As 2024 comes to close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on new beginnings. Jennifer Vobis was recognized for her exceptional work as the 2022 Transportation Director of the Year, and she continued pursuing excellence in her role as executive transportation director at Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada.
In her “Day in the Life” video, she helped prepare her transportation team the 2024-2025 school year and shared a heartfelt farewell as retired from her position at CCSD. Tune in for a behind the scenes look at the process of prepping for a new school year, interviews with CCSD transportation staff and lots of smiles shared with Jennifer and her team.
“My time at CCSD transportation department was invaluable,” Vobis told STN.
“During my tenure, I grew both professionally and personally. I hold deep gratitude for colleagues and staff for their hard work and dedication. I wish only the best to those who continue the important work of transporting students. The work they do is critical and under-appreciated.”
Vobis helped to create and define the new transportation lead position for Amber Rideout, Vobis’ former assistant director of transportation who was promoted to the district’s assistant superintendent of transportation.
Safety lessons the industry can learn from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Loading & Unloading Survey and illegal school bus passing report to Congress, as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse recommendations.
Joshua Wilson, former transportation director, national director of student transportation for Specialized Education Services, and a 2024 STN Rising Star, leverages his expertise in driver training to analyze the school bus driver shortage, alternative transportation, and more.
School Transportation News staff weigh many factors when looking for the next Transportation Director of the Year. Accomplishments in the industry, especially over the past couple of years, weigh heavily. So, too, do their leadership skills. There are
plenty of options to choose from each year, which is a good thing. It can also make the selection a daunting one. Thankfully, we have many examples to use as a litmus test for what makes a strong and successful director of transportation.
Look no further than George Edward (Ed) Donn. You may have read at stnonline.com/go/kp that Ed died last month at the age of 85. He was one of the most decorated student transporters in the industry’s history. He was also as nice as he was knowledgeable about his trade. The dictionary should have Ed’s photo next to the word “gentleman.”
I was saddened when, during an introduction of the NAPT Foundation board members at last month’s Annual Conference and Trade Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, it was mentioned that Ed was unable to attend. I wondered about his health. I knew he was heartbroken following the death of wife Sandi in 2001. I spoke to him several times since then, most recently this past spring. He was still the same old Ed, kind, complimentary, insightful, and asking about my family. But something was different.
My heart was lightened upon learning that he died peacefully at a hospital in Marietta, Georgia, located about an hour southwest of his home in Calhoun. He relocated there in the early 1990s after retiring from Washington County Public Schools in Maryland, where he served as director of transportation for 16 years. Before that, he was the assistant director at Prince George’s County Public Schools also in Maryland.
He not only left an impression on tens of thousands of student riders over his career but as many student transportation professionals. It was Ed who co-founded the NAPT Foundation and the NAPT Professional Development Series. He was immortalized in the NAPT Hall of Fame for his efforts and received the NAPT Distinguished Service Award. He was an entrepreneur, co-founding video surveillance company Bus Vision and then 24/7 Security.
But knowing Ed, his accomplishments were never about himself but others, especially the students who ride school buses every day and the many professionals who make the service work. Always giving of his time, both humbly and generously, he was as genuine as they come. The consummate family man. Mind as sharp as a tack. In his hey-day, he was quite the track athlete as well.
After he passed on Oct. 10, I reflected on the parallels between his life and STN’s director of the year honor, which we recognize this month. Innovative. Leader. Transparent. Giving. Check, check, check, check. The recognition could very well be renamed the Ed Donn Transportation Director of the Year Award.
A lifelong resident of the San Diego, California area, Beaver retired as director of transportation from Grossmont Union High School District in January 2015 and relocated to Oregon, where he joined Beaverton School District. It was destiny, as Beaver says, to reinvent himself in the Pacific Northwest at one of Oregon’s largest school districts, his namesake, so to speak.
With that move, he has ushered in the state’s largest fleet of electric school buses and with them data to illustrate performance and cost savings. He readily shares that information and the many lessons he learned about implementation and deployment to anyone who asks. He’s willing to try new things and is not afraid of failure. He empowers his staff to see if they can make new ideas work, which sometimes means recalibrating. For his efforts, he also accepted the Leading Public Fleet Award for Beaverton School District at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in May.
Beaver and all those who came before him, and will come after, have large shoes to fill left by Ed Donn. But surely, he is looking down from heaven with pride. Ed was ready and willing to support and celebrate all endeavors and people that put school buses in a positive light and that lead to successful outcomes for the children who ride them.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the November 2024 issue of School Transportation News.
David Poag has over 15 years of transportation experience in both pupil transportation and mass transportation. He started as a bus driver for Clemson Area Transit while he was attending college at Clemson University in 2008. He was a multiple time ROADEO driving champion which sparked his interest in the field.
In 2011, he transitioned into the pupil transportation space, serving as the operations and routing coordinator for Anderson School District Five in South Carolina. He served in that role for the next two years before moving to Greenville County Schools to serve as the routing and scheduling coordinator. Greenville is reportedly the largest district in South Carolina with nearly 400 bus routes. During this time, he became a certified director of transportation.
Poag moved back to Anderson in 2021 to become the assistant director of transportation. However, in May 2024 he became the director of transportation for Spartanburg School District 6. Poag and his wife Jennifer, reside in Anderson with their three children ages 5, 7, and 9.
Each year, School Transportation News chooses 10 Rising Stars based on nominations submitted by school districts and companies around the industry. These individuals have shown exemplary commitment and dedication in the student transportation industry and continue to demonstrate innovation in their roles. This year’s Rising Stars are featured in the November magazine issue.
“No two days in transportation are ever alike,” he said of his day-to-day operations. “The hustle and bustle of daily school bus operations is an environment I love. Every day we are challenged with new opportunities and face situations where we are tested in a multitude of ways.”
He noted that being a part of the transportation department that delivers the nation’s precious cargo daily is his favorite part of his job.
“I learn so much from our staff and it’s such a joy to work with folks from many different backgrounds,” he said, adding that Spartanburg drivers consist of career bus drivers/monitors, airline pilots, air traffic controllers, graphic designers, artists, developers, pastors, first responders, coaches, teachers, retired military, moms, dads, grandparents and more. “Those who drive or serve on a school bus bring with them a unique blend of life experiences and I thoroughly enjoy hearing and learning from them.”
David Poag started his career in pupil transportation as a bus driver and now serves as the Director of Transportation at Spartanburg School District 6, South Carolina.
Data Driven
Teena Mitchell, the special needs coordinator at Greenville County Schools, said she had the pleasure of meeting Poag when he became the routing coordinator at Greenville. She said in her nomination of Poag, that while there he initiated several programs and improved some processes.
“He is an expert on using data to improve processes, from providing data to change bell times, to using data to refresh our driver training program,” she wrote. “He was instrumental in updating our technology in transportation; from expanding our digital footprint to live feed in buses to software and radios.”
Poag added that the bell time change resulted in significant improvements with on-time performance for students at the middle and high school level. Mitchell added that he’s very creative in his training ideas, from using video to train drivers and aides to getting the Clemson Tiger Mascot to work with the district on the school bus demonstrating for elementary students how to safely load, unload and safely ride a bus.
While at Anderson district, Poag said he championed a project that increased the district’s licensing rate of driver candidates to 111 percent. “The same project reduced the amount of time it took to license a candidate by 53 percent,” he said. “These results were a direct impact of the decision to streamline our licensing process and hire candidates as full-time employees during their training.”
Mitchell added that the creative hiring campaign at Anderson consisted of using QR codes, billboards, and even wrapped a car to resemble a school bus. “The hiring data showed his ideas were effective,” she said.
She added that Poag is also a National Association of Pupil Transportation instructor for Professional Development Series (PDS) classes as well as a presenter for professional development at conferences. He currently serves on the PDS Committee with NAPT.
Going Forward
One goal for Spartanburg’s transportation department is to implement new school bus routes to ensure the on-time delivery of their 4,000 students. Additionally, the district will be putting nine new buses on the road this school year, with a district-wide service area for Child Development Centers.
An additional goal is opening a new parking depot, which will house 30 to 40 buses. “In the next five years, I see Spartanburg sustaining a full slate of dedicated transportation professionals and providing exceptional service in order to make a difference [to] one student at a time,” Poag added.
Outside of work, Poag enjoys riding the golf cart with his family and going to country singer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee.
Mitzii Smith said the quote, “Challenge yourself forward,” inspired her to not only step outside her comfort zone but to motivate herself in ways she never thought were possible.
“Always moving forward, setting and working toward achieving new goals,” said Smith, the assistant director of transportation for Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 6.
Smith started her career in pupil transportation when her oldest child was starting school. She said a sign at the kindergarten registration read, “School Bus Drivers Needed! The perfect job for parents of school aged children.”
She admitted that at that time she had no idea answering the call to apply to become a school bus driver would become a career that would span decades and become a passion.
Each year, School Transportation News chooses 10 Rising Stars based on nominations submitted by school districts and companies around the industry. These individuals have shown exemplary commitment and dedication in the student transportation industry and continue to demonstrate innovation in their roles. This year’s Rising Stars are featured in the November magazine issue.
Sarah Marean, the director of transportation for MSAD #6, said in her Rising Star nomination of Smith that in addition to driving a regular route, Smith served as a school bus safety instructor for Yellow Classroom and a lead driver.
She then moved into the office, first as administrative assistant and now as the assistant director transportation.
“Since assuming a managerial position in this department Mitzii has proven herself to be a force for change and innovation,” Marean wrote.
Smith is currently going on her 20th year in transportation.
MSAD 6 has one of the largest fleets in the state of Maine, consisting of 63 total school buses. The district serves an area of 182 square miles in southern part of the state for the towns of Buxton, Hollis, Limington, Standish, and Frye Island.
Read all 2024 Rising Stars profiles in the November issue of School Transportation News.
The transportation department that operates out of the consists of 50 school bus drivers, nine bus monitors, three mechanics and an office staff of six. The route school buses traveling over 5,000 miles a day serving over 3,200 students across six elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.
“We pride ourselves on having made a commitment to propane powered buses, with our fleet now running at 80 percent propane,” Smith added. “We recently installed an 18,000-gallon propane tank and filling station at our facility, and proudly became the first and largest delivery of renewable propane in the Northeast. Further solidifying our commitment to green energy efforts in student transportation.”
Mitzii Smith looks to foster safety for the school environment, including the school bus, through her role as a school safety specialist.
This year, Smith also became a Maine school safety specialist, part of a program offered through the Department of Education. The program “focuses on creating safer schools through training, guidance and technical support for the whole school and the whole student,” the Maine DOE website states.
Smith noted that while transportation plays a key role in the school environment, it is often left out of the planning process as it pertains to school safety. “I wanted to bring awareness of the vital role transportation plays,” she said.
Additionally, Smith initiated a collaboration between transportation and Maine DOE speech pathologist Kellie Doyle-Bailey, to learn about the brain science behind emotional intelligence. Marean noted that the collaboration was focused on bringing elements of social and emotional learning to the driver’s seat.
“With the thought that safety begins first with the person behind the wheel remaining present, calm and in control of their own emotions and able to respond to situations as they arise,” she continued.
Smith added, “Our team is the first (and only) transportation department in the state of Maine to focus on prioritizing the individual behind the wheel, to help support them in their daily tasks,” she continued. “We have been able to present at multiple state conferences, sharing our initial success. We are trailblazing new ideas in our state, and hope that it continues to gain momentum in our industry.”
Smith is also an active member of the National Association of Pupil Transportation, serving on two standing committees: Certification and the School Bus Safety Poster Contest. She’s working toward her professional certification as a director of pupil transportation, or CDPT. She is also an active member of the Maine Association of Pupil Transportation, holding the position of president-elect.
Challenges Amid School Start Up
Smith said one of the greatest challenges amid school start-up is ensuring that transportation is finding the most efficient ways to utilize all of its resources.
“After several years of being short staffed, it seems that has now become the norm,” she said. “It requires outside the box thinking, to make sure that nothing falls between the cracks. Our team does a fantastic job of making sure that we meet all the challenges we are faced with.”
Despite the challenges in student transportation, Smith said her favorite part of the job is the impact that her co-workers have on the children they transport. “Drivers and monitors are [a] consistent part of a child’s school day,” she said. “A genuine smile, and ‘Good morning’ really does have the power to shape a child’s whole day!”
Mitzii Smith began her career 20 years ago as a school bus driver when her oldest child was starting school.
Looking to the Future
Going forward, Smith said her goal is to continue to bring new ideas to the department. “Although I see the value in, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it’ I also recognize the importance of seeking out new ways, and not being intimidated by change,” she said. “Being open to change is vital in our ever changing environment.”
She added that she plans to continue the work that she’s started in SEL to ensure drivers and monitors understand their value. “In five years, I see our team continuing to build on prior successes,” she said. “Encouraging continued learning, seeking new training opportunities, and encouraging certifications. Knowledge is power!”
Outside of work, Smith said she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves music, concerts, taking photos and cooking. She noted that her and husband Tim enjoy traveling with their children, who are now adults, having adventures and creating memories.
School bus seat belt legislation is back in Congress. STN’s November issue includes features on industry leadership, EV battery technology, and more.
“We find a way to make it happen.” Craig Beaver, administrator of transportation for Beaverton School District near Portland, Oregon, and the 2024 STN Transportation Director of the Year, discusses the paths that led him to his current storied leadership position, as well as the knowledge and technology that goes into school bus driver retention and clean bus trailblazing.
The future is now for Craig Beaver of Beaverton School District in Oregon, when it comes to electric school buses. Photo by Taylor Ekbatani Cover design by Kimber Horne
Meet the 2024 Transportation Director of the Year, Craig Beaver, director of transportation at Beaverton School District in Oregon. Read about Craig’s background, leadership experience and accomplishments for his district, including an all-inclusive electric school bus implementation. Also find articles about electric battery recycling, finding the best deal on fuel, protecting student transportation data, guidelines for transporting students with disabilities and more.
This issue also features the 2024 Rising Stars, read profiles on this year’s chosen winners.
Going Big
Craig Beaver was meant for Beaverton School District in Oregon. He is recognized as the magazine’s Transportation Director of the Year for leading an all-inclusive electric school bus implementation and sharing data on program effectiveness.
Features
Rising Superstars
This year’s industry Rising Superstars share their stories of how they have climbed the industry ladder while providing exemplary service to their students and fellow transportation professionals.
Playing the Fueling Game
School district leaders discuss why price, state contracts and collaboration are just as important as environmental friendliness when securing the best deal on fuel and energy purchasing.
Seeking Transparency
State and federal legislation seeks to ensure that battery second-life, recycling and material sourcing remains top of mind for every student transportation decision on buying an electric school bus.
Special Report
Managing Transportation Data and Keeping It Safe
With data privacy and security the No. 1 concern of school IT professionals amid increasing cyberattacks, how safe are student transportation records?
Ryan & Tony look at contractor First Student’s bus technology experiments, the upcoming elections, a New York bus company’s fraud scheme, a bus driver’s book on anxiety for student riders, and additional safety efforts.
Amy Rosa, director of transportation for Wa-Nee Community Schools in Indiana, talks winning a Top Transportation Teams award at STN EXPO Reno in July, driver retention efforts, technology implementation, effective student safety practices, and success with electric buses.
An Economic Policy Institute study shows that school bus driver employment is still far below pre-pandemic levels. This means almost every district will likely face a driver shortage at some point. But the good news is that there are several strategies districts can try, either on their own or by combining different approaches, to tackle these challenges.
Join us to explore practical approaches for dealing with a driver (or bus) shortage, including:
Student eligibility management
Route tiering/bell schedule alignment
Route/stop optimization
Brought to you by TransAct
REGISTER BELOW:
Presenters:
Duane Peterson
Transportation Director
Jackson County Schools
–
President
Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation (GAPT)
Peterson started driving a school bus in 1986 while he was still in high school, where he drove for several years in the Athens, Georgia, area. After completing secondary school, he did his student teaching at Alps Road Elementary. He entered the private sector for several years before joining Oconee County Schools in 2005. He was Route Coordinator for a year before moving to Director of Transportation. He stayed there before joining Jackson County Schools in March of 2023 as Transportation Director, where he is still employed. Peterson is currently on the Executive Board of GAPT and a member of NASDPTS. He is married with 3 children and one grandchild with one more on the way.
Adrian Frierson
Director of Transportation
Hanover County Public Schools
Hanover County Public Schools has approximately 17,000 students and 24 schools operating within 2 tiers. They employ 190 bus drivers and 70 other support staff & administrative staff. Hanover County is located within the Greater Richmond Region.
Adrian Frierson is also an appointed board member, by the Governor, to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. He has 20 years of experience in the public safety and school transportation combined.
Previous experiences include:
– Supervisor of Bus Operations for Prince William County Public Schools
– Assistant Director of Student Transportation, Special Education, Chesterfield County Public Schools
– Transportation Specialist at the Virginia Department of Education
– Transportation Supervisor for Henrico Public Schools
– Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer, VA State Police.
Before joining the TransACT team, Cook founded the App-Garden and led her team to create the Travel Tracker field trip product. She has worked extensively with K-12 school districts for over 30 years in finance and school transportation.
“I love helping school districts solve their daily challenges with the use of our technology and experienced personnel. Each district has their own challenges and helping to navigate those challenges Is the favorite part of my job,” Cook says.
Five individuals were recognized by the National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT) during its Annual Conference and Trade Show (ACTS) this weekend in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for their contributions to student transportation and safety.
Adam Johnson was formally announced Sunday as winner of the NAPT Distinguished Service Award. The executive director of transportation at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina began his transportation career in 1996, driving a school bus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
He worked his way to the role of area transportation specialist at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and then became the director of transportation for Union County Schools in North Carolina. During this time, Johnson became a certified director of pupil transportation through the NAPT.
Adam Johnson
Between the years of 2013-2018, Johnson expanded his career working as a sales consultant for Gregory Poole Equipment in Mebane, North Carolina, selling Blue Bird school buses. He then moved to his current role, where he oversees a department of 1,100 employees that provides transportation services for 104,000 students.
Johnson credited his team for his accomplishments saying, “I’m not one who looks for individual spotlight, because all of my success is a result of the team I have assembled that rallies with me to get the work done each day. So, this recognition is to celebrate all of my team’s efforts to make our department shine.”
School Transportation News asked each NAPT award winner what their advice is to other student transportation professionals. Johnson encouraged creative and outside-the-box thinking. “Don’t be afraid to think differently about your daily operations and how to motivate your staff,” said Johnson “So much of this job is built on relationships and we often miss the opportunities to create positive relationships with our teams, district leaders, and local media.”
The Special Needs Transportation Award sponsored by Q’Straint and Sure-Lok was given to Cathy Poole, Area 8 special needs transportation supervisor at Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. Poole said she was honored and so surprised to receive the award. “When you love what you do, you just do it automatically without recognition,” she said. “So, when I opened the email and read the content, I was like; Wait What? I had to read it again… then I cried. I love what I do. It starts in my heart and flows out.”
Poole said that transportation and special needs were part of her daily life as the daughter of a father who is blind and a mother who drove a school bus. In 1985, he became a student driver at the age of 16. After college and starting a family, she returned to transportation as a bus driver for students with special needs and worked as classroom aide in special needs classrooms. She said this experience inspired her to pursue the role of special needs transportation supervisor.
When reflecting on the experience leading up to winning the NAPT award, Poole said she is grateful for the managers, colleagues and a “crew of wonderful coworkers, drivers and aides” that she has worked with.
Cathy Poole
“I am not going to say this is easy, things can change in the blink of an eye and stress levels rise. However, I want to make sure that all students, transportation staff and the public travel safely to and from school daily,” she said. “If your heart is not in it, then you are only going through the motions and that is unacceptable to me.”
Poole said her advice to other student transporters is to seek out education regarding best practices, policies, procedures and legal knowledge. She noted that NAPT has “outstanding” professional development courses. “Put that knowledge to use in our work environment,” said Poole. “You may get pushback but stand strong and do it for the safety of the students, parents, schools, transportation staff and public. Reach out to other transportation professionals with questions or support. The more you learn the more you grow.”
The Continuing Education Award sponsored by Thomas Built Buses was awarded on Saturday to Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation at Rockwall Independent School District in Texas. Gardella told STN that she “was filled with so many emotions when I received the email on congrats. I’m honored, I’m excited, I’m speechless to be chosen from our NAPT transportation group.”
Gardella’s entrance to the education field began as a teacher. She told STN that her love of working with students took her behind the wheel of the yellow school bus in her own hometown that was experiencing a driver shortage. She said she enjoys problem solving at whatever role she is in and actively looks for teachable moments and ways to utilize staff resources. She praised her team at Rockwall ISD, where she just started her first year as director after serving as an assistant director at Frisco ISD, saying that every member of the team works towards a common goal of providing excellent service for the students.
Gardella stressed the importance of finding a good team of individuals to build relationships and find solutions in the often-stressful field of student transportation. “Transportation is an ever-changing busy environment, and everyone needs a way to release the stress of the multi-tasking job. I know with every decision I have made I have many walking with me. It takes a village to keep the school bus rolling in the right direction.”
Jennifer Gardella
Danielle Bedsaul is the recipient of the School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award sponsored by IC Bus and was also recognized on Saturday As supervisor of transportation at Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) in Maryland, Bedsaul said a goal of hers has been to win a NAPT award, as her district has been recognized by the organization twice before, once in 2002 and in 2006.
“HCPS is always striving to improve our safety program for training our school bus drivers and attendants. However, we have realized that the training really needs to extend beyond our drivers and attendants,” she said. “We need to educate the students, parents, schools, and the community about the safety measures that need to take place to keep our students safe.”
Bedsaul’s entered the world of transportation in 2004, when she applied for the job of receptionist at the HCPS Transportation department.
“I’m always telling people that I thought the transportation department sounded like a boring place to work, and I genuinely thought I would take the position and then move to another department or school when another opportunity arose,” she shared. “I’m still waiting for a boring day. There are none in transportation!”
Danielle Bedsaul
After working one year as the receptionist, Bedsaul became the district’s coordinator for special needs transportation. A year later, she was named the supervisor of transportation and has held the position for 18 years.
Bedsaul noted that drivers and attendants are transportation’s key assets as they are the ones interacting with the students every day. “My advice to other transportation professionals would be to be an active listener to your team members, drivers, attendants, schools, parents, and students. Ask them what they need to continue to enhance safety and training. Often drivers and attendants say they want “better communication”, and people often interpret that as newsletters, e-mails, memos, etc. But what they often want is someone to listen to them…really listen to them and their concerns. And we really need to do that because they are the ones out on the roads every day with our students.”
Transportation directors deal with a lot as leaders in our industry. Depending on the size and makeup of the school districts they operate, they encounter complex operational challenges, difficult decisions, managing teams, and stress, too. It’s all about people in our industry.
“Student success, teamwork, culture, communication are all words I think about every day when I come to work,” said Jennifer Vobis, executive director of transportation at Clark County School District in Nevada. “You must be able to think on your feet and wear multiple hats as a transportation director. School transportation is an interdependent system that impacts the entire district. Decisions we make in transportation will directly affect other departments in the district.”
The Transportation Director Summit at STN EXPO in Reno last month was the site of insightful conversations and interactions. Over 170 transportation directors and vendor partner representatives discussed various topics impacting operations, including safety and security, green energy, driver performance, and talent recruitment and retention.
I led the day-one group discussion by sharing the results of a survey of 112 transportation directors and industry leaders that was required for their participation.
“What current challenges are you trying to solve with technology and services?” The top five answers: Improve driver safety and performance; driver retention; operational efficiency; better parent communications; and student behavior (bullying and assault).
Then, I asked the 24 tables of industry stakeholders to address and unpack this: “Share your biggest challenge for the next school year.”
“One of my biggest challenges is around staffing. Our operation in Philadelphia is a mixed district fleet and contracted services fleet,” shared Teresa Fleming, deputy chief operations officer at The School District of Philadelphia. “There is always a possibility that our school bus contractors might over allocate their driver capacity. This can impact the services we offer to our students. Our in-house operations have been successful to help mitigate our driver shortages with robust onboarding, retention, paid training programs and full-time employment opportunities.”
On day two of the TD Summit, executive leadership and keynote speaker Christine Cashen shared with the audience the most effective ways to communicate with their teams. As our Client Services and Digital Media Coordinator Claudia Newton reported on site, Cashen acknowledged that every person has different upbringings, experiences and styles of handling conflict. Using her formula of “Situation + Response = Outcome,” she advised focusing on the response because that’s where the power is. “Say what you mean, mean what you say, and don’t be mean when you say it,” she quipped.
She revealed there are four major types of people: Laid-back, people-pleasing “Who people;” flexible, creative “Why people;” focused, no-nonsense “What people;” and detail-oriented, conscientious “How people.” You need all types of people for a team, Cashen said.
A positive workplace culture is crucial for a good trickle-down effect so that transportation staff and school bus drivers are ready to be the first school representative many students see each day. “You want to avoid mood poisoning,” Cashen said, referring to employees with negative attitudes. “Some hard conversations need to be had.”
For effective, non-emotional communication with a team member about a recurring problem or attitude, she advised stating how you feel and why. Use “I” language, closing with an appreciation and request for the other party, and including a consequence, if necessary.
If the conversation becomes argumentative, telling the person, “You might be right,” gets them to view your side favorably or at least placates them enough to avoid a negative confrontation. Likewise, saying “I see things differently” is a more collaborative phrase than “I disagree.”
“Conflict doesn’t always have to be negative,” Cashen summed up. “It can also be a positive [and] bring everyone together, and make them feel heard.”
After each TD Summit concludes, I always get feedback from attendees. “The Transportation Director Summit always provides valuable interaction with peers regardless of the size of the district I am speaking with,” shared Vobis. “I love brainstorming at the interactive tables about our challenges. My goal is to gain knowledge, develop innovative ideas and solutions that I can implement. I always walk away with great ways to improve the Clark County transportation department.”
Our transportation directors are working hard for everyone to be successful. Let’s be sure to give them grace and a pat on the back for the inspiration they provide every day. Bravo!
Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the August 2024 issue of School Transportation News.
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Peterson started driving a school bus in 1986 while he was still in high school, where he drove for several years in the Athens, Georgia, area. After completing secondary school, he did his student teaching at Alps Road Elementary. He entered the private sector for several years before joining Oconee County Schools in 2005. He was Route Coordinator for a year before moving to Director of Transportation. He stayed there before joining Jackson County Schools in March of 2023 as Transportation Director, where he is still employed. Peterson is currently on the Executive Board of GAPT and a member of NASDPTS. He is married with 3 children and one grandchild with one more on the way.
Hanover County Public Schools has approximately 17,000 students and 24 schools operating within 2 tiers. They employ 190 bus drivers and 70 other support staff & administrative staff. Hanover County is located within the Greater Richmond Region.
Before joining the TransACT team, Cook founded the App-Garden and led her team to create the Travel Tracker field trip product. She has worked extensively with K-12 school districts for over 30 years in finance and school transportation.
