Follow the adventures of Calvin, an anxious but dutiful bus driver, and his sentient and safety-conscious school bus named Christina. The short story follows Calvin’s route adventures while highlighting very real circumstances that drivers face and underscoring the importance of student transportation safety. Find group discussion prompts at the end of each article. The story advisor is Fredrick Tottenham, student safety specialist with Irving ISD.

Sasha, I whisper.

Usually, Sasha is the one who steadies me when life takes a U-turn. Now she is the one in trouble, and every nerve in my body screams for me to get to her. But Townsend High is still waiting—rows of students depending on me to arrive. The thought presses against my chest like an ever-augmenting weight. How can I run toward Sasha without abandoning the students?

The radio crackles and for a few seconds, all I hear is static. The white noise reminds me that I am not alone, I have help.

Base to Route 7568, please give Dispatch a landline when you are parked in a safe location.

I take a right turn and pull into a quiet neighborhood where tall trees lean over the curb and pour cool shade across Christina’s windshield. Out of the sun’s glare, my phone screen sharpens. I squint, thumb through my contacts, and zoom in on the number for Ervens ISD Transportation Dispatch.

It seems like an eternity passes before Ms. Debbie clicks over and says, “Mr. Calvin, are you in a safe location..? Good, sir. I know you heard the emergency code over the radio, and you must be worried about Ms. Sasha. We have a plan for you and your students, please listen closely…”

A comforting warmth drives through me when I realize Ms. Debbie remembers. She remembers the day that I told her Sasha had become a pharmacy tech, and the smile on my face when I said Sasha had landed a job at the pharmacy just down the road from Transportation. Ms. Debbie smiled, too, when she suggested that I take the opportunity to steal lunch breaks with Sasha to keep the romance alive. I am a darn good bus driver, steady with my hands and sharp with my routes, but romance has no clear directions or traffic signs and so I avoid roads leading to affection like a bus driver avoids cul-de-sacs. Now, with the radio humming and fear sitting bitter in my stomach, I realize that Sasha may be in the kind of trouble that makes a man regret every unattempted romantic notion.

Palms sweaty, I clamp the phone tighter to my ear and listen as Ms. Debbie lays out the plan in that calm, steady voice dispatchers use even when panic is crowding the line. Another driver is on the way to Townsend High to take over my route. After that, someone in a district vehicle will bring me back to base, where I can follow the emergency without putting myself, or my students, in danger. I try to argue, but she cuts through my protest with gentle firmness. The police have already blocked the roads around the pharmacy, she tells me. I would not get within ten feet of Sasha if I tried. All I would find is flashing blue lights, hard barricades, and the feeling of helplessness. She added that I could also put Sasha in further danger—that was enough to win over my consent.

“Ok, Ms. Debbie. I’m headed to Townsend High right now.”

“Perfect, Mr. Calvin. I will keep you updated if anything changes.”

Christina gives a low, eager hum as I ease her back onto the road toward Townsend High.

The urge to call Sasha jerks me like a brake check. Maybe she will answer. Maybe I will hear her voice, shaky but safe, on the other end and finally be able to breathe again. I reach for my cellphone on the tray beneath the dash, but the moment my fingers touch it, it refuses to move. The phone sits there, stubborn and still, as if Christina has glued it to the tray herself. Then her odometer pings, bright and sharp against the dashboard, and one word flashes across the display:

FOCUS

Heat crawls up my neck. Sorry, girl. I pull my hand away from the phone and plant both hands on the wheel, left at nine, right at three. My fear for Sasha had shoved everything else out of my head, even the law I know by heart: no mobile device while operating a school bus.

Finally, I turn into the school driveway and ease Christina into place. Beyond the windshield, the students gather in loose, laughing clusters, backpacks slung low, cellphone postures, and faces bright and impatient to climb aboard. They have no idea that danger is unfolding only five miles away, or that my nerves are rattling beneath my skin like loose lug nuts. For their sake, I smooth my face, swallow the fear, and try to keep it that way.

I secure the bus, set my hand on the door switch, and flick it open so the students can climb aboard. Nothing happens. No hiss of air, no folding door, no rush of chatter spilling into the aisle. Frowning, I flip the switch again. The doors stay sealed tight.

What’s the matter now, girl?

A soft mechanical click answers me. I look down just in time to see the gearshift slide into Drive, and my forehead tightens in a roadmap of confusion.

I can’t leave the students standing out there, Christina. Come on, girl.

Christina stays in Drive. No matter how many times I flip the switch, the doors refuse to open. I let out a slow breath and ask her again what is wrong. In answer, the right crossover mirror dips downward, smooth and deliberate, until the front tire comes into view. That is when I see it: Christina has rolled past the yellow brick line. The line is there for a reason. When the bus stops behind it, the walkway stays clear and the students can board from the safety of the marked crosswalk. Past that line, they would have to step out of their protected path and crowd too close to the bus’s nose. Christina is not being stubborn. She is keeping them safe. I need to follow the safety rules of the yellow brick line.

Backing up a bus full of blind spots is never the safe choice, and Christina knows it. She is not asking me to reverse; she is telling me to move forward, circle the drive, and return to the loading zone the right way. This time, I need to stop with her nose behind the yellow line, where the students can step from the marked crosswalk into the open doors.

Got it, girl. I’m sorry, my mind is with Sasha.

I gesture to the students to wait, and they back up with grins and nods. I circle the driveway and come back to the pickup spot, stopping at the yellow line. I flip the switch to open the doors and, this time, they open wide. Just then, Nathan, one of the stand-by drivers, steps in front of the doorway, blocking the students from entering.

“Hey Cal! I heard the bad news, man, I’m so sorry! They sent me to finish your route!” Nathan yells while entering the bus.

Christina’s dash pings:

WHO?

I didn’t think she would be happy about having a sub-driver. I don’t think I am happy about Nathan being her sub-driver. Is it odd that I’m jealous when other men ride her? Wow, that’s weird.

I throw that thought into neutral before it can roll into the gutter. Nathan is an experienced driver; surely, he can safely drive Christina for one route. Sasha is the one in danger.

Just as I jump out of the driver’s seat Ms. Debbie comes on the radio and announces:

Base to all drivers. Base to all drivers. There is no longer a threat at Culter Road and Pits. This area is now clear and safe. Please proceed as normal on your routes.

The news hits me like clean air after inhaling exhaust. I sink back into the driver’s seat, let out a long, shaky breath, and drag my fingers through my hair. My chest still feels tight but loosens each second I realize Sasha is safe. Then my phone buzzes against the tray beneath the dash. I snatch it up, and Sasha’s name and image glow on the screen.

Heard the news, babe? Don’t worry, I’m safe. I’ve been home since noon, wrapped in a blanket and sipping ginger tea. I’ve felt queasy all morning. Everybody is ok. The police stopped the “gunman” outside—some kid with a realistic water gun. I’ll explain everything when you get home. I love you.

Relief washes through me first. Then my brain, apparently done surviving one emergency, highlights two words in Sasha’s message like hazard lights:

Queasy.

Morning.

Now, I am no doctor, I drive a bus for a living. But even I know those two words ride the same route.

Morning sickness?

“Did you hear that Cal! The coast is clear! I guess I don’t have to finish your route, after all!”

“Well, Nathan, I guess you’re off the hook.” I mutter, my voice still rough from the scare. Nathan grins, gives Christina’s handrail a quick slap, I wince, and he hops back down the steps.

Christina’s dash pings before I can settle myself in the driver’s seat:

Whew!

I pause with one hand on the wheel. Whew? Was Christina relieved because the threat was over or because Nathan would not be driving her after all? Sometimes I wonder if student safety is the only thing that truly stirs her metal heart.

I shake my head, let the question roll away like loose gravel under the tires, and turn toward the waiting students with my best bus driver’s smile.

Then two students climb aboard with their heads hanging low, their steps clumsy and uneven. When they pass me, a sour, yeasty stink rolls off them putting the pub in public school.

My smile disappears.

Surely not.

Before I can decide when to question them, Christina’s dash pings again:

UN-HAPPY HOUR?

Ask Your Team:
What can happen when students load outside of the loading area? And what can you do to keep students safely within loading zones?

Next Stop: Episode 3
Sip, Sip, No Way! – Student Monitoring: Prevent alcohol use and recognize impairment

Previous Stop: Episode 1
Roll, Roll, No Bus Bus! – Avoid Distractions During Pre-Trip Inspections

© 2026 Gabrielle Marie Kelley. Calvin & Christina: Where Safety Takes the Wheel and all associated characters, concepts, and illustrations are the intellectual property of Gabrielle Marie Kelley, office manager for the Irving Independent School District transportation department. Published with permission through School Transportation News.

The post Episode 2: “The Yellow Brick Line” appeared first on School Transportation News.

The September issue explores how technology is reshaping school transportation, from AI and connected tools to video systems, routing and communications. Learn how Allentown School District is using technology to improve safety and operations, hear from Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent on transportation’s role in student access and discover how districts are navigating the shift to cloud-based video storage. Plus, get practical insights on implementing AI with guardrails and using technology to support drivers and transportation teams.

Read the full September issue.

Cover Story

Tech Focused
Student transportation leaders at Pennsylvania’s Allentown School District are turning connected tools into safer service and operational gains, using technology to improve communication, efficiency and the student experience.

Features

The Video Storage Shift
As school bus camera systems become more sophisticated, districts are weighing cloud, local and hybrid storage options while balancing accessibility, cost, cybersecurity and student privacy.

Driver Training Goes High-Tech
Technology is changing how transportation departments approach driver training, coaching, safety and performance.

Improving Communications With Technology
New technology is giving transportation teams more ways to communicate with drivers, families and administrators while improving visibility and service.

Special Report

AI Takes a Larger Role in School Transportation Management
Transportation leaders explore how AI can support dispatch, fleet management, budgeting, driver training and other operations while emphasizing policies, safeguards and responsible use.

Q&A 

Transportation’s True Value
Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent discusses transportation’s role in student access, educational opportunity, operational efficiency and student success.

Conversations

Ad Index

Columns

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Don’t Bury the ‘Lede’

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
School is Back, So Are Safety Risks

Thought Leader By Tim Ammon
Changing Times, Perspectives

The post September 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Introducing a new story series from author Gabrielle Marie Kelley, a school bus dispatcher for Irving Independent School District in Texas. The story advisor is Fredrick Tottenham, student safety specialist with Irving ISD. Follow the adventures of Calvin, an anxious but dutiful bus driver, and his sentient and safety-conscious school bus named Christina. The short story follows Calvin’s route adventures while highlighting very real circumstances that drivers face and underscoring the importance of student transportation safety. Find group discussion prompts at the end of each article. The series will resume on the second Tuesday of each month.

Hi. My name is Calvin, and I am a bus driver for Ervens Independent School District in Ervens, Texas. I’ve been driving for nine years, and by now, you’d think I’d have everything figured out. Well, you’d be wrong.

You see, my anxiety is a constant passenger, and without permission, it rides along whenever it wants. Things are always changing around here. Routes and rules disappear like ghosts and reappear in dierent forms, only to haunt me
until they become familiar.

I have a girlfriend named Sasha. Olive skin, beautiful ebony locs, and a smile that could stop a fleet. She always knows the right thing to say and her touch washes away the stress of any day. She is something, alright, but she is not the only special lady in my life.

There’s also Christina.

I know what you’re thinking. You named your bus? Yeah, I know it’s sort of odd. But I’m sort of an odd guy. Besides, if you spend enough early mornings sitting behind the wheel, hearing the low hum of the bus speak into the quiet and dark streets, you start to feel like your bus has a personality of its own.

Christina does.

And when it comes to student safety, her personality shines as bright as her yellow coat. She hears everything. And sometimes I swear she knows things before I do. Don’t believe me? Well, you’ll see for yourself, I’m sure.

Right now, I’m standing in front of the dispatch counter, waiting to grab my smart tablet. Beads of sweat forming on my forehead while I try to focus on the cinema that Benjamin Stevens, known as Ben to fellow drivers, is recounting. His flailing expressions reveal armpits that have also succumbed to the summer’s heat. I cross my arms as he gets to the end of his story and I think to myself, Christina would never allow such a thing.

“Cal! You should have seen it! My crossover mirror flew—”

“Mr. Stevens. In my office, please.” Mr. Pottenham, the safety specialist, calls with a stern expression.

With his arms frozen in gestures, Ben looks at Mr. Pottenham, smiling sheepishly. I wring my hands and say, “Well, I guess I’ll catch you later Ben!”

Would I see him later? The safety of our students was no laughing matter, and the look on the safety specialist’s face proved it.

But I have enough problems of my own, don’t I? My nerves are all over the place ever since Sasha stood in the doorway this morning and said, “We need to talk.”

Maybe she wants to talk about our prolonged engagement. Perhaps it’s the dishes I left in the sink last night. Maybe it’s something deeper. God, I hope she’s not pregnant.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Calvin, ready for your PM route?” Ms. Bineht, the dispatcher asks chipperly as she reaches for my smart tablet and keys.

I greet her and Ms. Debbie, the other dispatcher, and quickly make way for other drivers to do the same. I dash to the parking lot to escape the hustle and bustle of animated drivers and to keep my promise. Christina hates it when I’m late.

She is parked in her usual spot, facing me. I wave inconspicuously and a driver with her back to Christina thinks the greeting is meant for her. Christina’s left windshield wiper rises and then falls without a squeak before the driver turns.

I climb the steps of the bus to put away my backpack so that I can start the exterior inspection. Christina’s odometer beeps and flashes: 7 MIN.

“I know, I know. I’m on it, girl.”

I dismount the bus and inspect the front, the passenger’s side, and then I go around the back. I close the back door and just like a phantom, Ben appears and is so close he’s almost kissing my lips.

“Man, you’re not going to believe your ears!”

I swear, all the saliva in his mouth lands on my upper lip. I’m sure this counts as a French kiss. Second base, minimum.

“…And they wrote me up for that!”

Aggressively wiping my mouth, I reply, “A slap on the wrist for attempted murder?” His face says that, unlike his saliva, my joke didn’t land.

“Listen, I’m sorry Ben. I really am. But my route starts in less than seven minutes. Glad you’re still with us, buddy—And the students, too.”

I wink and pat his shoulder. He relaxes but his demeanor is screaming for a more sympathetic ear.

I perform the interior inspection and then I climb into the driver’s seat and turn the key.

Nothing.

“Come on, girl. What’s the deal?”

Again. Nothing.

The doors slowly swing open.

What is it?

I exit the bus with my back to Christina’s doors and the smart tablet in my hands. I look to my left. Nothing is out of place. I look to my right: Christina’s passenger side. I go around the back and as soon as I turn to the other side of the bus, it dawns on me: I forgot to perform the driver-side inspection. I must have accidentally tapped “Next” when Ben startled me. Thanks, Ben.

No. Thanks, Christina.

“Alright girl, let’s try this again.”

Her engine roars awake and the doors close.

As I exit the bus lot, the radio crackles with excitement and then Ms. Debbie’s voice comes through, loud and clear:

Base to all drivers! Base to all drivers! A 9-32 is in effect. Please avoid Culter Road and Pits. This area is blocked due to a 9-32 at the pharmacy on the corner. Please avoid this area.

My heart dropped into a bottomless pit in my stomach. What would an active shooter want with the local pharmacy?

Thankfully, for the students’ safety, my route is in the opposite direction, but my satisfaction quickly fades into a sickening sensation: The pharmacy on Culter and Pits—Sasha works there.

Ask Your Team:
What steps can you take to avoid distractions while performing pre-trip inspections?

Next Stop: Episode 2
Follow the Yellow Brick Line—Proper student loading and unloading

© 2026 Gabrielle Marie Kelley. Calvin & Christina: Where Safety Takes the Wheel and all associated characters, concepts, and illustrations are the intellectual property of Gabrielle Marie Kelley. Published by permission through School Transportation News.

The post Episode 1: Roll, Roll, Roll, No Bus! appeared first on School Transportation News.

During the early morning and mid-to-late afternoon, the streets in big cities and small towns in rural communities are filled with big yellow school buses picking up and dropping off children and teenagers.

Most school districts struggle to find enough bus drivers to fully staff their routes on the opening day of school. Safety is the number one priority, and school districts insist that all drivers meet the highest standards in training, physical health and background checks.

Another problem that some districts are facing is that drivers have lost their temporary protected status (TPS) and can no longer work as school bus drivers. Often, candidates who have completed the training paid for by a school district will go to work for a trucking company or drive county transit buses, instead.

“We have always had a driver shortage and no school districts in Florida are pushing through candidates to drive buses. They all have to meet the same requirements and standards,” said Robert Manspeaker, director of transportation for the Florida Department of Education. “We have a lot of people who get the CDL license that is paid for drive a school bus for a short time and then go drive a truck.”

Becoming a school bus driver in Florida requires a lot of intense training, a minimum of 40 hours of instructional time and most districts require far more training and practice. Manspeaker said some prospective drivers may be required to put in as many as 160 hours of training before they ever drive a bus full of students.

The one exception to this is smaller buses that can carry up to 15 people, including the driver. These buses can be used to carry smaller athletic teams or academic and music groups to events. Also, they may be used to transport students who have special needs.

Efforts have been made in some districts to lessen the time a driver-candidate must wait to get approved for preliminary training by ensuring the trainee can get an initial appointment with the DMV in a day or two.

“There are no shortcuts and some districts require more than 40 hours of training. We must ensure that a driver can handle a large bus carrying many students. School districts recruit year-round,” said Manspeaker.

It is recommended that prospective school bus drivers begin the process of obtaining a Class B commercial driver’s license as soon as possible. Bus driver candidates must complete a demanding training program and meet all state requirements to be allowed to drive a school bus full of kids, according to Manspeaker.

Finding Driver Applicants is the First Hurdle

An effective recruiting and advertising campaign can be helpful in finding quality candidates. In one Florida county, the district placed signs on the school buses saying they were looking for drivers and this helped. Many districts have their transportation managers participate in job fairs and community events such as city festivals. A growing number of transportation managers are placing advertisements on social media to attract younger people, according to Manspeaker.

Driving school buses can be a demanding job and the training requirements are higher than many occupations. A candidate must have a driver’s license for five years and no major violations. Also, one must be willing to work with children and sometimes demanding parents and administrators.

Stephanie Rickard, who now works for the Florida Department of Education, remembers the challenges of finding enough bus drivers when she led the transportation department at Charlotte County Schools.

“I did everything to find bus drivers. I would go to job fairs and get creative in my efforts to find drivers. Once we did hire someone, it would take about two to three months to work with human resources to get the person trained and then complete all the paperwork and background checks to get them on the road,” said Rickard.

Orange County Public Schools serving the Orlando area is looking for about 150 new bus drivers. It has had success by getting the DMV to reserve slots.

Bill Wen, the district’s retiring director of transportation, said Orange County is lis running into similar problems finding qualified drivers. School started Aug 11.

In some cases, it means drivers will have to complete two routes a day. Efforts have been made to attract retired drivers who would like additional income or want to pursue a new career. The district has been able to shorten the time it takes to get appointments with the DMV by reserved slots, but all candidates must complete rigorous training that takes time, expalined to Wen.

“We have had meetings where we ask parents to take their kids to and from school if they are able to do so. We trying to get bus drivers into the training process as soon as possible,” he added.

Like all school bus operators, Wen knows he is competing against businesses and transportation companies that can pay better. Some people would rather pursue a career where they can work from home or only visit an office a few days a week. Another challenge is the split shift, where drivers are idle during the late morning but may have to work longer in the afternoon if there are delays at a school or traffic problems.

“We do offer a health plan, days off and we participate in the Florida pension system,” Wen noted.

To become school bus driver in the Fort Lauderdale area, one must take four tests before entering formal commercial driver’s license training sponsored by Broward County Public Schools.

Applicants there and nationwide must pass a series of CDL written knowledge tests, a U.S. DOT physical exam, practical skills tests, and state-required background screenings, according to Dr. Simone Clowers, the executive director of student transportation and fleet Services. She oversees daily yellow bus operations and routing and manages a fleet of more than 750 routes for the district.

Training begins with written tests at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The CDL general knowledge test covers traffic laws and safe vehicle operations. Applicants also take an air brakes test, a passenger endorsement test for transporting passengers and a school bus endorsement test focused on school-based safety, including danger zones and student loading procedures.

Next are practical skills and road tests. Before receiving the official license, applicants must complete three phases of vehicle and road testing. The pre-trip vehicle inspection shows that they can properly assess the bus’s safety and mechanical condition. Off-road maneuvers include turning and parking, followed by an on-road driving test to demonstrate they can navigate the bus under real traffic conditions.

Applicants must pass the U.S. DOT physical exam required to prove they are physically and mentally fit to operate the vehicle. In addition, the DOT dexterity test assesses physical ability to perform bus operator duties. A reflex test is administered by the school district. Drug and alcohol testing is mandatory.

In Broward County, prospective bus drivers must complete about 40 hours of training over four to six weeks. The program includes classroom instruction and hands-on training. Much of the instruction is done on computers, but participants still must come to a classroom.

“We have found that the hardest part is understanding the vehicles. Those who study the material will do well, and we have a high pass rate,” said Clowers.

In addition, efforts are being made to improve student behavior. Drivers are taught to de-escalate tense situations among students. If a fight or problem happens, the driver must pull over and call the police. They cannot actively break up a fight between passengers.

While driving a school bus can be challenging, Clowers has found that it can be rewarding and over time drivers can develop positive relationships with students and their parents.

Related: As New School Year Starts, Fall Conference Agendas Announced
Related: Officers to Ride California School Buses During Illegal Passing Enforcement Operation
Related: Ohio State Highway Patrol Urges Motorists to Prioritize School Bus Safety
Related: Data & Routing Analytics for Fuel Efficiency

Clowers said she has about 100 openings and is recruiting through social media and community events. School bus drivers start at $21 an hour and are guaranteed 7.5 hours a day, five days a week. They often work longer, sometimes up to 12 hours a day, if there are delays at the school or if driving field or athletic trips.

In addition, the CDL training is paid for prospective drivers, and they receive full health insurance and a state pension after 30 years of work. After 30 years, they can participate in the DROP plan.
Even though Broward Schools continues to actively recruit more drivers and is always looking for qualified candidates, there are no shortcuts to becoming a certified school bus operator, Clowers added.

The State of Florida requires a minimum of 40 hours of training and Broward Schools goes beyond that requirement by providing additional training if necessary to ensure that drivers are fully prepared to safely transport students. Safety is the highest priority, and the district remains committed to maintaining rigorous training standards while working to recruit and retain qualified drivers, according to Clowers.

Hiring Armed Service Members

U.S. military veterans may be the answer to the challenge of finding qualified school bus drivers. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the federal government is helping veterans to pursue transportation careers, and this includes obtaining a CDL to drive school buses by streamlining the path to getting a license.

The FMCSA’s Military Skills Test Waiver has helped more than 40,000 veterans skip the CDL road test. By temporarily expanding the application window to two years after veterans leave the military, veterans now have twice as long to fast-track their professional driving careers.

“While we expect most of these new entrant drivers to pursue trucking initially, we hope some will consider driving a motorcoach over time,” said United Motorcoach Association President and CEO Scott Michael.

Thirty-four states now participate in the “Even Exchange Program,” giving qualified military veterans access to FMCSA’s knowledge test waiver, according to a statement from UMA.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced an investment of more than $1.1 million in grant funding to help 26 schools and transportation providers in 19 Pennsylvania counties pay for the cost of training for more than 430 new school bus drivers. This includes CDL training, trainee wages, and testing and permit fees. This investment is funded through PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Grant Program to increase school bus safety for Pennsylvania’s students and communities, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“With his latest budget, Gov. [Josh] Shapiro continues to make historic investments in education and our children’s future. Making sure we have enough qualified drivers to get students to and from school safely and reliably advances that investment,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.

The post School Districts Look for Innovative Approaches to Recruiting and Training appeared first on School Transportation News.

Industry conferences are gearing up for the fall season, and agendas are being released with the latest and greatest information for student transportation professionals who are heading back to work for the new school year.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation’s 49th Annual Conference and Trade Show, NAPT ACTS 2026, will take place Oct. 3–7, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. This year’s theme, “Building Leaders for the Route Ahead,” emphasizes leadership development, professional learning and stronger connections across the student transportation community.

The five-day program is designed for transportation directors, fleet and maintenance professionals, trainers, routers, safety specialists and other school transportation leaders. It includes more than 40 sessions and workshops, over 10 NAPT Professional Development Series courses, and four certification pathways. Topics cover operational safety, crisis communication, data-driven decision-making, strategic and facility planning, student behavior, transporting students with disabilities, workforce retention, preventive maintenance, regulatory compliance and transportation technology.

Specialized programming includes workshops for new directors and maintenance teams, a national transportation briefing, recertification sessions and a Transportation Directors Executive Forum.

The trade show takes place Oct. 5, where attendees can explore school transportation products, technology and services and connect directly with industry suppliers.

Networking is built throughout the event through a first timers’ breakfast, marketplace sessions, receptions, regional assemblies, social events and sponsor demonstrations. The keynote, “Achieving Rock Star Status in Your Profession,” will be delivered by drummer and leadership speaker Kenny Aronoff, drawing lessons from high-performance music environments about teamwork, communication, creativity and collaboration.

Nearly a month later, the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference kicks off, hosting a Transportation Director Summit for the first time. Hosted by School Transportation News, the event will take place Nov. 4–10, 2026, in Frisco, Texas, and brings together school transportation and special-education professionals from across the country to improve the safety, accessibility and quality of transportation provided to students with disabilities and preschool-age children.

The conference is intended for transportation directors, fleet managers, driver trainers, school bus drivers, aides and monitors, special-education professionals, Head Start and childcare staff, superintendents, executives, manufacturers and industry suppliers. Its program combines educational sessions, hands-on training, product demonstrations and networking opportunities focused specifically on the operational and legal challenges of specialized student transportation.

Educational topics include individualized education and transportation plan development, funding amid the U.S. Department of Education moving IDEA to Health and Human Services, student-data protection, positive behavior support, transporting medically fragile students, wheelchair securement, school bus aide and monitor training, updated national specifications, and the use of artificial intelligence in transportation operations. The program also includes American Sign Language training, child-passenger safety instruction and sessions addressing accessibility and inclusive transportation practices.

A major component of the event is its specialized training. Attendees can participate in a national course on child-passenger safety aboard school buses, including hands-on practice with child safety restraint systems for preschoolers and students with disabilities. Other experiences include wheelchair-securement training, a special-needs transportation roadeo and workshops that allow participants to practice procedures rather than learning exclusively through classroom presentations.

New for 2026 is the two-day Transportation Director Summit, held Nov. 4–5. This limited-capacity program is designed for qualified transportation directors and fleet leaders and focuses on leadership, trust, innovation, peer problem-solving and collaboration with manufacturers and suppliers. Participants will take part in expert presentations, small-group discussions and structured networking before the main conference begins.

The TSD Trade Show will feature dozens of exhibitors presenting specialized buses, wheelchair and occupant-restraint equipment, safety systems, fleet software, video technology and other products developed for transporting students with additional needs. A trade-show reception provides attendees with an informal setting to meet suppliers, examine equipment and discuss potential solutions for their local operations.

Related: New Date Set for NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD
Related: Update: Transfinder Sweeps 2026 STN EXPO West Innovation Choice Awards
Related: Illegal School Bus Passing Numbers Indicate Decrease, Still Too Many
Related: Ohio State Highway Patrol Urges Motorists to Prioritize School Bus Safety
Related: School Bus Driver Shortages Create Wider Consequences for Students

Later that week, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services Annual Conference kicks off, Nov. 14-17 at The Ritz-Carlton, in Arlington, Virginia. The members-only event brings together state pupil transportation directors, state agency staff, transportation association leaders, federal officials, manufacturers, suppliers and other industry professionals.

The conference focuses on policy, regulation, safety and operational issues affecting school transportation at the state and national levels. Its location near Washington, D.C., gives attendees the opportunity to hear directly from federal transportation and safety partners. Invited agencies include the National Transportation Safety Board, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Transportation Security Administration.

Educational sessions address training, transportation for students with special needs, school bus crash investigations and emerging trends in pupil transportation. State directors will also lead discussions about the most significant challenges facing school transportation programs, allowing attendees to compare policies, share practices and examine how different states are responding to common safety and operational concerns.

The event also includes keynote presentations, group meals and networking opportunities intended to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, state transportation leaders and private-sector partners. Unlike a traditional trade show, NASDPTS hosts a smaller Supplier Showcase and Networking Session, scheduled for Nov. 15. The tabletop format allows suppliers to present products, services and industry innovations while meeting directly with state directors and other transportation decision-makers.

Written with the assistance of AI.

The post As New School Year Starts, Fall Conference Agendas Announced appeared first on School Transportation News.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-sponsored Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training returns to the 2026 Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference and Trade Show but on a new day.

The all-day, hands-on training is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Convention Center. The new date places the course one day before the main TSD Conference educational program begins. Participation is limited to 50 people. Separate registration and fees are required.

The course provides an overview of the proper use of child safety restraint systems on school buses, with a particular focus on preschool-age children and students with disabilities. Classroom instruction and videos are combined with guided hands-on practice, allowing participants to work directly with the equipment and procedures discussed during the seminar.

NHTSA’s supporting curriculum demonstrates the installation and use of rear-facing and forward-facing child restraint systems as well as safety vests. The agency identifies pupil transportation administrators and supervisors, school bus drivers and monitors who transport young children — including preschoolers, Head Start students and infants — among the course’s intended audience.

The hands-on component allows participants to practice correctly installing restraint systems and positioning children under the guidance of experienced instructors. The format is designed to help transportation professionals apply the course material when training staff or working with students on daily routes.

Nationally certified child passenger safety technicians who complete the training will earn 3.5 continuing education units.

The seminar may be purchased as an add-on to the TSD main conference registration or taken as a stand-alone course. This allows transportation professionals to attend the specialized training, even if they are unable to participate in the entire conference.

The 2026 TSD Conference and Trade Show is scheduled for Nov. 4-10 in Frisco, with the Transportation Director Summit being held the first two days. The event brings together school transportation, special education and safety professionals for specialized training, keynote presentations, breakout sessions, networking and a trade show featuring equipment and services designed to support students with disabilities and special needs.

Register and view the latest agenda at TSDConference.com.

Main conference registration is available at the $399 Super Early Bird rate through Friday, Aug. 7. The NHTSA training requires an additional fee and must be selected separately during registration.

Related: (STN Podcast E284) Always Something to Learn: Special Needs Takeaways from TSD 2025
Related: (STN Podcast E283) Onsite at TSD 2025 (Part 2/2): Solution-Driven Partners + TD of the Year Interview
Related: (STN Podcast E282) Onsite at TSD 2025 (Part 1/2): Mission-Critical Partners for Special Needs Transportation

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WARRENVILLE, Ill. – Summit School Services is proud to introduce James (Jim) Wojciechowski Jr. as its new senior vice president of safety. Jim will lead the safety team in advancing comprehensive safety strategies, programs, policies, and training initiatives, while providing strategic direction to drive effective implementation, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance across the Company.

As an experienced safety professional, Jim brings with him an extensive career in safety leadership and has a proven track record of success in steering measurable improvements in safety performance and operational excellence. Prior to joining Summit, Jim served as the Senior Vice President of Safety and Industrial Engineering at RATP Dev USA, where he advanced crucial core business processes through his leadership and implementation of enterprise-wide safety initiatives. He also served in similar capacities at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Amtrak, overseeing and developing effective safety systems and programs, and is a proud military veteran, which he cites as the key reason for his interest in joining the student transportation industry, sharing the following:

“I experienced a great sense of purpose when I served in the military. I feel that same exact sense of purpose when it comes to student transportation because our mission is about more than providing a ride; we are serving communities.”

Regarding stepping into his new role at Summit, Jim looks forward to the rewarding nature of the industry and working collaboratively across departments to continuously expand and advance the company’s safety processes and initiatives – helping to ensure we provide safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on.

“I feel a profound sense of purpose as I join Summit as its safety leader,” said Jim Wojciechowski Jr., Senior Vice President of Safety, Summit School Services. “We specialize in transporting our children, the future of our country. This comes with a responsibility and commitment that must never waiver. I look forward to contributing to our thriving business by ensuring we are never satisfied with the status quo and systematically analyzing, identifying, and acting to mitigate safety risks proactively and effectively.”

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jim to Summit School Services,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Summit School Services. “It is an honor to work with a military veteran who possesses a deep sense of duty and high regard for safety. Since joining, Jim has taken the time to meet with our teams, learn about their work, and see firsthand the dedication they bring to serving students every day during his trips to our local bus facilities. His leadership and expertise in enhancing safety management systems and fostering proactive, accountable safety cultures will undoubtedly further strengthen our organization and support our continued growth. I look forward to Jim’s leadership and the positive impacts he will make not only for Summit, but also for our students, the communities we serve, and the student transportation industry as a whole.”

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.

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More than 140 school bus drivers and transportation staff members from across the region gathered at Bellefontaine High School for annual safety training ahead of the new school year, reported Peak News.

According to the news report, the County Plus in-service training on Wednesday fulfills Ohio’s continuing education requirements for school bus drivers while allowing regional transportation departments to collaborate and practice responses to emergencies that could arise during student transportation.

Transportation directors and drivers from Bellefontaine, Indian Lake, West Liberty-Salem, Urbana, Ridgemont, Kenton and Benjamin Logan reportedly participated. Several drivers from Graham and Hardin Northern also attended.

Participants reportedly rotated through hands-on stations designed to reinforce safety procedures and help drivers respond effectively under pressure. During one exercise, drivers entered a smoke-filled school bus and practiced evacuating and rescuing students. Another station gave participants hands-on experience using a fire extinguisher to respond to a potential bus fire.

School bus drivers also practiced removing students from a school bus positioned on its side, simulating the conditions they could encounter following a rollover crash. A maneuverability station focused on navigating tight turns and confined spaces similar to those drivers may face along daily routes and on school property.

Inside the school, participants attended classroom presentations covering transportation safety topics. They also used driving simulators that recreated difficult road and weather conditions, allowing drivers to practice decision-making in a controlled setting without putting students or equipment at risk. Transportation directors discussed the planning behind the annual event and reviewed feedback from participants.

Several local public safety agencies reportedly supported the training, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bellefontaine Police Department and Bellefontaine Fire & EMS. Representatives shared their expertise and emphasized coordination among school transportation departments, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders during bus-related incidents.

The training reportedly concluded with a gift card raffle for participants. With classes scheduled to begin soon throughout the region, organizers said the annual in-service helps ensure drivers are prepared to transport students safely. The program placed an emphasis on professionalism, emergency preparedness, and protecting the students who depend on school transportation each day.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: School Bus Drivers Need Active Threat Training as Security Evolves, Experts Say
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Related: Advancing Fleet Safety & Efficiency with AI Assistance
Related: ‘If You Pass’ Campaign Drives Awareness, Engagement on School Bus Safety

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RENO, Nev. — STN EXPO West 2026 took place July 9-15 in Reno, Nevada, offering a week of professional development, leadership training, technology demonstrations and networking for student transportation professionals.

The conference began with registration, a kick-off reception and a poolside welcome event. Friday and Saturday featured specialized training on school bus inspections, active-threat response, mobility securement, reasonable suspicion and transportation supervision. The Transportation Director Summit kicked off that night with leadership discussions and an interactive session at Lake Tahoe the next day.

Main conference programming began Sunday with the Innovator of the Year Award, Green Bus Summit and Bus Technology Summit. Sessions explore alternative fuels, electric school bus infrastructure, artificial intelligence, routing, cameras, illegal passing and student safety. The day concludes with the Ride & Drive and live technology demonstrations.

Monday opened with the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence and a keynote presentation by Bruce Turkel. Breakout sessions address fleet management, communication, employee fatigue, artificial intelligence and safety technology. Attendees can later visited the “Wonderland of Ideas” Trade Show and networking reception.

Tuesday included a state-of-the-industry presentation, a leadership-focused general session with military veterans and the second day of the Trade Show. Afternoon sessions covered dispatch, budgeting, fleet operations, personnel productivity and practical uses of artificial intelligence.

The conference concluded Wednesday with an executive training session led by NAPT Hall of Fame members Dick Fischer and Pete Baxter. The session focused on safety leadership, emergency preparedness and recognizing warning signs before incidents occur.

Throughout the event, attendees connected with industry peers, explored new products and gained practical strategies for improving student transportation safety, efficiency and leadership. (Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.)

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Tony, Ryan and Taylor go over the highlights from STN EXPO West last week which focused on not only skills, technology and training but also teambuilding, workplace culture and making emotional connections.

Highlights included focused inspection and special needs trainings, a musical keynote, Great Gatsby and Alice in Wonderland themed networking events, multiple awards given, a Mr. Bus Driver appearance, a military leadership panel, the Green Bus Summit and Bus Technology Summit, an AI track, and the Pete & Dick Show.

Read more STN EXPO West coverage.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

The post (STN Podcast E316) Recap STN EXPO West: Harmonicas, Great Gatsby & Transportation Teambuilding appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Wyoming Pupil Transportation Association expanded educational programming and interactive networking opportunities during its 2026 annual conference, drawing hundreds of transportation professionals to Casper for two days of leadership, safety and workforce development.

The 2026 WPTA Conference, themed “Driving Into the Future,” was held June 30-July 1 at the Ford Wyoming Center. According to WPTA Conference Coordinator Athena Bartz, the event welcomed 477 registered attendees representing school bus drivers, dispatchers, mechanics, trainers, supervisors, administrators and industry partners from across Wyoming.

“The conference focused on providing high-quality professional development, promoting student safety, sharing best practices, and creating opportunities for networking and collaboration among transportation professionals from across the state,” Bartz told School Transportation News.

Bartz said the conference’s primary goals were to support professional growth, recognize excellence in pupil transportation and provide valuable learning opportunities tailored to every role within the industry.

Educational sessions covered leadership, student management, special needs transportation, school bus safety, maintenance, technician training, dispatcher responsibilities, driver development and current transportation issues. Bartz said the conference also expanded programming for groups that traditionally have had fewer dedicated learning opportunities.

Wyoming Attendees Learn Dispatch, Leadership and Maintenance Skills

Among the new additions were dedicated educational sessions for dispatchers, as well as roundtable discussions for dispatchers, trainers and mechanics that allowed participants to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and share best practices.

Another first-time initiative was the Vendor Passport activity, which encouraged attendees to visit exhibitor booths, ask questions and learn about products and services while becoming eligible for prize drawings. Bartz said the activity increased engagement between attendees and exhibitors. Raffle drawings and badge number prizes were also held throughout the conference to maintain participation.

Additionally, 21 participants completed the National Association for Pupil Transportation Professional Development Series course, Introduction to Leadership and Management.

The vendor show featured 40 booths showcasing school transportation equipment, technology, maintenance solutions and safety products.

Outside the classroom, the conference hosted a Bus Rodeo, Mountain Driving Competition and Mechanics Challenge. Bartz added that 100 competitors participated in the Bus Rodeo, 68 in the Mountain Driving Competition and 42 in the Mechanics Challenge.

Separate conventional and transit bus courses allowed drivers to compete using the type of vehicle they operate each day, while the Mechanics Challenge tested participants’ technical knowledge, diagnostic skills and problem-solving abilities through hands-on scenarios.

Although post-conference surveys are still being collected, Bartz said early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising the expanded educational offerings, new dispatcher programming and increased vendor interaction.

“I’m most proud of how the conference continued to evolve by introducing new educational opportunities while still maintaining the traditions that attendees enjoy,” Bartz said.

In a follow-up email to School Transportation News, WPTA Executive Director Adam Rydel described the conference as a success and said keynote speakers Keith Henry and Chad Hymas were well received. He also confirmed the association plans to return to Casper for its 2027 conference, scheduled June 28 through July 1

Related: Building Stronger Transportation Departments Starts with Better Leadership
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Related: Reasonable Suspicion Training Sharpens Supervisors’ Eye for Impaired School Bus Drivers
Related:  Gallery: Leadership Training, Networking at STN EXPO West

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RENO, Nev. — A total of just over 1,010 years of student transportation experience sat in the “So, You Want to Become a Transportation Supervisor,” four-and-half-hour session July 11 during STN EXPO West.

Not only transportation experience but education experience as well, consultant Alexandra Robinson said, adding that everyone in the room is an educator. Also, among the presenters were industry veterans Timothy Purvis of Pupil Transportation Information, consultant Pamela McDonald, and Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, executive director of enrollment and student services at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma.

Vann-Jackson started the first quarter of the seminar by explaining because the school bus serves as an extension of the classroom, employees have opportunities to positively influence students, colleagues and communities. As individuals advance into supervisory roles, however, their responsibilities and challenges often increase, particularly when managing adults, building trust and navigating organizational change, she said.

A central theme of her portion was “level setting,” or creating a shared understanding of expectations, priorities, values and workplace standards. Effective supervisors should establish common language, clearly communicate what employees can expect from leadership and connect operational decisions to the department’s central purpose: safely transporting students.

Healthy Leadership

Vann-Jackson stressed that successful leaders listen before attempting to solve problems. By learning why employees stay, what motivates them and what challenges they face, leaders can develop more effective recruitment, retention and workplace improvement strategies. She shared how employee feedback helped her district target retirees who enjoyed working with children, contributing to significant staffing improvements.

Trust was described as the foundation of a healthy workplace culture. Supervisors build trust gradually by keeping promises, admitting mistakes, listening, giving employees credit, remaining consistent, and working alongside their teams. Trust can be quickly lost through favoritism, poor communication, broken commitments or unexpected demands.

The presenters also encouraged attendees to build relationships beyond their departments, including with unions, district administrators, school leaders and financial officers. Strong internal and external partnerships help transportation leaders advocate for employees, secure resources and create a culture that continues to succeed even when the supervisor is not present.

Building Culture

McDonald continued, discussing the importance of creating relationships. The retired director of transportation for Orange Unified School District in Southern California, noted that leaders should remain visible and available to employees rather than managing exclusively from an office. Regular briefings, informal conversations and opportunities for staff input can improve communication and reduce burnout. Employees should also be included in decisions that directly affect their work, such as selecting new buses, equipment or technology.

She emphasized that transportation departments benefit from the varied backgrounds, languages and experiences of their employees. Recognizing those strengths can improve service across an entire school district.

Successful transportation leaders must also build relationships with students, parents, teachers, principals, special education staff, district administrators, neighboring districts, contractors and community members. These partnerships can provide critical support during staffing shortages, operational changes and emergencies, McDonald said.

Departments should actively promote their accomplishments through awards, employee recognition, team events, professional development and public outreach. Positive visibility can strengthen employee pride, improve morale and demonstrate transportation’s value when district leaders consider budgets. Above all, employees should understand that their work reflects the department and supports the safe transportation of students.

Kristy Flick, operations supervisor for Poway Unified School District in California, said in 1991 her first child was born and she was looking for work that was part-time, allowing her to choose her schedule. She became a sub driver for Poway for two years before becoming a permanent driver and then continued to move up the ranks – from training, to dispatching to routing for students with special needs.

“Then eventually a supervisory job came open, and I thought, oh, why not? I’ll just go for it and try it, and here I am,” she said, adding that the supervisor class gave her suggestions on how to boost morale.

She noted that after COVID-19, bringing camaraderie back to the department has been a challenge. “So that’s something that I want to take back and hopefully go forward with what I learned from here to help with our morale in Poway,” she said, adding it’s all about listening and being a positive person.

Data-Driven Decisions

Purvis continued, addressing data driven decisions. The retired director of transportation for Poway Unified and founder of PTI said transportation supervisors can use data to make stronger operational and budget decisions. Leaders do not need to be experts in spreadsheets or statistics, but they should understand how measurable information can confirm—or challenge—the assumptions made about their departments.

He distinguished between observations and key performance indicators. Statements such as “that bus is always late” or “drivers struggle with backing” may identify a concern, but they do not provide enough information to guide a decision. A key performance indicator uses a measurable number to show whether performance is improving, declining or remaining consistent.

Transportation departments already generate valuable data through routing systems, maintenance records, safety inspections, accident reports, training programs and employee attendance. However, that information is often kept in separate operational silos. Supervisors should connect data across departments to better understand the causes of delays, vehicle problems, accidents, staffing challenges and inefficient routes.

Useful measures may include on-time performance, preventable accidents, driver absenteeism, fleet availability, cost per mile, student ride times, bus capacity and the number of students transported, Purvis explained. These figures become especially important when district administration request budget reductions without reducing service.

He encouraged supervisors to begin with one operational area, select a meaningful measurement and review it consistently. Data should support practical decisions, not be collected simply for the sake of creating reports.

Ian Moter, assistant transportation director for Converse County School District #2 in Wyoming, noted Purvis’ section was of particular interest to him. Moter lost his full-time job and started driving a school bus because he had a CDL. He drove a bus for one full school year, and when he returned several staff members quit for personal reasons, and his superintendent provided him to step in to help in the interim. Since then, he was hired to be the assistant director, a move he described as stressful.

“Mostly just because of learning the business side of things,” he said. “I find that 90 percent of these issues, doesn’t come from bus driving specifically. It’s more so learning people and process, and I’m a big proponent of people over process.”

He added the district has implemented Tyler Technologies and Geotab, which have been instrumental in their program. “Just optimizing, finding the data that we need to find our inefficiencies with just maintenance as well as routing and safe student pickup,” he said, adding that they’ve been able to reduce routes from seven to four. “… All of our office staff is brand new to the office staff side of things. My dispatcher is a retired bus driver. She worked for our district for 24 years on one single dedicated route, and so none of us had any of the office experience. And Tyler Tech has helped us be able to just move straight through seamlessly.”

He said he resonated with the section on KPIs. “I really took a lot from this last session about KPIs, and rather than trying to find a people source of ongoing issues, trying to see if there’s an overarching problem that could be used across the board to help efficiencies.”

Being a Good Leader

Robinson concluded the seminar with information on how to lead in not only good times but bad. She explored how workplace culture, accountability and self-awareness affect transportation departments. Employees should feel motivated, respected and comfortable communicating with supervisors, said the veteran transportation professional who had stints as director of San Diego Unified in California and as executive director for the New York City Department of Education.

In unhealthy organizations, even a request to meet with a manager can create anxiety, physical stress and fear. Leaders must recognize warning signs such as bullying, passive-aggressive behavior, apathy, poor follow-through and persistent negativity before they spread throughout the department.

Related: School Bus Drivers Need Active Threat Training as Security Evolves, Experts Say
Related: TD Summit Shares What the Business World Can Teach Student Transporters
Related: Reasonable Suspicion Training Sharpens Supervisors’ Eye for Impaired School Bus Drivers
Related: Gallery: Leadership Training, Networking at STN EXPO Wes

Robinson noted that supervisors cannot continually excuse harmful behavior because of staffing shortages, seniority or a lack of documentation. Allowing unsafe or disruptive employees to remain without accountability damages trust and signals that standards are optional. Leaders should ask whether they would confidently allow an employee to transport their own child, said the former National Association for Pupil Transportation president, adding that any hesitation should prompt immediate action. Staffing gaps should not be managed by routinely pulling dispatchers, mechanics, supervisors or directors away from essential responsibilities, as these short-term solutions can create larger safety and liability risks.

Supervisors should also evaluate whether employees are serving in roles that match their skills, Robinson said. Some individuals excel at managing systems, technology or routing but may not be suited in leading people. Cross-training, reassignment and thoughtful organizational planning can help employees contribute successfully without forcing everyone onto the same career path.

Robinson’s section also addressed professional growth. Hard work alone is not enough if results are invisible, and loyalty should not keep employees in unhealthy environments. Leaders should seek meaningful feedback, avoid treating burnout as an accomplishment and focus on progress rather than perfection. Networking and stepping outside one’s comfort zone she described as essential to advancement.

When hiring future leaders, supervisors should look beyond technical experience and consider enthusiasm, curiosity, honesty and willingness to learn, she said. Strong leadership potential often appears in candidates who care deeply about the work, understand their limitations and demonstrate a genuine desire to improve student transportation, Robinson concluded.

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Reno, Nev. – During the Transportation Director Summit in Lake Tahoe, keynote speaker Bruce Turkel led an interactive leadership training that included workshop sessions designed to build stronger trust, improve team alignment and lead more effectively through change.

Additional trainings that took place on Saturday during STN EXPO West include the National School Bus Inspection hosted at Washoe County School District, Advanced Securement Training: Troubleshooting Difficult Mobility Devices and So, You Want to Become a Transportation Supervisor?

The day concluded with a Great Gatsby themed Welcome Party at EDGE Nightclub. Attendees conversed in lavish and sophisticated style resulting in an joyous jubilee.

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RENO, Nev. — As school districts continue investing millions of dollars in cameras, secure entrances, metal detectors and other campus security measures, one group of law enforcement professionals says an equally important piece of the safety puzzle continues to receive far less attention: School transportation.

Instructors with Levine Security Solutions on Friday presented a four-hour overview of the School Transportation Active Response Training (S.T.A.R.T.) program. They urged transportation leaders to prepare their school bus drivers for active threats, arguing that school buses have become one of the most vulnerable environments in K-12 education because drivers are often the first, and only, adults available to respond when a crisis unfolds.

“Our mission has been and will continue to be proactive,” S.T.A.R.T. co-founder Jim Levine told attendees. “We have to get bus drivers to understand what the threat looks like and what the response options could be, because it’s not fair. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not fair to the community that entrusts their kids to be on that bus.”

Levine, a former school resource officer and active-duty law enforcement officer as well as founder and president of Levine Security Solutions, said the program grew out of an experience in 2015, when he inspected security measures at an Ohio school district. After seeing reinforced doors, protective window film and fencing around school buildings, he visited the transportation department and asked what type of active threat training bus drivers had received.

The answer surprised him.

“The troopers are here almost every month. They check the buses, but they’ve never talked to the drivers about what to look for or what to do,” Levine recalled.

That conversation launched what has become an 11-year effort to educate transportation professionals nationwide on recognizing warning signs, preventing violence and responding during life-threatening emergencies.

Levine argued that while schools have dramatically strengthened building security over the past decade, transportation has largely remained an afterthought.

“We target hard in the schools so much that we’ve just transferred the threat to the buses,” he said.

He pointed to recent incidents involving weapons on school buses and evolving threats such as 3D-printed firearms as examples of why transportation departments must prepare for scenarios that extend beyond traditional student management.

“If your bus drivers had an active threat on their bus, would they know how to respond in the first three to five seconds?” Levine asked the audience. “If the answer is no, that’s why we’re here.”

Preparing Drivers Before Violence Occurs

Active-duty police officer John Zippay, S.T.A.R.T. co-founder and vice president of Levine Security Solutions, explained that the organization’s eight-hour training program focuses on five areas: Legal responsibilities, threat recognition, juvenile behavioral intelligence, crisis de-escalation and active threat response. The conference session condensed those lessons into a four-hour overview.

“We truly believe [bus drivers] are our forgotten heroes,” Zippay said. “We forget about them.”

One of the most important lessons, he said, is helping drivers establish a “baseline” for their routes.

Because drivers travel the same neighborhoods and interact with many of the same students each day, they are uniquely positioned to recognize when something appears out of place.

Whether it is an unfamiliar person lingering at a bus stop, a parent behaving unusually, or a student whose demeanor suddenly changes, recognizing those anomalies can give drivers valuable time to react and alert others before a situation escalates.

The training also emphasizes a driver’s legal “duty of care” and responsibility to protect students while they are on the bus.

Zippay said drivers sometimes misunderstand “no hands-on” policies as meaning they can never physically intervene. Instead, instructors teach that while physical force should always be a last resort, drivers have both the authority and responsibility to act when students face immediate danger.

“We want to empower drivers,” he said. “We don’t want that pendulum to swing so far that they think they can’t do anything.”

Building Relationships that Prevent Violence

Former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Greg Truhan shifted the conversation from responding to violence to preventing it altogether.

Drawing upon research conducted by the Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center, Truhan said many school attackers exhibited warning signs long before carrying out acts of violence.

Perhaps most significant, he noted, was one recurring finding among K-12 school shooters.

“School shooters reported having no trusting relationships with a responsible adult, not one,” Truhan said.

For transportation professionals, that research reinforces the importance of building relationships with student riders.

Bus drivers often see students before teachers do each morning and after they leave school each afternoon, giving them opportunities to notice behavioral changes that others may miss.

“They can be that trusted adult,” Truhan said.

He encouraged school bus drivers to ask simple questions when they notice a student appears upset, withdrawn or unusually emotional.

“Are you OK? Is something wrong? How can I help you? What do you need?” he said, adding that even if students choose not to answer immediately, knowing an adult cares may encourage them to seek help later.

Truhan shared examples of bus drivers identifying children in crisis and connecting them with assistance before situations became more serious, underscoring transportation’s role in violence prevention as much as emergency response.

Related: Download the 2026 STN EXPO West Conference App
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De-escalation Before Confrontation

Another major component of the S.T.A.R.T. curriculum focuses on crisis de-escalation.

Kevin Spackman, a detective, hostage negotiator and S.T.A.R.T. instructor, said drivers frequently encounter emotionally charged situations involving parents, students, or community members.

“The most important tool on your belt is de-escalation,” Spackman said.

He referenced the case of Las Vegas parent Otis Tanner, who boarded a school bus following a dispute involving his daughter, to illustrate how quickly confrontations can escalate.

Although Tanner was charged after the incident, Spackman said the encounter also demonstrated missed opportunities by the bus driver to create distance and reduce the conflict before it became physical.

Rather than engaging an aggressive individual, Spackman encouraged drivers to keep unauthorized persons off the bus whenever possible, remain calm, establish boundaries and leave the area if necessary.

“Shut the door, smile, wave and drive away,” he said. “That threat is greater on the bus than it is off the bus.”

Spackman also discussed techniques such as controlled breathing, maintaining a calm tone of voice, active listening and acknowledging concerns without making promises beyond a driver’s authority.

Transportation leaders, he added, should ensure drivers know where to direct parents with complaints rather than feeling obligated to resolve every issue themselves.

Training for the Worst-Case Scenario

The session concluded with active threat response strategies specifically designed for school buses.

Unlike school staff inside buildings, drivers have limited resources available during an emergency and often must manage situations alone until law enforcement arrives.

The S.T.A.R.T. instructors demonstrated tactics designed to disrupt an attack by using the movement of the bus to destabilize an armed assailant, create opportunities for students to escape and give drivers time to intervene.

Although the techniques involve physical action, the instructors stressed that the objective is not to turn drivers into police officers but to give them practical options when every second counts.

“The worst thing they can do is freeze,” Zippay said. “Training gives them something to fall back on.”

Levine acknowledged that funding additional training can be difficult, but he urged transportation directors to advocate for it with district leaders, community organizations and grant providers.

He argued that investments in transportation security represent only a fraction of what many districts already spend on building security infrastructure while potentially protecting dozens of students aboard every bus.

“We cannot allow this to continue,” Levine said. “We have to raise the awareness substantially for the safety of our kids and for our bus drivers.”

As school safety discussions continue evolving, the S.T.A.R.T. instructors left transportation professionals with a central message: School buses should no longer be viewed as separate from campus security but as an essential component of every district’s comprehensive safety strategy.

Article written with the assistance of AI from a session transcr

powered by Advanced iFrame

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RENO, Nev. — STN EXPO West attendees participated in informative trainings, starting with the Elements of School Transportation Active-Threat Response Training. Plus, led by Maritza Valentin, participants also completed a Mastering Wheelchair and Occupant Securement Training Certification class from AMF-Bruns as well as a Supervisory Reasonable Suspicion Training instructed by Tonica Lathrop.

Throughout the day, day one of the National School Bus Inspection Training Program took place. Select individuals were also invited to participate in the inaugural Mentorship Program lunch. Several on-site podcasts were also filmed.

The day ended with the Transportation Director Summit lead by STN President and Publisher Tony Corpin. The first of this two-day event, the TD Summit gave participants the opportunity to network and gain high-level insights from experts within the student transportation industry and beyond.

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Sarah Reece, a driver trainer for Barren County Schools, was named the Student Transportation Association of Kentucky (STAK) Driver Trainer of the Year, an honor recognizing her commitment to preparing school bus drivers and promoting safe student transportation.

Reece received the award during STAK’s annual conference. The association recognized her for her dedication to training new drivers and helping maintain high standards for school bus safety.

As Barren County’s driver-trainer, Reece mentors and prepares new school bus drivers as they earn their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and develop the skills needed to safely transport students. District officials said her focus on thorough instruction has strengthened the transportation department while reinforcing a culture centered on safety.

“We’re proud to see Sarah recognized by her peers across the state,” Superintendent Amy Irwin said in a statement. “She approaches her work with professionalism and a genuine commitment to making sure our drivers are well prepared. This award is a reflection of the important role she plays in serving our students.”

Driver-trainers play a critical role in pupil transportation by preparing prospective school bus drivers through classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel coaching and evaluations before they begin transporting students.

Former Transportation Director Scott Chapman, who worked closely with Reece for many years, said her attention to detail and commitment to excellence have made her an effective trainer.

“Sarah cares deeply about doing the job the right way,” Chapman said. “She takes the time to make sure new drivers are ready before they ever get behind the wheel with students. She’s a great trainer and very deserving of this recognition.”

STAK is a professional organization that promotes excellence in pupil transportation through professional development, training and advocacy for school transportation professionals throughout the commonwealth. District officials said Reece’s recognition reflects not only her dedication to training future school bus drivers but also the district’s broader commitment to providing safe, reliable transportation for students each day.

Barren County Schools concluded its announcement by congratulating Reece on the statewide honor and thanking her for the care, professionalism and dedication she brings to the district’s transportation program.

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KYLE, Texas – Each year, the Bill Loshbough Grand Champion award goes to the winner of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition produced by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA). This year’s two-day event concluded over the weekend, and Brian Rickmann of Oregon’s Beaverton School District took home the honors.

Rickmann finished the event with a grand total of 694 points, which gave him a commanding lead in the Type D competition over second place winner James Hethcock of Colleyville Independent School District in Grapevine, Texas (571.53) and Kevin Beck of Salem-Keizer Public School District in Oregon (545.87).

For the title of Bill Loshbough Grand Champion across all categories, named for the Hall of Fame member of NSTA and the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the overall race was a little tighter. Rickmann’s 694 points bested the 628 points tallied by James Tiensvold of Dickson County School District in Tennessee in the Type A competition and the 624.67 points by Betty Nelson of Dean Transportation in Lansing, Michigan in Type C.

The 52nd edition of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition took place in Uhland, Texas June 27 and 28 at the Hays Consolidated Independent School District transportation facility. The competition was sponsored by Beacon Mobility and hosted by the National School Transportation Association. Hays CISD has hosted the event since 2019, with no competition held 2020-2022 due to COVID-19. The site has proved to be the perfect fit for a competition of this sort, “This facility is really tailormade for a competition like this. As you can see, the spacing and just the layout is really helpful” said Curt Macysyn, NSTA’s executive director.

This year’s competition consisted of a total of 93 school bus drivers from 27 states and two Canadian provinces. In order to qualify for the international competition, each driver had to win their state, regional, or provincial competition, or be an NSTA Member Inclusion Driver.

Drivers were grouped by type, with 11 Type A (small bus) drivers, 30 Type D (conventional bus) drivers, and 52 Type C (transit bus) drivers. While drivers mainly competed with drivers in their classification, the Bill Loshbough Grand Champion was crowned to the driver with the most points overall.

The competition itself was split into two separate competitions: A CDL knowledge test, which took place Saturday, June 27, and the scored driving competition, which took place Sunday, June 29. An awards dinner followed.

The scored driving competition consisted of 10 different events along one continual course. Before driving the course, drivers toured the course by bus and received the details of each individual event.

The course started with student loading, followed by a railroad crossing, then a right-hand turn. It continued with the offset alley, which required drivers to shift to the left, right and back to the left without hitting any barriers.

After the offset alley, drivers completed a left-hand turn, which directed them to the straight-line test that required them to keep their right dual wheels within a straight line. Drivers then paralleled parked their buses and navigated the diminishing clearance.

The competitors then found themselves faced with what proved to be the toughest task of the day, the backup stall. The backup stall required drivers to back their buses into a tight stall and stop in a marked and measured parameter. Upon securing the buses, drivers were scored on the timing and accuracy. Drivers then needed to pull their bus forward out of the stall without hitting any obstacles and proceed to the final event of the competition: The stop line.

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Type A Results

Type C Results

Type D Results

Each event was scrutinized by a set of judges stationed along the course at their respective events. All judges were volunteers, many of which came from school districts or companies. To avoid conflicts of interest, judges stepped away from the course when a competitor represented the same school district or company.

David Jorgensen, transportation operations manager of Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon, did just that, as one of his district’s drivers, Kevin Beck, not only qualified for the competition, but also placed third amongst Type D drivers. Jorgensen, who judged the backup stall, had no shortage of pleasantries when speaking about NSTA and the competition as a whole.

“It’s fun to be out here. It’s fun to meet people from other places. It’s fun to watch the skills of the drivers and it’s just fun. It’s really smooth. It’s a great facility, the weather has been nice,” he commented. “Drivers have been doing okay. I mean, we are one of the most challenging events on the course, so anytime someone does well, that feels really good.”

Not only did the competition prove to be enjoyable, it allowed bus drivers from across North America to enhance their safety knowledge and skills, something that can go a long way in ensuring the safety of students.

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Polk County Public Schools is working to fill about 70 bus driver positions before students return to class this fall, as the district continues to face a nationwide shortage of qualified drivers, reported Spectrum News.

Transportation Operations Director George Millar said recruiting additional drivers is a top priority ahead of the upcoming school year.

Millar, who has worked in public school transportation for more than 30 years, began his career as a school bus driver before moving into a leadership role. He said driving a school bus offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact on students throughout their academic careers. “It’s very rewarding and you could be a very large success,” Millar told local news reporters.

He said drivers often build relationships with students over many years, from their first days of school through graduation. “All the way from when they’re 5-years-old or even younger sometimes, all the way through seeing them walk across that stage at graduation. It is so rewarding,” he said.

Millar said some prospective applicants may be discouraged by the commercial driver’s license, or CDL, testing process. However, he said via the report that the district provides training materials and support to help candidates prepare for and pass the required written exam.

“For the individuals applying with us, we’ll help them get through that process,” Millar told reporters. “We will give them the training materials to help them study for that test and to be successful.” After completing the exam, new hires continue receiving hands-on training before driving routes independently, he said.

Increasing Pay to Fill Bus Driver Positions

To attract more applicants to fill the 70 bus driver positions, the district recently increased base pay for bus drivers by 2 percent, bringing hourly wages to just over $19. Drivers are also eligible to work seven-hour shifts with opportunities for additional earnings.

Millar said some drivers may have the option to park their buses at home, depending on where they live, reducing commute times and adding convenience. “In some areas you might even be able to park your school bus at home just to make it more convenient for you,” he said.

Millar said the district remains focused on supporting employees while ensuring reliable transportation for students. Applications for bus driver and bus attendant intern positions are available through the Polk County Public Schools website.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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School districts across the country are preparing for a wave of summer retirements of school bus drivers, adding pressure to an already strained student transportation workforce.

To address the growing shortage, school districts are ramping up recruitment efforts through hiring events, sign-on bonuses, paid training programs, referral incentives, and retention initiatives aimed at attracting and keeping qualified drivers.

One district taking a hands-on approach is Branson Public Schools in Missouri. The district’s transportation department hosted its first annual “Take the Wheel” Driving Event on June 13, giving community members the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a school bus, meet transportation staff and learn more about available career opportunities.

The event was designed to provide prospective applicants with a firsthand summer-time look at what it is like to serve as a school bus driver while highlighting the benefits of the profession, including flexible schedules and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students’ daily lives. Participants visited multiple event locations throughout the community, while bus test drives were available at Buchanan Elementary. Branson’s initiative reflects a growing trend among school districts looking beyond traditional job postings to recruit new drivers, especially to address retirements.

In Alabama, Tuscaloosa City Schools recently hosted a Bus Driver Hiring Fair, where prospective applicants could receive assistance with the application process, schedule fingerprinting appointments and participate in on-the-spot interviews. The school district is also offering a $2,000 signing bonus for new drivers, starting pay of $23.80 per hour, and paid commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, helping remove barriers for individuals interested in entering the profession.

Retirements Spur Need for More School Bus Driver Hiring

The urgency behind these recruitment efforts is driven not only by ongoing nationwide school bus driver shortages, but also by the retirements of a number of longtime drivers retiring this summer who have spent decades serving their communities.

In Georgia, Fayette County school bus driver Diane Vaughn recently retired at age 82 after an extraordinary 50-year career. According to local news reports, Vaughn began driving in 1976 to secure health insurance for her child’s cancer treatment and quickly developed a passion for the profession. Over the past five decades, she safely transported thousands of students and became a familiar face to generations of families. The Fayette County School Board honored her service with a specially made 50-year service pin and a standing ovation, recognizing a career that exemplifies the dedication many veteran drivers have brought to student transportation.

In Tennessee, retiring Wilson County Schools bus driver Frances Theiring is also marking the end of a remarkable career. According to local news reports, Theiring, who spent nearly 50 years driving a special education bus and teaching in a special education classroom in Mt. Juliet, will become the first woman from Wilson County inducted into the Tennessee School Bus Driver Hall of Fame. Honored recently by fellow drivers and district staff at the transportation department’s year-end cookout, Theiring said she felt “overwhelmed but grateful” as she reflected on a career dedicated to serving students and families.

Theiring’s induction recognizes not only her longevity but also her commitment to safe and reliable transportation. According to the Tennessee School Bus Driver Hall of Fame, inductees must have at least 45 years of uninterrupted service as a daily route driver and demonstrate exceptional dedication, integrity and service to students. Wilson County Schools officials praised Theiring’s impact on the community, with school board chair Joe Padilla noting that her influence on generations of students and families cannot be measured.

Retirements like those of Vaughn and Theiring underscore the challenge facing school transportation departments nationwide. According to recent reports, Tuscaloosa City Schools continues to seek hiring additional drivers this summer for the upcoming school year, while school systems across the country are investing in recruitment and training programs to strengthen their transportation workforce.

From interactive experiences like Branson’s “Take the Wheel” event to hiring fairs, signing bonuses, competitive wages, and paid CDL training, districts are employing a variety of strategies to attract new drivers before students return to classrooms this fall. As veteran drivers leave the workforce after decades of service, transportation leaders are increasingly focused on finding innovative ways to ensure students have safe and reliable transportation for the school year ahead.

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Two of the most recognized and respected names in student transportation safety will be at STN EXPO West to share their expertise with conference attendees.

Industry veterans Richard “Dick” Fischer and Pete Baxter will present a half-day seminar “The Best of the Dick and Pete Show” on Wednesday, July 15. This in-depth session will give attendees invaluable education from two National Association of Pupil Transportation Hall of Fame inductees on safety leadership, organizational learning and risk governance in student transportation.

In this seminar, STN EXPO West attendees will receive a comprehensive student transportation safety training that will dive into real-life school bus safety cases, including Danger Zone safety incidents and the “Titanic tragedy,” a 2016 incident in England, where a school bus carrying 26 children got stuck in deep floodwaters, and reveal the lessons learned. Fischer and Baxter will highlight the dangerous pitfalls of overconfidence, ignoring warning signs or a lack of preparedness or emergency training.

The message of the training will contain an overall theme of continuous improvement through the fostering of a strong safety culture. Attendees will be given safety training modules designed to give student transportation leaders what they need to know to implement safe practices, communication, accountability all to protect every child and school bus driver on every bus ride.

Fischer has spent over six decades championing school bus safety as a school district transportation director, school-bus safety trainer and consultant. He successfully petitioned President Richard Nixon in 1969 to proclaim the first School Bus Safety Week. Even following his official retirement announcement in 2013, he has continued to present training, advocate for the industry, and become involved in national safety discussions.

STN presented Fischer with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Baxter is a former state director of student transportation at the Indiana Department of Education and past-president of both the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, one of only two industry professionals to hold both offices.

Both Fischer and Baxter have served as expert witnesses in court for legal cases involving school bus collisions and have extensive experience and knowledge to equip student transporters to further safety at their operations.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

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