Christopher Howard – Lead Mechanic Cumberland County Schools, Tennessee


Total school buses in fleet: 72 Total other district vehicles: 35 Total staff in the bus garage: 5


“Christopher Howard is not only our lead mechanic but the heartbeat of our whole transportation department,” Kathleen Martin, transportation supervisor for Cumberland County Schools, wrote in her nomination. “It is his advance knowledge, work ethic, compassion, willingness to help and ability to work well with others that his colleagues have chosen him as Transportation Employee of the Year for four consecutive years.” A life-long Tennessean, Howard said that school buses have


always been a part of his life. His mother, grandfather and great-uncle drove school buses. His father and uncle are both retired mechanics from a school system with 30 or more years of service. Twenty-three years ago, Howard started his career as a full-time mechanic with Cumberland County Schools (he worked four months part time before graduating) after graduating from


Andrew Little – Fleet Services Foreman Greenville County Schools, South Carolina


Andrew Little’s favorite part of his job is getting the vehicles and buses fixed and back on the road “because each vehicle and bus has some way of helping children with education, whether it’s a bus bringing kids to school, a district HVAC technician driving to a school to fix the A/C, or an administrator heading to a school for an important meeting, or mow-


ing the grass of a playground for kids to play,” he said. “Our crew helps with making sure all that can happen by keeping the wheels turning, getting to their destinations safe and efficiently. We are all here for the kids in the end.” Little was first introduced to fleet work 13 years ago by one of his old neighbors, who was working as the school district’s food and nutrition director. Teena Mitchell, the special needs transportation coordinator


for the district and current NAPT president, said in her nomina- tion that Little is ASE certified in addition to being a remarkable mechanic and a leader. “He along with his church group feed the homeless and assist people needing to make life changing decisions,” Mitchell add-


42 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2024


high school. He also attended technical school and received a diploma in diesel mechanics/heavy truck maintenance. Howard noted his day begins at 4:30 a.m., when he opens the shop and starts work on the buses parked in the yard. He continues service work as the morning progresses, orders parts and navigates day-to-day operations. During route times, he staffs the radio, services any vehicle breakdowns, or even drives a bus route. With the current school bus driver shortage and all mechanics driving routes, his day ends around 5 p.m. Martin said Howard exemplifies every quality and character trait


that is needed in his leadership role. “He also does daily bus routes, helps with the routing system, installs camera systems, and [is] on call 24/7. Christopher motivates [his] team of mechanics, bus driv- ers and office staff to be the best they can be every day,” she said. Martin added that he’s truly devoted to the students, residents


and community of Cumberland. “Being the parent of two school- aged children himself, he takes extreme pride in the fact that not only his but every other student is getting to and from school safely every day,” she continued. Howard noted that his favorite part of the day is, “Knowing my


job makes a difference in the lives of so many children,” he said. “Without school bus transportation, many students could not get the education they deserve.”


Total school buses in fleet: 170 Total other district vehicles: 275 + 1,600 lawn and heavy-duty equipment Total staff in the bus garage: 14


ed. “His support helps them make the choices to transition into a healthier lifestyle. Andrew has also provided leadership to the scouts. Using those same skills and compassion, Andrew manages both our district bus shop and motor shop. He leads and sup- ports a team of 11 employees. He has brought about a remarkable improvement in both the efficiency of operations and the morale within the transportation department during his 12-year tenure.” Little said his day consists of spending time in either the vehicle or bus shop and checking on the technicians. He processes invoic- es, checks fuel levels, and inspects buses and vehicles coming in for service, prioritizing what needs to be completed first. He spends time both in the shop and working on the administrative side of the operation. “I am in charge of both shops and making sure they are run efficiently as possible and giving the techs the best tools to succeed daily,” he added. Mitchell said Little’s leadership has fostered a culture of collab-


oration and respect, while also motivating teams into a cohesive, motivative unit. “He has accomplished this cohesive team by considering the


employees’ needs as well as the district’s needs,” she wrote. “He understands that a balance must be achieved, and the entire maintenance team has ownership in the achievements of the maintenance shop.”


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