. Posters were judged on their safety impact, originality, artistic quality, and visual effectiveness. The theme was, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.”

Darshana-Yekolu also won first place in Division 3, which includes students in grades six through eight. Aashna Tandon of Harris Road Middle School in Concord, North Carolina, placed second. Kathleen Ashcraft of Shady Spring Middle School in Shady Spring, West Virginia, placed third.

Other first-place recipients were Alston Lai of Anne Sullivan Elementary School in Sugar Land, Texas, in the kindergarten-through-second-grade division; Maria Montero of JM Hill Elementary in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in the grades three-through-five division; Jamal Moore of Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, in the special education division; and Olivia Brown of Burlington County Institute of Technology Westampton in Westampton, New Jersey, in the computer-aided drawing division.

Second- and third-place honorees represented schools in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“Every one of these posters represents more than artistic talent. They represent students thinking about what school bus safety means to them and then sharing that message with the people around them,” said Molly McGee Hewitt, NAPT executive director and CEO.

Hewitt also thanked the teachers, transportation professionals, state associations, families, and communities that provide students with opportunities to participate.

Students enter the contest through local and state competitions, with qualifying artwork advancing to national judging. NAPT said the process brings school bus safety discussions into classrooms while allowing student-created messages to reach communities across the country. The winning entries are also intended to encourage safer practices around school buses.

NAPT is seeking to strengthen the connection between local, state and national participation through its newly formed Strategic Initiatives Committee. Dawnett Wright, transportation director at Peninsula School District in Washington and NAPT Region 5 director, chairs the committee.

“National initiatives are strongest when they are brought to life in our states and local communities,” Wright said, calling the poster contest an example of how a classroom project can become part of a national safety message.

Wright said the committee will work to create more opportunities for states to participate in the poster contest, Love the Bus Month in February and National School Bus Safety Week, observed during the third full week of October.

The annual safety week is a public education initiative involving students, parents, educators, motorists, school bus operators, administrators, and other partners. It promotes safe behavior on and around school buses.

NAPT plans to announce the theme and full guidelines for the 2027 contest following NAPT ACTS this fall. The drawing period is expected to begin in November, allowing students across North America time to participate despite differing school calendars.

Related: Iowa Launches Inaugural School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest
Related: Pennsylvania Announces Winners of State School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest
Related: New York Middle Schooler Wins Annual Poster Contest
Related: Georgia Middle School Student Wins National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

The post Texas Sixth Grader Wins National School Bus Safety Poster Contest appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. – EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced that nominations are now open for the 2026 Modern Student Transportation Awards. The industry awards program, in its second year, celebrates school district leaders that go above and beyond to make sure every child has a safe, reliable way to get to school each day.

The Modern Student Transportation Awards offer a national showcase for the people solving some of the toughest challenges in student transportation, from rebuilding systems after natural disasters to using technology to improve attendance from vulnerable, high-mobility populations.

“Last year’s honorees exemplified what’s possible when district leaders combine compassion with a modern approach,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “This program exists to make sure that the important work these individuals do every single day doesn’t go unnoticed. We are excited to hear this year’s stories.”

Nominations are open now through October 9, 2026 at info.everdriven.com/modern-student-transportation-awards-2026. Winners will be announced in early November 2026.

A Track Record to Build On

Last year’s inaugural Awards drew nominations from across the country, ultimately recognizing four winners:

Jeremy Stowe of Buncombe County Schools (NC), who stood up a new transportation system for more than 1,200 students displaced by Hurricane Helene. Earl Kent III of Denver Public Schools (CO), recognized for his use of technology and empathy to support students facing housing instability;
Kayla Denaco of Lewiston Public Schools (ME), who digitized her district’s transportation operations; and Quanika Dukes-Spruill of Newark Public Schools (NJ), honored for modernizing routing and vendor management in New Jersey’s largest district.

Recognizing Leadership Across Four Categories

Consistent with last year, nominations can be submitted across four categories:

Safety and Reliability Award – Recognizing innovative practices that improve the safety and reliability of student transportation.
Equity in Education Accessibility Award – Honoring flexible, scalable transportation solutions that support diverse student populations.
Top Innovator Award – Celebrating visionary leadership and the use of cutting-edge technology, including AI, to modernize student transportation.
Humanitarian Award – Highlighting powerful examples of human care and kindness where empathy and service redefine what it means to get students to school.

What Winners Receive
This year’s winners will each receive:

A $2,500 college scholarship for a student in their district who qualifies under the McKinney-Vento Act or receives special education services.
A full conference pass to the industry conference of their choice in 2027 (up to $600 in value, subject to approval).
Media spotlight and recognition across EverDriven’s digital channels and national/local press.
A custom-engraved crystal trophy.

Judging Panel

Nominations will be evaluated by a panel of judges from across the student transportation and education industries, including:

Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven; Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection; and Glenna Wright-Gallo, VP of Policy at Everway.

Districts, colleagues, and community members are encouraged to submit nominations, and individuals may be nominated in more than one category. Full eligibility details and the Terms and Conditions are available at info.everdriven.com/modern-student-transportation-awards-2026.

About EverDriven
EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students across all ranges of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 38 states, the company completed over 2 million successful trips last year. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

The post EverDriven Opens Nominations for Second Annual Modern Student Transportation Awards appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. – John Elliott Jr., Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at Summit School Services, has been awarded the Golden Merit Award by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) for his exceptional dedication to service excellence in the student transportation industry.

The Golden Merit Award was introduced in 1969 to recognize school bus professionals who have demonstrated excellence and dedication in service and safety in student transportation. Award recipients are also selected based on their contributions to the industry and their exemplification of outstanding leadership, innovation, and decision-making throughout their careers.

John, along with other award recipients, were recognized and presented with their awards at the NSTA Awards and Installation Dinner on July 21, 2026, and were joined by family, fellow team members, and industry professionals. The award presentation was held as part of NSTA’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Convention.

John Elliott Jr. began his career with Summit School Services in 2015 as Vice President of Operations. Following his proven success in fostering positive customer relationships and contributing to business growth, John advanced into his current role as Senior Vice President of Customer Operations a few years later in 2019.

“John has led our company to many great successes over the years. Through his integrity, industry expertise, and innate ability to connect with customers, he has built trusted, long-lasting partnerships by listening to their needs and responding with decisive action and genuine care,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Summit School Services. “This award is a tremendous testament to both who he is as a person and the amazing career he has built in the school bus industry. Congratulations, John, on this incredible recognition, and thank you for your unwavering commitment to safety and excellence.”

“I have had the pleasure in working with John since he joined Summit and can say with full confidence that this award is very much deserved,” said Carina Noble, Senior Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, Summit School Services. “John is personable, talented, and highly experienced in effectively navigating customer relationships and operations. He is incredibly skilled in both regards, and as a fellow colleague, I have immense respect for John and have learned a great deal from him and his expansive knowledge. Congrats, John, on this fittingly esteemed award.”

About Summit School Services
Summit School Services sets the standard for safe, reliable student transportation across North America. As the parent organization to trusted local operators including Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, and Petermann Bus, Summit supports over 360 school districts. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works consistently, reliably, and without disruption.

The post Summit School Services’ John Elliott Jr. Receives NSTA Golden Merit Award for Exemplary Dedication to Service Excellence appeared first on School Transportation News.