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TSD Conference Session to Focus on Mental Health Supports

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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(STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports

Analysis on upcoming TSD Conference education, National Association for Pupil Transportation election results, the Federal Brake for Kids Act and the Federal Communications Commission revoking E-Rate eligibility of school bus Wi-Fi.

Jeff Cassell, president of the School Bus Safety Company, discusses the need for safety leadership training, removing risk and reducing accidents in student transportation.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at neurotechnology software company Everway, has worked at the state government level and served as the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. At the TSD Conference this November, she brings her perspective as a person with a disability on educating and empowering individuals with disabilities.

Read more about safety and special needs.

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Conversation with School Bus Safety Co.

 


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The post (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports appeared first on School Transportation News.

October 2025

By: STN
The school year is well underway. Student transporters discuss tips to managing the hustle and bustle this time of year. Photo courtesy: Thomas Built Buses Cover design: Kimber Horne
The school year is well underway. Student transporters discuss tips to managing the hustle and bustle this time of year.
Photo courtesy: Thomas Built Buses
Cover design: Kimber Horne

Leadership takes the front page in this month’s issue as the school year rolls on and student transportation leaders tackle a variety of challenges to keep services running smoothly. Hear from the 2025 Top Transportation Team award winners on building strong workplace culture, find what keeps directors in their current roles and learn more about purchasing trends for transportation related technology. Read blogs on the power of influential leadership, prioritizing professional development and more.

Find the preview for the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference to learn more about the speakers, topics and events coming to Texas on Nov. 6-11.

Read the full October 2025 issue.

Cover Story

Rite of Passage
Students have gone back to school around the nation, and transportation directors share the challenges and solutions to keeping the school bus wheels going “round and round.”

Features

Small Moments, Big Impacts
Culture is the special sauce that drives the Top Transportation Teams award presented at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada.

Purchasing Trends Fluctuate
With the new school year underway, school districts share their most wanted purchase items and the expected benefits of each new product or technology.

Special Reports

Follow the ‘Golden’ Brick Road
Department culture and administrative support are leading factors for keeping transportation leaders in their current role or prompting them to look elsewhere.

TSD Conference Preview

Feedback
Online
Transportation Director Salaries by U.S. Region
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Giving Birth to Proper Leadership

Thought Leader by Rosalyn Vann-Jackson
Leading from the Front (Without Just Taking A Walk)

Thought Leader by Linda Bluth
Alternative School Transportation: A Roadmap for Decision- Making for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Prioritize Your Professional Growth

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TSD Keynote to Outline Legal Considerations When Transporting Students with Disabilities

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

The post TSD Keynote to Outline Legal Considerations When Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

TSD Conference to Feature American Sign Language Training for Student Transporters

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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Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference

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.

Glenna Wright-Gallo was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education as the assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in May 2023 (Photo from Utah State University)
Glenna Wright-Gallo is sworn in as the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in May 2023. (Photo courtesy of Utah State University)

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

The post Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

(STN Podcast E273) Supportive, not Punitive: Collaborating for Improved Student Rider Behavior

Dive into school bus safety, technology and data security in the new STN September issue. We also analyze a Canadian study on electric bus equity and the school bus industry’s lobbying efforts in the U.S.

Lisa Navarra, certified child behavior specialist, author and upcoming TSD Conference keynote speaker, discusses bringing together education and transportation personnel to support good behavior in student bus riders with special needs.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.


 

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Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD

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.

Michele Gay's daughter Josephine who was a victim of the Sandy Hook school shooting (Photo from Safe and Sound Schools Instagram Page)
Michele Gay’s daughter Josephine was a victim of the Sandy Hook school shooting. (Photo from Safe and Sound Schools Instagram Page.)

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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New Roadeo Scholarship Offered for TSD Conference, Applications Open

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

The post New Roadeo Scholarship Offered for TSD Conference, Applications Open appeared first on School Transportation News.

Hands-on Training Opportunities for Student Transporters at TSD Conference

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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TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation

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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(STN Podcast E270) Not Just a Job: Hear From Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Award Winner

More EPA regulatory changes in the truck and bus market prompt continuing clean fuel conversations. Also, learn more about the crucial training at the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show.

Kara Sands, transportation lead trainer and driver at Hanover Community Schools Corporation in Indiana, was selected to receive the inaugural Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship for STN EXPO West this year. She discusses ways to promote safe school bus operations and her takeaways from STN EXPO.

Read more about safety.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.


 

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Ride and Drive, Technology Product Demos Return to Texas in November

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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EverDriven Modern Student Transportation Awards Include All-expenses Paid Trip to TSD

Nominations are open through the month of August for alternative student transportation company EverDriven’s Modern Student Transportation Awards, a national program created to celebrate school district leaders who are setting new standards in how students are transported to and from school.

Finalists will be notified in early fall, and the winners will be formally announced at the Modern Student Transportation Awards Celebration in Dallas, Texas, Nov. 6. Winners will receive a $2,500 college scholarship to benefit a student in their district who qualifies under the McKinney-Vento Act or for special education services.

They will also be awarded a full conference pass and paid travel to attend the TSD Conference, a customized award plaque, and a digital winner’s seal for use in their organization’s communications and marketing efforts.

With this initiative, EverDriven said it hopes to spark a movement across the country by celebrating those who are going above and beyond for their students. To submit a nomination, visit here.

The inaugural awards seek to spotlight those who are not only meeting the evolving needs of student mobility but leading the way with innovation, equity and safety at the forefront. In a press release, EverDriven expressed its belief that every student should have access to safe, dependable and forward-thinking transportation, as it serves as a gateway to learning, personal growth and opportunity.

The Modern Student Transportation Awards were born from this mindset, the company added, and they are designed to honor school districts that are transforming traditional transportation models into modern, student-centered systems.

“Modernizing student transportation isn’t just about safety, it’s about expanding access to education for every child, every day,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “We’re launching these awards to celebrate the bold thinking and innovation happening in school districts across the country. These leaders deserve recognition for creating systems that improve outcomes for all students.”

Nominations are accepted until Aug. 28. Submissions must include details about the nominee, school district, transportation initiative, and the demonstrated impact of their efforts. Individuals can be nominated in multiple categories, such as safety and reliability, equitable access to education, innovative use of technology, and humanitarian efforts in student transportation.

A panel of expert judges from across the student transportation and education sectors will review the entries based on specific criteria for each award. EverDriven said it will announce the judges in the coming weeks.


Related: TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students
Related: TSD Conference Registration is Open for Event in November
Related: Michigan’s Morris Presented with 2025 Grandolfo Award at STN EXPO
Related: TSD Evacuation Class Emphasizes Importance of Training

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TSD Conference Topics Plan to Cover Unique Aspects of Transporting Students

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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