For the past six years, School Transportation News has requested nominations of student transporters who are displaying leadership or innovation in their school bus operation, but who may have not received the public or industry-wide recognition that they deserve.
This year, the magazine received 100 nominations, which are listed below. Out of these, 10 individuals were selected by the editors for profiles in our October magazine ‘Rising SuperStars’ feature.
Samantha Abate
Director of Transportation/Assistant Principal
Deer Lakes School District, Pa.
Guy Alexander
School Transportation Supervisor
Franklin Special School District, Tenn.
Jamie Aller
Contract Manager
Krapf School Bus Company, Pa.
George Ames
Director Of Transportation
Clinton Community Schools, Mich.
Kurt Andersen
Driver
First Student, Ontario
Karri Baase
School Bus Driver/Trainer
Saginaw Township Community Schools, Mich
Jeff Baird
Transportation Director
Liberty Public Schools, Mo.
Brian Bazinet
School Bus Driver/Wash Bay Attendant
First Student, Ontario
Brandon Bhowandin
Technician in Charge
First Student, Ontario
Karen Bingham
School Bus Driver
First Student/Halton, Ontario
Tyrone Branley
CDL Driver
Dallas ISD, Texas
Tysen Brodwolf
Transportation Director
Cajon Valley Union School District, Calif.
Jessie Brooks
School Bus Driver
San Jose Unified School District, Calif.
Ron Brown
Transportation Supervisor
Cascade School District #422, Idaho
Mary Ann Brownell
Dispatcher/Driver
Greenwich Central School District, N.Y.
Jim Burleson
Director of Transportation
Moreno Valley Unified School District, Calif.
Pamela Clem
School Bus Driver
Metro Nashville Public Schools, Tenn.
Kim Contini
Trainer
Halton/First Student Georgetown, Ontario
Robin Craddock
Supervisor of Transportation
Buffalo Public Schools, N.Y.
Elissa Cross
Director of Transportation
Montgomery ISD, Texas
Michael Cummings
School Bus Driver
Ellsworth School Dept, Maine
Rosella Davis
Bus Driver
Oroville City Elementary School District, Calif.
Jake Davis
Director of Transportation
Monroe County School System, Ga.
Ruth Davison
Professional School Bus Driver
First Student Canada, Ontario
Sheila Dicowicz
Transportation supervisor
Kirtland, Ohio
Carolyn Donoghue
Director of Transportation
Hemlock Public School District, Mich.
Patricia Ducote
Assistant Director of Transportation
Goose Creek CISD, Texas
Kimberly Ellis
Director of Transportation
Marietta City Schools, Ga.
Jeremy Escobar
Lead Equipment Mechanic
Fremont Unified School District, Calif.
Ron Farrand
Transportation Director
Carmel Clay Schools, Ind.
Raquel Farrias
Delegate Behind the Wheel Trainer
Yuba City Unified School District, Calif.
Jessica Fischer
Director of Transportation
Comal ISD, Texas
Kim Fokken
Transportation Director
Weld County School District RE 10J, Colo.
Patrick Fukuoka
Field Supervisor
Portland Public Schools, Ore.
Vivian Furr
Bus Driver
Western End of Stanly County, N.C.
Melvin George
Bus Driver
Detroit Community Schools, Mich.
Adam Gerber
Director of Transportation
Monroeville Local Schools, Ohio
Johnny Golden
Transportation Coordinator
Anderson County, Tenn.
Corrie Gregory
Dispatch/Payroll Clerk
First Student, Ontario
Bryttney Hanrahan
School Bus Driver
Triad Local Schools, Ohio
Tonnee Hawthrone
Field Trip Clerk
Silsbee ISD, Texas
Joe Heathcote
School Bus Driver
First Student Canada, Ontario
Brittany Hill
Bus Driver/Driver Trainer/Behavior Specialist
Eagle Valley School District, Colo.
Laura Hill
Routing and Planning Manager
Hillsborough County Public Schools, Fla.
Rosa Holman
Director of Transportation
Goochland County Public Schools, Va.
Daryl Huddleston
Director of Transportation
Independence School District, Mo.
Jacob Iverson
Senior Vice President
Harrlows School Bus Services, Idaho
Jacob Iverson
Senior Vice President
Landmark Student Transportation West, Idaho
Troy Johnson
Transportation/Safety Supervisor
Gallipolis City Schools, Ohio
April Johnson
Supervisor of Transportation Services
Educational Service Center of Medina County, Ohio
Bharat Kathpalia
Bus Operator
Houston ISD, Texas
Sean Keenan
Driver
First Student, Ontario
Sue Kraemer
School Bus Driver
Orangeville/Eastern Canada, Ontario
Brian Lang
School Bus Driver
First Student Canada, Ontario
Andrea Mancino
Dispatcher
San Marcos Unified School District, Calif.
Jose Manriquez
School Bus Driver
Cartwright school district, Ariz.
Shakita Mills
Sped Driver
DISD, Texas
Frank Nagy
Location Safety Manager
Orangeville/Eastern Canada, Ontario
Stephanie Odom
School Bus Driver
Suffolk Public Schools, Va.
Joesph Owens
Lead Driver
College Station ISD Transportation, Texas
Robyn Owens
Transportation Supervisor
Pittsburg Unified School District, Calif.
Daniel Pare
Driver and Cleaner
First Student Eastern Canada, Ontario
Matt Pernat
Transportation Supervisor
Laurens Central School, N.Y.
Anne Prenovost
Director of Transportation
Morris-Union Jointure Commission, N.J.
Patty Reed
Bus Driver
Blanchester Local Schools, Ohio
Fernando Rivera, 26
School Bus Driver Instructor
Napa Valley Unified School, Calif.
Lisa Riveros
Director of Transportation
Wichita Public Schools (USD 259), Kan.
George Robinson
Bus Driver
Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, Ariz.
Gilbert Rosas
Transportation Manager
Stockton Unified School District, Calif.
Jaime Sandoval
Executive Director, Student Transportation Services
Dallas ISD, Texas
Donna Sansoterra
Sr. Location Manager
First Student, Wash.
Sharee Sapp
Operations Manager
Navasota ISD/Goldstar Transit, Texas
Jeff Schwepker
Director of Transportation
Fort Zumwalt School District, Mo.
Leann Shetler
Administration Assistant to Director of Transportation
BVSD, Colo.
Anthony Shields
Assistant Director of Transportation
Hays Consolidated Independent School District, Texas
Darald Shrider
Assistant Supervisor of Fleet and Operations
Huron Valley Schools, Mich.
Kayne Smith
Director of Transportation Services
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Texas
Shawn Snoozy
Transportation Supervisor
Klamath County School District, Ore.
Sheritha Stanley
Monitor
Dallas ISD, Texas
Christopher Taplin
Driver
DS Bus South, LLC-504, La.
Mike Tauscher
Director of Transportation
Norman Public Schools, Okla.
Phil Vallone
President
Rolling V Bus Corp., N.Y.
Carrol Van Wyk
Driver / Trainer
First Student, Ontario
Kyle Wagner
Tech in Charge
Eastern First Student, Ontario
Mary Walke
School Bus Driver
Chula Vista Elementary School District, Calif.
Rick Walterscheid
Director of Transportation and Special Projects
Goose Creek CISD, Texas
Donna Werme
Bus Driver
Nye County School District, Nev.
Stephen Wherry
Deputy Chief of Business Operations
Shelby County Schools, Tenn.
Mark Wierzbowski
Transportation Mechanic
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, Pa.
Brandi Wilder
Bus Operator
Frederick County Public Schools, Va.
Kimberly Williams
Driver
Dallas ISD, Texas
Michael Williams
School Bus Driver
Anadarko Public School, Okla.
Gaylene Witucki
Transportation Direction
Royalton Public Schools ISD 485, Minn.
Sherri Zulick
School Bus Driver/CDL Trainer
MSAD #6, Maine
