“trust the process.” Anderson took the advice, launching a career that has taken her from school bus driver to lead trainer, operations supervisor and now, assistant director of transpor- tation for the Georgia district. Today, Anderson helps oversee an operation responsible for safely transporting approximately 8,900 K-12 students. Her responsibilities
include supporting daily routes, addressing transportation challenges with parents and school administrators, and finding ways to improve systems, policies and procedures. Her work also extends across dispatch, training and re- cruiting, and field safety coordinators. Supporting frontline employees remains central to her leadership approach. Through training, coaching and accessibility, she works to ensure drivers and monitors feel confident, valued and prepared to adapt to change. “My goal is to foster a culture of continuous im-
provement within transportation, one where safety is non-negotiable, service is dependable, communication is strong, and every team member understands the critical role they play in supporting our students and schools each day,” Anderson said.
Anderson said seeing that work reflected in students’
experiences is her favorite part of the job. “Seeing the support, care and positive impact that our
drivers and monitors have on students is truly inspiring,” she said.
Marietta City Schools employees, she added, strive to “Be Somebody” for every student they serve. Anderson credits Ellis with helping shape her career and
continuing to invest in her professional development. “This is not a textbook career,” Anderson said. “It is real-time, real-life work that directly impacts lives.” Anderson also expressed appreciation for veteran school bus driver Patty Rocco, who nominated her for the Rising Stars recognition. She described working alongside Rocco, whose experience and dedication to students and families she admires, as both a personal and professional privilege. Looking ahead, Anderson is preparing for her next
professional goal: Becoming a transportation director. She hopes to continue advocating for high standards, innova- tion and continuous improvement in pupil transportation. Outside work, Anderson is a music lover who enjoys being a house DJ for family and friends. And six years after being told to trust the process, An- derson remains grateful she did. She described entering pupil transportation as “one of the best career decisions I have ever made.”
✰ When Tiffany Kent entered pupil
Tiffany Kent Transportation Director, New London Local Schools, Ohio Kent stepped into leadership after the previous transpor-
transportation in 2022, she was looking for a new opportunity and a job closer to home. Coming from the dental field, she initially joined her district as a bus aide. The position quickly grew
into something more. Kent be- came a substitute bus driver and transportation secretary before eventually taking over leadership of the department. Today, she serves as transportation director. Her responsibilities can change depending on the operation
needs. Some days, Kent is in the office. Other days find her behind the wheel of a school bus or van or returning to her roots as an aide when coverage is needed. Her dis- trict also provides shared transportation services for the fleets of three other schools.
tation supervisor retired. As his former secretary, she had worked alongside him, but responsibilities that had previously been divided between the two of them were combined into her new position. Her biggest challenge during her first year was creating a positive team culture while navigating an ongoing driver shortage. Kent credits her employees with helping the de- partment meet those challenges. “I owe a lot of the success of my first year to them,” she said. Kent already knew many of the employees from her pre-
vious roles, and that familiarity made her excited about the opportunity to lead the team. She has focused on listening and considering situations from an employee’s perspective. “I feel like being my authentic self and really learning to
step back and listen before speaking is what helped me build a strong team and foundation,” Kent said. That approach includes thinking about how she would
want to be spoken to or feel about an assignment before Continued on page 52➥
50 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026
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
