✰LaTedra Bailey Transportation Director, Huffman ISD, Texas
What began as a job that fit with her children’s school schedule became not only a career but a passion. LaTedra Bailey entered pupil
transportation with Dallas County Schools in 2006. She stepped away in 2009 to pursue other opportuni- ties but returned to the industry in 2016. Since then, she has worked as a substitute driver, dispatcher, trans- portation manager and assistant director before becoming transpor- tation director at Huffman ISD. Those experiences gave her a
perspective that extends from the driver’s seat to district leadership. She oversees daily transportation operations, supports drivers and staff, addresses student and parent concerns, monitors safety and compliance, and manages routing and scheduling. But Bailey considers staying connected to her employ- ees one of the most important parts of her role. Rather than remaining behind her desk, she makes a point of talking with drivers, listening to what they are experi- encing and understanding what is happening in the field. She said their daily interactions with students make their feedback especially valuable. “I want my employees to know that I am available and
that they do not have to figure everything out by them- selves,” Bailey said. That approach carries Bailey’s commitment to servant leadership.
✰Michelle Summers Michelle Summers began her
“For me, servant leadership is simple: I don’t believe be- ing a leader means being above my team; it means being willing to stand beside them,” Bailey said. She has worked to create a department where em-
ployees feel respected, heard and valued. Bailey said she believes building trust requires being present and un- derstanding the work employees perform each day. That approach has helped foster a culture centered on safety, accountability, teamwork and communication. Bailey recently completed her bachelor’s degree while
working full time and is currently pursuing her master’s degree. She views continuing education as an opportunity to strengthen her leadership and bring new ideas back to her department. “Learning should never stop,” Bailey said. “Professional de-
velopment is not simply about earning credentials. It is about taking new knowledge and turning it into better practices.” Looking ahead, Bailey said she hopes to continue devel- oping employees, strengthening systems and embracing technology and innovation. Her longer-term aspirations include becoming a chief operations officer or assistant superintendent of operations. Outside of work, Bailey enjoys crafting, horseback rid- ing, spending time with family and coaching little league cheer. She also credits former H&R Block district manager Yulisa Evans with teaching her that leadership is an act rather than a title. For Bailey, the people are what make pupil transpor-
tation meaningful. She said the best buses, routes and technology would mean little without employees who care about the work they do.
Assistant Director of Transportation, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Texas
pupil transportation career as a bus monitor in April 2014. More than a dozen years later, she is helping other transportation employees recognize the same potential for growth that shaped her own career. Summers began at Clear Creek ISD in Texas and earned her CDL within three months, allowing her to drive a special transportation route. She later became a special needs clerk, large bus supervisor and spe- cial transportation supervisor. She continued her career at
46 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026
Friendswood ISD, where she supervised both large bus and special transportation operations before being promoted to assistant director of transportation in September 2023. Seeking experience in a larger district, Summers joined Lamar Consolidated ISD last August and now serves as assistant director of transportation at its Fulshear facility. Her mornings begin around 6 a.m., when Summers
stands outside and waves to every driver and monitor com- ing through the gate. At about 6:30, she delivers a morning announcement that might include encouragement, employ- ee recognition, a fun fact or one of her “Dad jokes.” The routine is part of Summers’ effort to create a positive
culture where employees know they are appreciated and supported. “I truly believe that most people are capable of far more
Continued on page 48➥
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78
