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
Related: Federal Grants Provide Opportunities for School Transportation Emergency Training
Related: Reasonable Suspicion Training Sharpens Supervisors’ Eye for Impaired School Bus Drivers
Related:  Gallery: Leadership Training, Networking at STN EXPO West

The post Wyoming Pupil Transportation Conference Expands Training, Networking Opportunities appeared first on School Transportation News.

When longtime software engineer Paul Beck began thinking about the future of his career, he saw artificial intelligence reshaping the technology industry and decided it was time for a change, reported Oil City News.

That change led Beck to frozen yogurt. Beck purchased Chozen Yogurt, a downtown Casper, Wyoming business, in January, after its previous owners put it up for sale. His daughters had worked at the shop during past summers and encouraged him to make a bid.

“My daughters are the reason I bought it,” Beck told local news reporters.

Looking for a way to expand the business, Beck reportedly turned to a decommissioned school bus his family brought with them while moving from Texas several years ago. Originally intended to become a recreational vehicle, the stripped-down school bus instead became a mobile frozen yogurt shop.

“We’ve had the bus for a while and had many plans like converting it to an RV,” Beck said via the article. “That never happened.”

With the seats already removed, Beck spent about two months transforming the vehicle into a mobile extension of a Chozen Yogurt shop. He painted the interior, installed electrical wiring, updated the flooring, and added appliances, working several hours each day to complete the project.

Because the school bus does not include a cooktop, it did not require costly fire suppression or ventilation systems, allowing it to pass city inspections with little difficulty. The mobile unit reportedly serves frozen yogurt and sorbet along with churros, pretzel bites and cookies. Beck said it complements the downtown storefront, which has operated since 2019, while also serving as a rolling advertisement during the busy summer months.

The converted school bus made its debut earlier this month and has already appeared at several community events. “I sent out a lot of emails to people asking if there’s a need for an extra food truck,” Beck told reporters. “Some were full, but a lot said, ‘Yeah, we could use some extra,’ so it’s not been hard at all to find events.”

To help customers locate the traveling shop, Beck added a bus-tracking feature to the company’s website and posts regular location updates on social media.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: School Bus Transformed into a Camper and Workshop
Related: Colorado School Bus Gives Students Experience in the Food Industry
Related: Missouri Family Saves $2,000 a Month Living in Converted School Bus
Related: STN EXPO Indy Keynote Delivers Strategies on Converting Dreams to Success

The post From School Bus to Frozen Yogurt Shop on Wheels appeared first on School Transportation News.