West Virginia School Bus Driver Dresses for Success with Students

March 16, 2026

A school bus driver is making a statement each morning before starting his route, not only with his safety checks but by dressing for success with a suit and tie.

John Sitar, a bus operator for Hampshire County Schools in West Virginia, has made old-school business dress part of his daily routine for the past 15 years. The attire is a “self-imposed uniform,” a way to show students that he takes pride in his job and cares about the children he serves.

Sitar’s story is one of several highlighted recently by the West Virginia Department of Education and county school systems during Public Schools Week, observed Feb. 23–27.

Before heading out on his route each day, Sitar makes sure one final detail is in order: His tie is on straight. He added the decision to from a lesson he learned as a student himself.

Dressing for Success

“When I was in high school, the principal made the men wear a tie, and the women had to dress up,” Sitar said in the statement. “It made a difference, and it set them apart as role models. I wanted to do that for these children.”

Sitar has spent most of his life in Hampshire County. He grew up on a farm, where he said he learned the value of hard work. Later, he served in the U.S. Army as both an Army Ranger and Green Beret. He eventually returned home to the West Virginia Potomac Highlands.

Now, he says his role behind the wheel of a school bus allows him to continue serving his community.

“I know these kids might not see this every day,” Sitar said. “Any interaction any staff member has with students is important. And if you acknowledge them as a human being, and somebody notices them when they get on the bus, that is a big deal to them.”

Nearly half of Hampshire County public-school student come from low socioeconomic households, according to data shared by the West Virginia Department of Education. Sitar said that reality is something he sees firsthand every day.

Because of that, he said small gestures matter, including the suit he dons every weekday.

“Bus drivers are the first people the children see in the morning, and the last ones they see in the evening,” Sitar said. “I think what we do makes a difference. I just want them to know that I care about them.”