DRIVING THE INDUSTRY SINCE 1991
£ Dawn Lemaster was surprised that student Charlotte wrote an essay to nominate her for the annual school bus driver award.
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educational activities like word searches and quiz games. She said one of their favorite games is based on the game show “Are You Smarter Tan a Fifth Grader?” Lemaster took the time to develop questions on the kids’ favorite movies and cartoon characters. Goby said he is even more pleased that her efforts have in- spired other Lake Orion school bus drivers to implement similar programs on their buses. “Drivers now have students
TBB SCHOOL BUS DRIVER OF THE YEAR LAUDED FOR LEARNING PROGRAMS, CARING
Dawn Lemaster, Tomas Built Buses Children’s Choice Bus Driver of the Year for 2012, does far more than just ferry students to and from school each day. In the words of one fourth-grade Carpenter Elementary student in Lake Orion, Mich., she is “the most fun-loving, caring and awesome bus driver I’ve ever had.” Lemaster told STN the
award came as a complete shock. She said she left nursing 16 years ago to become a school bus driver, initially considering it a short-term move. Ten she fell in love with the job, which she described as “being a mom
without the headache of being a mom.” She loved the children and the everyday rewards and challenges. “I didn’t even realize how
much of a difference I made,” said Lemaster. “I always felt like the kids were giving me a gift … Until I read the words Charlotte wrote, I had no clue.” Dale Goby, director of
transportation for Lake Orion Community Schools, said Le- master deserves this recognition because of her unique onboard programs that reflect her posi- tive approach, including a book library on the bus, a reading buddies program and fun,
read to each other, read on their own and even read to the group. In one instance, Dawn encouraged a shy boy who had difficulty reading to gain enough confidence and self-es- teem to read out loud to the other students,” Goby contin- ued. “All of this translates into better student behavior on the bus and support for the school district’s main mission: teaching and learning.” Lemaster emphasized that building relationships with students is key to succeeding in this often-demanding role. “You need to get to know the kids. I have a difficult child every so often that gives me a challenge, and I challenge him back until I figure out why he’s doing whatever he’s doing. Most of the time, these kids just need attention,” she said. “Tat’s why my reading program started on my bus — more out of necessity.” When Lemaster learned she’d been named Tomas' School Bus Driver of the Year, the first thing she asked was: “Does Charlotte know?” “I treated it like it was her award, and she acted like it
ow in its eighth year, Thomas Built
Buses’ “Children’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year” contest invites K-6 students to submit essays to nominate their favorite school bus driver. Stu- dents may use words (90 to 200) and pictures to describe why their school bus driver is special. De- tails on the 2013 contest will be posted at www.
thomasbus.com/contest by Feb. 15.
was mine. It was so cool she thought enough of me to write that. To this day, we are very close,” she continued. “Around town and around school kids call out to me, and that’s my pay, my reward.” As the 2012 grand-prize win-
ner, Lemaster received a $1,000 Visa gift card, while Charlotte won a $1,000 education savings bond and a laptop computer. Both also received Tomas Built Buses jackets and lunch boxes. More than 750 students from 28 states entered the contest this year. Essays were judged for content and originality by Ryan Gray, editor-in-chief of School Transportation News; Tomas McMahon, executive editor of School Bus Fleet; Alexandra Rob- inson, president of NAPT; Tim Flood, president-elect of NSTA; and Max Christensen, president of NASDPTS. “Tis contest lets us say
thank you to the school bus drivers who take such good care of their cherished cargo and to recognize their signif- icant role in students’ lives,” said Kelley Platt, Tomas Built president and CEO. Added Goby: “Dawn is the
perfect recipient of this award and should be receiving national attention for the positive things she does.”
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