School bus drivers from around the United States and Canada assembled at the Thomas Built Buses Inc. grounds in High Point, North Carolina, for the 46th Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition hosted by the National School Transportation Association.
The NSTA event affords participants the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the school bus industry and skills driving a school bus, competiong in three categories: conventional, small bus and transit.
Drivers with the highest scores in each school bus class for a public and private sector carriers are eligible to compete in the international competition.
“This great event showcases excellence in school bus knowledge, maneuvering and skill…these elite drivers are truly the best of the best,” said Todd Monteferrario, president of NSTA.
Drivers Challenged by International School Bus Safety Roadeo
Participants began the first day of the competition with a written exam that tested understanding of the rules of the road. The second day had drivers get behind the wheel of a school bus to tackle a road course.
Winners were announced at the NSTA Dinner and Awards Ceremony following the contest. The event was sponsored by IC Bus.
“We congratulate all of the competitors in this international competition as well as the winners in each vehicle category,” Monteferrario said.
The winning drivers of NSTA’s 46th Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition are as follows:
Small Bus
- First Place – Virginia Smythe, Greater Albany Public Schools, Oregon
- Second Place – Geoffrey Roan, Educational Bus Transportation, New York
- Third Place – Gloria Flor, Crosby-Ironton Transportation, Inc., Minnesota
- Honorable Mention – Claudia Christen, Prairie Bus Lines, Alberta, Canada
Conventional Bus
- First Place – Kristina Raley, Vidor ISD, Texas
- Second Place – Michelle Derryberry, Marrysville Joint USD, California
- Third Place – Larry Hannon Sr., Centennial School District, Pennsylvania
- Honorable Mention – John Labus, Cabell County Schools, West Virginia
Transit Bus
- First Place – Mark Miller, Bellingham Public Schools, Washington
- Second Place – Delene Lewis, Allen ISD, Texas
- Third Place – Joey Goodpaster, Cabell Co. BOE, West Virginia
- Honorable Mention – Derek Bosserman, Tahoe Truckee USD, California
