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Wayne Price, middle, was recognized from Shelby County Schools. (Reporter photo/Briana Harris)

Terry Davis, middle, from Pelham City Schools was honored. (Reporter photo/Briana Harris)

Jean Webb from Alabaster City Schools was honored. (Reporter photo/Briana Harris)

Colby Nicholson with Transportation South helps Riverchase student Cade Bennett put his name on the side of one of the buses. (Reporter photo/Keith McCoy)

PELHAM – For the 10^th year, dedicated bus drivers throughout the state were recognized at Transportation South’s Love the Bus celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Transportation South, Alabama’s largest school bus provider, brought together about 36 bus drivers and other school system personnel from throughout the state for a luncheon and awards ceremony. The finalists from each school system was recognized and the Love the Bus Driver of the Year was named.

To find the state’s most beloved bus driver, each school system was asked to nominate a driver who portrays love for his or her job, school and students. The Love the Bus program is a part of a nationwide program that was founded in 2007 by the American School Bus Council.

Bucky Law, owner of Transportation South, said the event takes place on or close to Valentine’s Day every year because the purpose is to highlight those who love what they do and have a heart for the children they serve.

“We’re not looking for a bus rodeo winner,” he said. “We’re looking for those who have a love for what they do,” Law said. “We don’t get to recognize drivers very often. A bus driver may be the first friendly voice a child hears in the morning and the last one they hear in the afternoon.”

From Pelham City Schools, Terry Davis was recognized. Alabaster City School’s Jean Webb and Wayne Price from Shelby County Schools were also honored.

Davis, a bus driver for eight and a half years, said he became a bus driver because he was looking for something different to do after years of owning a lumber company.

“I just fell in love with it,” he said. “It keeps me young and these kids give me a reason to get up every morning. They’ve become an extended family.”

Davis said he was “absolutely shocked” when he was told that PCS selected his as their nomination for Driver of the Year because all the bus drivers in Pelham are worthy of recognition, not just him.

Alabaster’s Webb is going on her 15^th year as a bus driver. She said she was initially drawn to the job for its benefits and hours, but the support from ACS administration and her love for the students has kept her around. She her favorite part about her job is hearing the conversations among students.

“The sixth graders sit at the front and I can hear them carrying on,” she said. “They talk about everything and sometimes it’s hilarious and other times I have to tell them to change the subject.”

Webb said she was shocked, yet elated to hear that she had been chosen as Alabaster’s nomination for Driver of the Year. Price, a bus driver since fall 2013, said being a bus driver allows him to be a part of the community.

“I’ve worked in youth ministry since 2003 and I felt like this was just a good way to reach out to the community,” he said. “I get opportunities to encourage kids in the mornings and afternoons, and I’m able to train kids to respond calmly in different situations that take place. They sometimes get on the bus with frustrations and I get to be kind to them and pour into their lives in a positive way.”

Driver of the Year was awarded to Arab City School’s Rebecca Suits, who has been a bus driver since 1986.

Chad Carpenter, Alabama State Department of Education’s pupil transportation administrator, shared statistics about Alabama’s bus drivers from the 2017-18 school year. Between morning and afternoon routes, Carpenter said Alabama bus drivers drive more than 488,000 miles daily. Each day, about 16,000 drivers transport about 375,000 kids to and from school. Riding a school bus continues to be the safest form of transportation.

Statistics show that one bus takes 36 cars off the road, which saves about 2.3 billion gallons of gas annually.

“What you do doesn’t make the news, but you are a very vital part of our school systems,” Carpenter said in closing. “Today you have our attention because what you do, you do in an uncommon manner.”

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