Jeff Samson, 36 Transportation Director Big Horn County School District #1 Cowley, Wyoming
Jeff Samson is an innovator in using technology both on the buses and for the drivers. A computer technician by trade—he has a computer science degree from Utah Valley State College—Samson has led the Big Horn County operations for the past four years and is actively involved with the Wyoming Pupil Transportation Association. He is known statewide for single-handedly redesigning the WPTA website. One member was quick to say that the old website was not user friendly, with the result being very few members using it. Samson changed all that. With this upgrade to the website, all WPTA training and confer-
ence registration information is now online, when in the past all in- formation was relegated to paper and sent via snail mail and email. “Jeff is a leader in Wyoming and always available to assist and mentor new transportation directors, just as others assisted him when he was a new transportation director,” said David Koskelows- ki, Wyoming’s state director at the Department of Education, who nominated Samson. “Jeff is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve effective for his drivers, the district and the state.”
Charles Ewald, 31 Manager of Fleet Maintenance Montgomery County Public Schools Rockville, Maryland
Charles Ewald has been called a man of the 21st century, helping the Montgomery County Public Schools transportation department stay ahead of technology as it emerges on the market, especially in upgrading all the district’s shops with new equip- ment. MCPS is the largest school district in Maryland, serving more than 141,000 students at 200 schools. On any given day during the school year, the district transports roughly 100,000 students, using a fleet that consists of 1,267 buses. Ewald’s leader- ship has drastically improved morale throughout the department from his efforts to make everyone he manages feel like an appre- ciated member of the team. Te leadership qualities he displays while on the job were honed from his 10 years of military experi- ence in the U.S. Air Force, which show in his ability to promote productivity in the work force. He also exhibits a gift to see and prepare for the road ahead by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to operate in a current shop and future ones. He has boosted training for all employees to assist in their daily duties, pushing further than previous managers by taking a hands-on approach by essentially taking the helm at the driver’s wheel.
March 17-22
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2017
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