Overcoming Every Challenge: Meet STN’s 2022 Garage Stars


Written by Taylor Hannon | taylor@stnonline.com W


ith a list of over 150 nominations, select- ing 10 for this year’s Garage Stars was a challenge as it is every year for School Transportation News. But like these indi-


viduals told STN, every challenge can be overcome. Using Technical Editor Robert Pudlewski’s 10-point


criteria to narrow down the list, recipients of this month’s honors were chosen based on their community in- volvement, industry development, leadership, training capability, and value to the transportation program. The 10 individuals selected embody the spirit of stu-


✪Ramon Aranda


Fleet Mechanic/Shop Foreman Natalia Independent School District in Texas Fleet Maintained: 18 school buses & 18 white fleet vehicles Total Shop Staff: 1 Technician (Aranda)


Most challenging maintenance problem to date? “My


[previous] experience was mostly with semi-trailers, so school bus electronics was new to me and my biggest challenge. Just this year, I had an electrical problem on a bus that took me three weeks to figure out. Electrical is my biggest challenge in this line of work, but I enjoy the challenge of trying different things to diagnose problems. There I was harness after harness, trying to trace down a short in the lights.”


Ramon Aranda has been a bivocational pastor for 30


years, tending to his congregation and also working in carpentry and mechanics. He moved to Natalia, Texas, with his family when he became the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jerusalen. “After commuting 90 miles a day for six years, I stopped by the bus barn in Natalia ISD to ask for a mechanic job,” he said. “To my surprise it was the mechanic’s last year, as he was retiring, so I worked as a bus driver and waited for the job to open up. I helped him during the summer with his duties, which


32 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2022


dent transportation, and most shared that their favorite part of their job is knowing students are riding to and from school safely on school buses that they work on. While the pandemic has created the challenges of


virtual training and a parts and vehicle shortage that has never been seen before—especially the one involv- ing staff in the garage—these individuals are proud to work in this industry. Whether they are breaking gender barriers, giving back to their communities, or expanding their maintenance knowledge, the individuals in this issue truly are Garage Stars.


led to a very smooth transition.” Aranda has over 20 years of experience in mainte- nance, 10 years with diesel mechanics and five with school buses. “I’m working hard and learning as I go, and God has placed great people around me here in Natalia ISD that help make my job easier,” he added. “It’s a joy to come to work every day. The past five years with Natalia ISD have been a blessing, to say the least.” As the only mechanic in the shop, Aranda does every- thing including sweeping up. “I take pride in my job and do everything to the best of my ability, whether that is electrical work or cleaning the shop,” he added. He is currently working on his Automotive Service


Excellence (ASE) master school bus technician certifica- tion, and even though the pandemic has impacted the timeline, he said he should have it completed by next year. “I have met great bus technicians at the trainings I have attended, and we’ve exchanged phone numbers,” Aranda noted. “I thank God that I have a way of con- tacting colleagues who are always willing to help when I need direction. Aside from the trainings that I have attended, I have also conducted a lot of research on my own. I spent hours reading and watching videos trying to learn more about my profession.” The district’s operations coordinator, Jolene Talaman- tez, said in her nomination form that Aranda motivates co-workers and is always going above and beyond his duties for the students. “Mr. Aranda is always the first to


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