American Education Week - Transportation Staff Appreciation Day
David Scott, Bus Driver Hero
He is best known as a “hero” bus driver. In April, David Scott was driving along Highway 101 in Greer when a large pick-up crossed the center line and hit his bus head on. The truck’s engine caught fire and as the bus filled with smoke Scott evacuated students out of the emergency exit. As part of American Education Week we caught up with Mr. Scott to talk about why he’s so dedicated to his job and his reflections on the day of the wreck.
Marilyn Masters, Bus Driver: Making a Difference
There’s one thing that Donaldson Bus Center Driver Marilyn Masters is sure about: It’s her job to keep students safe. She was honored last year when she saved a group of high school students from getting hit by a speeding car that passed the bus on the right. “I go over the rules all the time and tell students to watch my hand, look at my face, and watch what you’re doing,” she explained. “They did exactly what I taught them to do, and for that, they were safe. I have great kids. They did their part.”
She says parents must trust the person who is driving the bus. Judy Calvert, Area 5 Transportation Supervisor, agrees. “The parents should be able to count on us to be there to pick their students up and take care of them until we drop them off,” she said. “It’s a leap of faith to put your kids in the hands of someone you don’t know in a vehicle with 70 other students. Ms. Masters is tremendous at what she does. It’s not an easy job.”
Ms. Masters considers her front seat the conference seat. “When I see my children I know that they genuinely feel comfortable with me and that I care about them. I get to hear their stories if they’ve had a bad day. It puts a child at ease to know they are taken care of and someone cares about them,” she said.
The bus drivers at Donaldson Bus Center are like family, says Masters. “We are with the folks here more than we are with our families, so we find a way to mesh and I think we do well here. We have a good time, but we are also serious about our jobs,” she said. “We help each other out and compliment each other when we see someone doing a great job, and we enjoy holiday meals together.”
Donaldson Bus Center employees are planning their holiday meals now. The Center provides one of the meats. The drivers sign up to bring in specialty dishes. And they always ask Dean Redmond from the Berea Bus Center to play music during the Christmas meal.
Outside the responsibilities of driving a bus, DBC drivers collaborate to provide coats for students, conduct a food drive, and participate in Toys for Tots during the holiday season. Together, they are making a difference!