Login(STN Podcast E297) Deep Dive into Safety: Illegal Passing & Child Restraints, Plus Green Bus Funding
We unpack the National Action Plan for School Bus Safety, which sheds light on the non-fatal effects of illegal passing. Plus, transportation directors comment on green buses during a recent EPA Clean School Bus webinar.
Denise Donaldson, the editor and publisher of Safe Ride News Publications and a frequent trainer at STN EXPO and the TSD Conference, previews her STN EXPO East workshop on when to use child safety restraint systems (CSRS) in school buses or alternative vehicles.
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Gladys De Lucio is the Director of Transportation for East Aurora School District 131, one of Illinois’ largest Spanish-speaking districts. With 21 years of experience in school transportation, she oversees daily operations with a strong focus on safety, bus stop planning, and community engagement. De Lucio leads both traditional bus services and alternative transportation programs, working closely with bilingual dispatch teams to support non-English-speaking families. Her deep commitment to equitable access ensures that every student has reliable transit to and from school. She holds a degree from Robert Morris University–Illinois.
Leon Fornelli, MBA, is the Area General Manager of Alternative Transportation at First Alt®, where he leads inclusive student transportation programs across nine states. A seasoned leader in education logistics, Fornelli develops and scales operations from the ground up, always with safety, equity, and innovation in mind. He’s deeply committed to increasing access, amplifying parent and community engagement, and building systems that meet diverse student needs, including non-traditional routes and support. Fornelli also champions technology integration and workforce development in transportation services.
As Vice President of First Alt®, Gregg Prettyman brings more than 13 years of leadership in alternative student transportation and is recognized as one of the original architects of the alternative transportation model. Before joining First Student, Prettyman served as Chief Operating Officer at ALC Schools, where he supported over 400 district contracts across 20 states, and oversaw more than 10,000 student trips each day. Today, he leads a team with over 50 years of combined experience, all focused on helping districts deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation for students with unique needs.
Jonquez Moore is the transportation Leader at Little Elm ISD, where he oversaw the district’s transition from contractor-based service to a district-run operation. A former teacher and coach, Moore brings a unique operational perspective and is known for leveraging real-time data to improve dispatch efficiency, payroll accuracy, and on-time arrivals across a growing fleet.
Jonathan Agenten manages strategy and customer engagement for Bytecurve, working closely with school districts nationwide to improve dispatch visibility, payroll accuracy, and operational performance. With deep experience in K-12 transportation technology, he helps districts modernize workflows and make data-driven decisions.
Bryan Mitchell focuses on helping transportation leaders understand how unified dispatch and payroll systems reduce labor inefficiencies and improve on-time performance.
Alfred is a Master Gunnery Sergeant of Marines (retired), an award-winning Director of Transportation and a published author. Following 25 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he led transportation operations for two of New York’s largest school districts for 24 years. His leadership has been recognized with multiple top honors, including the School Bus Fleet Magazine Administrator of the Year (2013) and the National Association for Pupil Transportation Larson Quality Award (2017).
Keba Baldwin serves as the Director of Transportation & Central Garage for Prince George’s County Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest school districts. He leads operations for more than 1,200 school buses and 700 fleet vehicles, ensuring safe and reliable service for over 85,000 students each day.
With 15 years in telematics, Craig brings to the table extensive experience in passenger transportation, public works and vehicle sharing. In his current role at Geotab as the Business Segment Manager for People Transportation, Craig is responsible for leading a cross-functional team to ensure success in this rapidly growing area of the business. He earned an MBA in 2020 and his community engagement includes volunteering with Scouting America (formerly BSA) and his non-profit animal rescue.
