10/2/12 1:25 PM Page 1 INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
THOMAS’ ESSAY CONTEST SEEKS OUT ‘SCHOOL BUS DRIVER OF THE YEAR’ “I didn’t even realize how much of a dif-
Tomas Built Buses once again invites K–6 students in the U.S. and Canada who ride on its school buses to submit essays about why their bus drivers are special. Te OEM is asking for essays of 90 to 200 words as well as pictures. Entries for this year’s contest must be postmarked by May 31. “Te essay contest lets us hear directly
from children whose bus drivers have made a meaningful impact in their lives by being role models, champions, mentors and friends,” said TBB President and CEO Kelley Platt. Last fall, Dawn LeMasters told STN she was shocked upon learning she had been named the 2012 Tomas Built Buses Chil- dren’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year.
ference I made,” said the 16-year veteran for Lake Orion (Mich.) Community Schools. “I always felt like the kids were giving me a gift ... Until I read the words Charlotte wrote, I had no clue.” Charlotte is the fourth-grader at Car- penter Elementary School who wrote the winning essay, which was chosen by five industry representatives from the media as well as NAPT, NSTA and NASDPTS. (Editor’s note: STN Editor Ryan Gray is a
voting representative). First prize for the student is a laptop
computer and a Tomas Built Buses jacket, while the driver also receives a jacket and a $1,000 Visa gift card.
DREILING APPOINTED KANSAS STATE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Keith Keith Dreiling ...while buses IDLE away time – and money!
Dreiling in- troduced him- self to Kansas student transporters via email in early March upon joining the Kansas
State Department of Education as the new director of the School Bus Safety and Education division. Dreiling succeeds Larry Bluthardt,
(800) 387- 4800 •
www.espar.com Espar’s E-Guardian Heaters...
Keeping Buses on Schedule – and Kids Warm.
34 School Transportation News April 2013
who retired last summer after 25 years at KSDE as the state director of school bus safety. Prior to joining KSDE, Dreiling worked for the Kansas Highway Patrol for more than 27 years as a road trooper and a field training officer for graduating recruits. Dreiling was one of five troopers in the state to be assigned to a commercial vehicle enforcement pilot project in 1991. Dreiling said the senior administra-
tive assistant for the School Bus Safety Unit, Wilma Crabtree, will remain in the department, along with safety consultant Debra Romine. Both will work with him to administer school bus safety training statewide.
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