KATE McMULLAN
Children's Author
Behind the Scenes of "I'm Smart"
When I was researching I’M SMART!, the lovely people on this page allowed me to call them up and ask them questions about driving a school bus. I asked about the engine, the gear shift, emergency exits, and so on, but what came across was how much they looked forward to seeing the kids on their route each day and how they worked hard to make the ride fun, and to get their passengers safely to school and safely home again. Each one of them gave me something that went into the heart of this book, and Jim and I are so grateful to these true heroes of the road!
"I have driven a school bus for Manchester Community Schools in North Manchester, Indiana, since 1985, driving a morning and evening route, plus 3 trips per day for the career center (for the high school students in our school district that are enrolled in for vocational training). Currently, I am the transportation director and still drive the 3 trips to the career center daily. I am also the bus driver trainer for our school district. I have a passion for school buses and students and love serving the school community!"
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Imogene Knight
" I drive a Special Needs bus in Stillwater, Minnesota. I've been driving for 4 years. I like the kids on my bus. They are funny and challenging and can be different every day. I also like to drive in the snow."
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Henry Atwood
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"I drove a school bus in Harrisburg, PA, for four years. I drove four runs a day, two for high school and two for elementary. It was very interesting dealing with the different personalities and watching the students change each year. I was very fortunate to have a very well-behaved group, but staying ahead of them was challenging. The other drivers and I prided ourselves on transporting our students in the safest possible manner in a variety of different weather/road conditions."
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Don Wordon
"My name is Charmaine Barr and I have been working with Falls Church City Schools for 25 years as a school bus driver. I really enjoy my job and working with the kids, everyday is different. Parents rely on bus drivers to safely transport their children everyday and we are honored to have that responsibility."
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Charmaine Barr
