Every day, over 20 buses transport 730 students to and from school, ensuring everyone arrives safely and on time. Bus drivers work hard from early mornings to late afternoons to make this happen.

Among these dedicated professionals is Sue Maurin, a cheerful bus driver who represents the hard work and commitment of these everyday heroes. 

“I get up at 5:00, and I have to be at the bus transportation center by 6:20,” Maurin said. “Then I make sure all the lights are working, my alarms, and when it’s my time to roll, we have to call and say we started our route. I pick up elementary school, then middle school, then high school.”

She completes her first route by 9:00 a.m. and returns at 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon pickups,  finally finishing her workday around 6 p.m.

“My favorite moment as a bus driver was last year at Christmas when 40-something middle school kids stood up and applauded for me,” Maurin said. “It moved me so much that I was crying happy tears after.”

Maurin’s favorite part of her duty is working with children. Seeing their smiles and hearing their greetings motivates her to give her best daily.”First of all, working with co-workers is something I like,” Maurin said. “We are family – the students, the coworkers, the staff, everybody.”

Maurin’s job as a bus driver presents a variety of challenges each day. Among the toughest are traffic, weather conditions, and sometimes managing student behavior. Despite these difficulties, she remains patient and positive. ”The traffic in the afternoon is crazy but I still drive carefully and try to anticipate what other drivers are doing,” Maurin said.

There are times when delays occur, but bus drivers stay committed to student safety.

“You only hear people complaining about when they’re late or they are missing or not but they help protect the kids, and they have to go to work early in the morning and then again in the noon,” receptionist Amanda Draeger said. “And they try their best to do their service.”

Supervisor of Transportation Operations Michael Green believes the effort of bus drivers deserves appreciation. 

“Bus drivers have to come in early each morning, regardless of the weather, to ensure that their bus is safe to transport students,” Green said. “Most, if not all, bus drivers do this because of their love for the kids.”