that generates momentum, creates more opportunities and inspires others. It is important for district leadership to attend work-
shops and conferences like STN’s to hear positive lessons from other districts. Collaboration with our peers is always valuable. Finding examples with similar fleet size, terrain, weather conditions and funding strategies are most useful.
Transportation Leading the Way Transportation can (and should) be the leader for in-
novative efforts at your school district. We get up earlier than most and many times a bus driver is the first district staff that students see and interact with. In January 2022, the board of trustees for Modesto City Schools voted to convert half of its school bus fleet to battery electric with the purchase of 30 Blue Bird buses. The success of our electric school bus conversion was the fulcrum that allowed us to develop and expand sus- tainability initiatives. Since then, Modesto City Schools has: • Started a new Sustainability & Adaptation Depart- ment (2022).
• Created sustainability webpages. • Contracted $61 million in solar carports and sus- tainability initiatives.
• Secured almost $24 million in state and federal grant funding.
• Received $5.3 million in elective pay for 2024 In- vestment Tax Credit.
• Paid stipend to teachers for environmental club support at all 34 schools.
• Installed Purple Air Monitors at every school site.
• Contracted with Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS) for paid student internships pro- moting Green Career Path education.
• Achieved the Green Ribbon Schools District Award in 2024, Gold Level, from the California Depart- ment of Education.
Everyone’s path is unique but learning how successful
Healthy Reminders “Impossible is not a word. It’s just a reason for someone not to try.”-Kutless. Your job is not your life. Your job is a means to
live your life. Be strong, but not rude. Be kind, but not weak. Be bold, but don’t bully. Be proud, but not arrogant. You cannot grow unless you are willing to change.
districts chose their team and decreasing timelines helps. Understanding the strengths and roles of specific project partners can save you time (and a lot of headaches).
Strategies that Make a Difference Zig Ziglar said that “success occurs when opportunity
meets preparation.” In my last six years, my greatest results have come from innovative “out-of-the-box ideas.” I think we must dream big and strive for the ideas that make the most impact. We should trust our project partners and be willing to
try good ideas regardless of where they come from. Many people say, “We are doing projects for the kids,”
but the end goal should be doing sustainability projects with our students. An example would be having student reporters attend-
ing press events, interviewing administrators, and working alongside the local news stations. (That happened at Modesto.) I would encourage you to include student voices in transportation messaging, professional development vid- eos and instructional notifications. As a sustainability director, I would love nothing more than to break my job into eight semester modules and create a sustainability certificate program for students. Visit the Modesto City Transportation page at stnon-
line.com/go/nw.
Focusing Forward I was an interim transportation director at Stockton
Unified for two months in 2021. That means that I have a special appreciation for all
that you do for students and the districts you serve. The complexity of this responsibility requires the
ability to spin 13 plates at once, be able to put out any situational fires, and make sure all students get to (and from) school safely (and on time!!) All of you are talented, seasoned professionals. You
are good at what you do (that’s why you are in charge). It doesn’t matter what tomorrow brings, we will always show up and we will always do our best. In this month of November, I am thankful that trans-
portation continues to lead the way and I wish you all the best. ●
Gilbert Blue Feather Rosas is the director II of sustainability and adaptation at Modesto City Schools in California. He is a 2022 STN Rising SuperStar and serves on several boards such as the World Resource Institute, Generation180 (Solar), School Energy Coalition and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI). Gilbert can be reached at
gr122mmlt@gmail.com.
www.stnonline.com 71
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