Shari Gillman, 39 GIS & Scheduling Technician Washington County School District St. George, Utah


Shari Gillman has not quite worked a full year for WCSD, but she is no student transportation rookie. She is already widely recognized at work for her ability to solve problems quickly, route efficiently and manage the back end of the district’s office programs. And that comes after more than 10 years as a GIS specialist for Alpine School District, about an hour’s drive south of Salt Lake City. Her current job is to keep the transportation department current with up-to-date student information and addresses and to general- ly stay proficient in district computer programs. She also recently helped Washington County implement GPS and inspection software on the school buses. “Te best traits that Shari portrays is that she shares the infor- mation readily and often so everyone around her is learning,” said her nominator. “She is creative and always providing solutions. We appreciate Shari and her leadership traits tremendously.” Shari has her Bachelor’s Degree in geology with a minor in geo- spatial analysis from Weber State University, where she graduated Cum Laude and was a member of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon honor society. She is also a co-author of “Geology of Utah’s State Parks and Monuments” for the Utah Geological Association.


Corey Muirhead, 27 Director of Contracts & Business Development Logan Bus Company Long Island, New York


Corey Muirhead has the resume of someone who has been in the transportation industry for 27 years, not who is 27 years old. Not only is he the chief negotiator and business development leader at the largest school bus company in New York, but he also serves as secretary and legislation committee chairman for the New York School Bus Contractors Association. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the 1181 Pension and Welfare Funds, which represents 8,000 unionized members of drivers, assistants and mechanics operating statewide. In the wake of the Atlantic Express bankruptcy filing several years


ago, Muirhead found the perfect opportunity for his company to break the barrier to entry into Long Island. Seemingly overnight, Logan Bus started a 300-bus operation and made sure every child received transportation in time for the post-winter break startup. Despite being so young, his peers say he shows leadership qual- ities of owners who have been in the industry for decades. “He knows when to lead, when to listen, he understands criticism, and is always eager to learn,” his nominator said. “Some of our best conversations have been him seeking help, never too much of an ego to learn. At the same time, he can tell someone like me who’s been in the industry for years new ideas. His passion for kids as a coach of our children in our neighborhood has carried over into his work profession.” “He is a true professional in every sense of the word.”


Belinda Govich, 41 School Bus Driver Shenendehowa Central Schools Clifton Park, New York


It’s always nice when a current director of transportation sees a potential successor among the ranks. Tat’s how Alfred Karam says he feels about “exceptional” school bus driver Belinda Govich. So we decided to make an exception for Govich and include her on this year’s list, despite the fact that she narrowly missed the age cut-off. “I believe this individual is a bright star in our profession who is


increasing her professional development so that in the near future she will be ready to run her own transportation department,” Karam, director of transportation at Shenendehowa Central School District in New York, told STN. Karam began supervising Govich on July 1, 2014, when he joined the district from Bethlehem CSD. He called her “one of the brightest employees that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She has a great drive and passion for her work.” One of the first orders of business identified by Karam was to


improve the quality of driver training. He said Govich was the first applicant for one of five new trainer positions. Tat in part led to her being named Shenendehowa Central School District Transportation


Department “Employee of the Year” for the 2014-2015 school year. Ever since, Karam said Govich has been dedicated to putting her fellow drivers at ease while also pushing them to be better and better. “Belinda is a tenacious trainer, she is always focusing on making trainer better yet fun,” he added. Karam said she also obtained her New York State Department


of Education School Bus Driver Instructor (SBDI) and New York State Department of Motor Vehicle School Bus Certified Examiner certification since coming onboard the district’s training team. Govich also oversees the Shenendehowa Education Awareness


Team, or SEAT, with the mission of teaching school bus safety to K-5 students. She also took the initiative and developed and produced a new kindergarten orientation video. Karam said Govich recently became a member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, and is paying for the organiza- tion’s Professional Development Series courses out of her own pocket with the goal of becoming a certified safety and training specialist, as well as the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. “Tere are not enough adjectives for me to use to describe


Belinda,” added Karam. “She embodies all that we want in our employees, one who shows initiative, positive attitude, mission ori- ented, team player, can do spirit and all around person who exudes confidence and wants the best for the organization.”


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