approaching an employee. Kent said her team regularly goes above and beyond to cover transportation needs, and she makes an effort to recognize their successes. Outside work, Kent enjoys golfing with her husband, trav-


eling to different countries and attending her son’s school sports and activities. As for where she will be in five years, Kent is not trying to


predict the next step. She said she loves her district and team and has difficulty picturing herself anywhere else.


Instead, she focuses on the attitude she brings to the job each day. “While there are plenty of hard days in pupil transpor-


tation and many days that test your patience, my biggest takeaway is the day is truly what you make of it and atti- tude determines everything,” Kent said. “As the lead, you set the tone for your team.”


✰ Tyler Olson did not originally


Tyler Olson Service Center Manager, Rehbein Transit, Minnesota


picture himself building a career in pupil transportation. With a bache- lor’s degree in music education from North Dakota State University, he expected to focus on teaching music and directing choirs. Instead, about 15 years ago, Olson began driving a school bus for North Branch Area Public Schools in Minnesota while also giving voice lessons, substitute teaching and assisting the district’s grounds crew with plowing and mowing. What ini- tially seemed like an end to a means


developed into a career. Olson eventually progressed through transportation leadership roles and became a transportation director. He currently serves as service center manager for Rehbein Transit in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, part of the Minnesota Coaches/Reliant Transportation family of companies. His responsibilities include daily operations, staffing


and route coverage, recruitment and retention, safety and training, customer relationships, budgeting, payroll, com- pliance, and employee development. Olson also develops safety and training programs, drawing on his background as an educator to make complicated concepts practical for drivers.


Olson said his music education experience has influenced his leadership more than he anticipated. Conducting a choir requires bringing together people with different personalities and abilities, listening to what each person contributes and helping the entire group work toward a common goal. He


52 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026


approaches transportation similarly. That philosophy is particularly evident in Olson’s focus on


employee retention and culture. “I believe very strongly that you cannot expect teammates


to take great care of students unless the organization also takes great care of its team,” Olson said. At Rehbein Transit, that has included employee recognition,


appreciation events, social opportunities, open communi- cation and efforts to develop a mentorship program pairing experienced employees with new teammates. Olson credits his family and the many drivers, mechanics,


trainers, transportation leaders and educators he has encoun- tered throughout his career with influencing his leadership. He also credits his spouse, Jessica, for supporting his career and family when work demands his attention. Looking ahead, Olson wants to continue developing


innovative approaches to employee retention, leadership development, safety training, and organizational culture. He also hopes to help develop the next generation of transporta- tion leaders and expand his involvement in state and national pupil transportation organizations. Still, his favorite part of the profession remains simple. “The


people. Without question,” Olson said. Outside of work, music remains central to Olson’s life. He


serves as a choral director for a church and community choir and enjoys performing, conducting and teaching. He also spends time with his blended family and follows Minnesota Vikings football. For Olson, transportation leadership ultimately comes back


to supporting the people responsible for students each day. “We drive buses, but this business has always been about people,” he said. ●


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