Six school districts across North America are being recognized as 2026 Top Transportation Teams, an annual award highlighting excellence in school transportation operations based on employee feedback on workplace culture, at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada.
The fourth-year program, developed by school bus software and hardware company Transfinder, evaluates school transportation departments using anonymous surveys completed by team members. Respondents assess areas such as workplace culture, leadership, access to resources, career development and incentives, with winners determined solely by survey results.
This year’s honorees at the STN EXPO West conference represent districts in four states and are divided into two categories based on department size.
In the category for departments with more than 100 employees, winners include Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana, Hoover City Schools in Alabama, and Rockwall Independent School District in Texas.
Among departments with fewer than 100 employees, winners are Franklin Square Union Free School District and Pembroke Central School District, both in New York, and Wa-Nee Community Schools in Indiana.
Wa-Nee stood out by becoming the first school district to win the award three consecutive years, having also been recognized in 2024 and 2025. Pembroke Central also recorded its third overall win, previously earning the distinction in 2023 and 2025. Hoover City receives its second consecutive win.
Organizers said participation and response rates continued to increase this year, raising the benchmark for qualifying scores as more departments engaged with the survey process.
In a statement, Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of Transfinder, said the results reflect a broader trend of departments using employee feedback to improve operations and workplace environments.
“All these winners see the value of the Top Transportation Teams program, and it shows by the response rates of their teams and the scores they received,” he said, noting that participating districts often make adjustments based on survey results to strengthen team culture and support staff.
Each winning team will receive a full scholarship to attend STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, and one team leader per district will have travel and lodging covered. During the event, leaders from the winning districts are scheduled to participate in a panel discussion focused on building and sustaining high-performing transportation teams, set for a general session lunch on Monday, July 13 at the Peppermill Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada.
Written with the assistance of AI.
Related: Workplace Culture Secrets of Six Top Transportation Teams
Related: Culture That Rocks: Turning Everyday Moments into Unforgettable Experiences
Related: Transportation Directors Receive Rock Star Training on Driver Retention
