A newly added session at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference next month looks to guide student transportation professionals in prioritizing mental health support for themselves to positively impact themselves and the students they transport.

The “Mental Health First Aid Supports for Transportation” session will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 and presented by licensed school counselor Kemberly Edwards. She plans to detail the best practices that can put student transportation staff in a better and healthier mental space, which in turn can expand their bandwidth to support and de-escalate students as they work through behavioral and emotional challenges. Edwards plans to go beyond generic self-care techniques and provide concrete strategies to benefit transportation staff as they navigate the day-to-day challenges of their work and help forge strong connections with their students.

Edwards, former director of counseling​ at Mesquite Independent School District in Texas and and manager of the district’s CARE Clinic, has been in the education field for almost 30 years. As a licensed professional counselor, she has a passion for assisting students and educational professionals amid a spike in mental health challenges.

The CARE clinic opened in 2017 to provides free services to Mesquite ISD students, their families and district staff. The clinic held over 12,000 counseling sessions last year. Edwards, who specializes in trauma therapy and has worked closely with her district’s transportation department, described her work as “wraparound services,” covering emotional and social wellness as well as self-regulation. Edwards is currently an educational consultant and has a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in counseling.

The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes dozens of educational sessions, hands-on training, networking events, product demonstrations and keynotes all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD
Related: Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference

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Special education attorney Betsey Helfrich returns to the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference in November to shed light on the legal side of transporting students with special needs.

On Sat., Nov. 8, Helfrich will present her keynote “Transportation of Special Education Students: Avoiding the Bumps and Legal Hazards.” Attendees will hear from a practicing lawyer in special education law practical strategies to ensure student safety and minimize liability for districts. Helfrich plans to review landmark case law as well as current hot topics to give TSD attendees a roadmap of the legalities of the transportation of students with disabilities.

Helfrich will also conduct an afternoon breakout session, “Don’t Turn a Blind Eye” later that afternoon on the importance and intricacies of video footage review to identify issues on the school bus to avoid repeat cases and resulting lawsuits.

Helfrich practices special education law in Kansas and Missouri before the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to running her own practice, she also provides counsel to school districts on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all areas of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA). She has successfully represented school districts against a variety of claims in state and federal courts and presented at the LRP Media Group’s 38th and 39th Annual National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities. She has also spoken at National Business Institute, the National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys, and the International Society for Technology in Education Conference.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct. 3. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes four keynotes and dozens of educational sessions all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

Related: Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD

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A popular hands-on training is returning to the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference, aiming to familiarize student transporters with the unique aspects of working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

“American Sign Language for Student Transporters” will be the closing general session at the TSD Conference. The three-hour class is taught by ASL instructors from the Texas School for the Deaf, an educational organization based in Austin that supports students from birth to age 22 with the creation of a language-rich environment, to ensure their educational success by working with the students themselves as well as caretakers, educators and families.

Founded in 1856, it is the oldest continuously operating public school in the state. The school has over 10,000 students and alumni and looks to continue fostering achievements, education and growth for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

The Nov. 11 seminar will shed light on common misconceptions about deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Instructors will also share challenges related to accessible transportation and strategies for districts to integrate ASL training for transportation staff as part of the overall special education program. Attendees will learn and practice ASL phrases that will aid them in creating a safe and inclusive environment for the students on their school bus.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct. 3. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes dozens of educational sessions, hands-on training, networking events, product demonstrations and keynotes all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

Related: Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference 
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation

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Glenna Wright-Gallo’s upcoming keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference will feature her expertise in inclusive disability policies and background in work with special needs students to guide student transporters through the world of federal and state requirements.

Wright-Gallo’s will present her keynote, “Staying Mission-Focused: Leading Through Policy Shifts with Clarity and Confidence,” Sunday, Nov. 9 in Frisco, Texas. She recently served as the assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), from May 2023 until February of this year. Her work there and most recently as vice president of policy at Everway, an educational software company, gives her unique insights into navigating accessible training programs, technology and updated policies regarding transportation services.

During her keynote, she looks to provide TSD Conference attendees with strategies to keep pace with implementing updated policies and ensure reliable and safe transportation services for students with disabilities, and infants and toddlers.

In addition to her keynote, Wright-Gallo is presenting a breakout session the afternoon of Nov. 9 on the importance and role of Dear Colleague Letters issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Wright-Gallo received her bachelor’s degree master’s degree in special education and teaching as well as a master’s in business administration. She became a special education teacher in 1997 and then served as the state director of special education at the Utah State Department of Education from 2010-2017. She then became an assistant superintendent at the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for five years before President Joe Biden nominated her her U.S. Department of Education post in 2023.

Her work in Washington, D.C., included development of national policy, best practices for students with disabilities, recruitment of diverse personnel in special education and furthering state compliance to advance inclusive practices. At Everway, she is leading the Policy Center of Excellence and looks to amplify the voices of individuals with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent. She is also utilizing her experience in systems improvement to use neurotechnology software in the support of those with disabilities and further accessibility in education and workplaces.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct. 3. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes four keynotes and dozens of educational sessions all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference

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Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools and mother to a student who was killed in the 2014 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, is attending the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference in November to talk about safety for all students in all educational settings, including the school bus.

At her TSD keynote on Friday, Nov. 9, Gay will discuss “Developmentally Appropriate Safety Education” and how schools can develop safety curriculum and training that supports and accommodates the unique needs of students and staff of all ages, abilities and educational levels. During her keynote, Gay looks to empower student transportation professionals to provide the appropriate kinds of training that will ensure student safety.

She will discuss how transportation can prepare staff to quickly and safely handle situations on or near the school bus, while keeping the physical and psychological safety of the students as the focal goal. As a very visible sign of students’ presence, the school bus can often be a target, and Gay looks to equip student transporters to protect the “rolling classroom” and the students onboard.

Gay began her work in the educational field as an elementary school teacher at the age of 21. She became a mom of three. She described one daughter, Josephine Grace or “Joey” as she was affectionally called, as “especially special” with many unique traits that came along with an autism diagnosis. Gay said she lived the day-to-day experiences of supporting a child with visual impairment, apraxia of speech, fine and gross motor skills. She shared that her daughter always made the most of life and that her goal as a mother and educator was to help her daughter navigate the world with those unique challenges.

Gay was a guest on the School Transportation Podcast, where she shared more about the reason why behind her work for student safety. Listen to the full episode here.

After the devastating shooting Dec. 12, 2014, and Joey’s murder along with that of 19 other 6- and 7-year-old students and six adult school staff members, Gay and her family was faced with the heartbreaking reality of the dangers that students encounter. She then founded Safe and Sound Schools, a national non-profit school safety advocacy and resource center, alongside Alissa Parker, who lost her daughter Emilie in the Sandy Hook shooting. Since then, Gay has been sharing how communities can create a comprehensive and sustainable approach to safety.

An experienced and educated advocate, Gay has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She has addressed national audiences through media outlets, schools, law enforcement agencies and more. She continues to be a leading advocate for student safety, inspired by Josephine and all children like her.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct.4. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes four keynotes and dozens of educational sessions all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference
Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students

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The roadeo competition presented by School Transportation News in partnership with industry group Women in Transportation (wit.) returns to the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference this fall with a new scholarship opportunity.

The 2025 TSD Roadeo Scholarship, also offered by STN and wit., will allow one participant to receive free main conference registration and a $500 voucher for travel. The scholarship will go to a registered roadeo participant (driver or attendant on a team), and the winner will be chosen based on need and a letter of intent in the application. Scholarship applications close Friday, Sept. 19.

“While not a traditional competition, this event has rather been developed as real-world training that will include hands-on child safety restraint systems (CSRS) and wheelchair securement, classroom education, a written test and driving events,” said Alexandra Robinson, wit. co-founder and a TSD Tenured Faculty member. “This coupled with real-life student behaviors and emergency scenarios is guaranteed to increase the skills and knowledge of those who participate as either competitor or judge.”

The roadeo event presented by wit. and sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok is open to any transportation teams of drivers and attendants from across North America, even if they have never participated in a previous state, provincial or national roadeo competition. Individuals can also register to be teamed with another solo participant. The only pre-requisite is that participating teams download and complete the Roadeo Competition Knowledge Test and bring it with them to the event.

The teams will conduct real passenger pickups, railroad crossing, parking in a confined space, and handling an unauthorized parent boarding the school bus. The student passengers are played by adult volunteers portraying various special needs or disabilities such as visual or hearing impairment or intellectual disabilities. Teams will be judged based on factors such as pre-check inspection, wheelchair loading and securement, CSRS securement, and the handling of simulated emergency events.

The roadeo will begin on Friday, Nov. 7 with the Wheelchair Hands-On Securement Training hosted by Q’straint/SURE-LOK, followed by a meeting later that day for participants and judges. On Saturday, roadeo participants will be transported to Prosper Independent School District for the competition. This will be an all-day event followed by an evening banquet to announce the winners.

With roadeo-only registration, participants can attend the educational sessions and keynotes offered Friday, Saturday afternoon following the competition, and Sunday. They will also have access to the Friday night Safety & Technology Product Demonstration/Special Needs Ride & Drive, the TSD Welcome Party at Topgolf and the Trade Show.

This year’s TSD Conference will feature dozens of educational sessions, hands-on wheelchair and child securement training, product demonstrations, a trade show and other networking opportunities with peers and vendors from Nov. 6-11.

Save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct.4. The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda.

Related: Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students

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Attendees at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference this fall will have access to a variety of hands-on training, geared toward working with students with special needs.

Alongside dozens of educational sessions and four inspiring keynotes, attendees have several opportunities to practice their skills and learn from expert instructors on how to safely transport students with disabilities and preschoolers as well as effectively manage the equipment used on routes.

Kicking off the conference on Friday, Nov. 7 is the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training, an all-day class on the proper use of child safety restraint systems on school buses, with a concentration on preschool-aged children and children with disabilities.

Also on Friday, the three-hour Mastering Wheelchair & Occupant Training Certification Class feature instructors from AMF-Bruns of America. This class will teach the proper safety techniques on using occupant securements, understanding the WC-18 and WC-19 standards, wheelchair anchorage and how to correctly secure and deboard students, all with real equipment they can practice on.

On Sunday, Nov. 11, the Hands-on School Bus Evacuation for Students with Special Needs & Preschoolers will take place at Prosper Independent School District. Attendees will first review best safety practices and emergency evacuation protocol in an instructional classroom setting. They will then go outside to practice rescue skills on a school bus filled with theatre smoke. Class participants will have a time limit to rescue the “students” represented by training dolls.

There will also be a roadeo competition sponsored.by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok on Sat. Nov. 8 at Prosper ISD and an interactive sign American Sign Language training with instructors from the Texas School of the Deaf to close the conference on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Stay tuned for more updates at tsdconference.com.

The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6-11 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Register by Oct. 3 to save $100 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount.

Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Ride and Drive, Technology Product Demos Return to Texas in November

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

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

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

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

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

Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students
Related: Ride and Drive, Technology Product Demos Return to Texas in November
Related: TSD Conference Opens with Message of Empathy for Challenging Behaviors on School Buses

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The Safety & Technology Product Demonstration/Special Needs Ride & Drive returns to the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference in Frisco, Texas.

This interactive event on Friday, Nov. 7, allows for TSD attendees to not only see live demonstrations of the safety technology designed for school buses and vehicles that transport students with disabilities and who are preschoolers but will have the opportunity to ride the buses themselves. There will be a networking reception as part of the event.

The Ride and Drive and Technology Demonstration allows attendees to ride different fuel types of school buses as well as see special needs route specific technology such as wheelchair lifts in action.

“Exploring new technology and special needs transportation options at the TSD Conference is time well spent,” said Tony Corpin, STN president and publisher. “Through the Technology Demonstration and Ride & Drive, attendees gain hands-on experience with innovative solutions from top school bus OEMs and technology suppliers, empowering them to address challenges and enhance the ridership experience.”

The TSD Trade Show begins the evening of Sunday, Nov. 9 with the Trade Show and Tailgate Reception and continues Monday morning. This will be another opportunity for attendees to connect with vendors and find technology and service solutions to further safety and benefit students with unique needs.

Find the full conference agenda at tsdconference.com. Register by Oct. 10 to save $100 with the Early Bird Discount.

Related: TSD Conference Registration is Open for Event in November
Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students
Related: (STN Podcast E236) TSD 2024 Recap: Supporting Students with Special Needs as Unique People

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The Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference in Frisco, Texas this fall looks to address the unique challenges and considerations of transporting this at-risk population.

Providing the best care for the students, empowering the transportation staff, and building an operational culture of communication and clear policies will be discussed by industry veterans, transportation consultants, and school district and bus company staff members.

In the driver training category, session topics include how to model behavior interventions in transportation settings, training for empathy of children’s needs, providing training for the service of medically fragile riders, and other proactive training educational discussions.

For upholding legal requirements and federal standards, speakers will plan to address topics such as impact of the updated National School Bus Specifications and Procedures on operations, alternative transportation, Medicaid reimbursement funding, and developing policies for proper and safe usage of student restraint and seclusion practices.

To address collaborating with contractors or other resources to aid student transportation, examples of topics include how to avoid one-size-fits-all solutions, how to create successful partnerships between school districts and contractors, and the OT/PT Transporter Forum on multidisciplinary policy development.

In addition to the hands-on training classes that cover wheelchair securement, school bus evacuations and use of child safety restraint systems on school buses, instructors from the Texas School for the Deaf will provide training for student transporters on using American Sign Language to communicate.

For a full list of 2025 TSD conference topics, visit tsdconference.com.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by Oct. 3. The TSD Conference will be held November 6-11 in Frisco, Texas at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Find more information on daily agenda, unique experiences, hotel and registration at tsdconference.com

Related: TSD Conference Registration is Open for Event in November
Related: TSD Evacuation Class Emphasizes Importance of Training
Related: (STN Podcast E236) TSD 2024 Recap: Supporting Students with Special Needs as Unique People

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STN EXPO hosted a visceral experience to train student transporters in emergency school bus evacuations. A bus loaned by Washoe County Schools was set up in the parking lot of the Peppermill Hotel Resort and filled with fog machines for attendees to traverse as they attempted to “rescue” a predetermined number of dolls standing in for students.

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Images by Nashawn Craig / 0312 Photography.

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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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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 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. — 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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