Tami Lynn Cooper, regional manager of school bus contractor Student Transportation of America’s Goleta, Calif., operation, recently completed the NAPT Special Needs Transportation (SNT) Training Program. She is the 12th person in North America to obtain this credential.
In addition to working at STA near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Cooper is also currently the state treasurer for the California Association of School Transportation Officials.
The NAPT SNT program was created in 2010 to help transporters of students with disabilities to increase their operational knowledge and to promote leadership skills. NAPT set up the endorsement concept similar to those offered by the federal commercial driver licensing program.
SNT program participants must complete six courses at the annual NAPT summit or other approved locations, including a 101 introductory class, the NHTSA-approved Child Passenger Safety Restraint Systems on School Buses seminar, observation reports of an NAPT-approved school bus roadeo and trade show; a workshop on managing special needs student behaviors; and a seminar on special needs transportation leadership. Additionally, participants must complete two elective courses from NAPT’s Professional Development Series.
