Training school bus drivers and monitors is akin to dining on an elegant meal, said George Horne. It should be “nourishing, flavorful and temptingly presented.”
That was one of the points made by Horne, president of Horne Enterprises in Metairie, Louisiana, when he presented a session on July 13 at the Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference on creative learning techniques.
“I have had a rush of requests for the documents from trainers who are looking for new ways to present their materials,” he told STN.
He cited about 20 “ingredients” of topics that can make a meal of training for drivers and monitors. These ranged from basic driving maneuvers, proper usage of vehicle signals and defensive driving technique to first aid/CPR, incident/emergency procedures and confidentiality training. They also included behavior, interpersonal skills and appearance of the driver or attendant, child-specific training, passenger management and documentation skills.
He also said that training regimens should reflect the diverse abilities and needs of both drivers and monitors. This includes the employees’ experience and education levels, their cultural backgrounds and preferred learning styles. Horne also said training programs should differentiate between job requirements, take into account the needs of students passengers and provide the employees access to training resources.
Getting participants involved in training is key to ensuring they absorb the information and put it into practice, Horne added. He provided examples of fun and creative games that can spur learning. One of these forms eight groups, each one assigned with tackling a training topic or challenge. They then work as a group to formulate an appropriate reaction to the issue as well as a solution, and then they report back to full class.
Other examples included word jumbles, defining acronyms and “The Numbers Game,” an exercise that requires participants to match a statement or question with the most appropriate response.
“45 CFR 1310 requires Head Start trainers to repeat certain topics every year, making for quite a challenge to interest participants,” he explained. “The fantasy field trip for Head Start, which can be modified for other levels of student activity trips, allows for a review of most important topics with a great deal of participant participation and often great competition among groups assigned to each segment of the trip.”
Other sessions during the conference included a discussion led by attorney Peggy A. Burns on the real questions raised by compliance standards and rules. She said compliance is often an overused word without understanding what it really means. She explored the question of whether solely relying on compliance to make transportation decisions is a cop-out or a safety net.
North Carolina state director Derek Graham presented #Brake4Buses, a program that educates the public on the dangers of illegally passing school buses. The campaign started by a local news affiliate went viral and has extended nationwide. Graham is also presenting on the topic at the upcoming STN EXPO.
They keynote was provided by Alvin Law, who was born with no arms as a result of his mother taking Thaliomide, a medication prescribed to relieve morning sickness. Despite that he became a world-class musician. The motivational speaker and former radio announcer, who goes by the Twitter name @ToesLaw, provided the address “Overachiever” on not only overcoming challengers but also thriving.
Southeastern States also presented a school bus emergency demonstration and debriefing by Ray Robinson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Transportation Director Greg Akin of Volusia County, Florida and the Arlington Police Department.
