SAMANTHA ABATE Assistant Principal & Director of Transportation Deer Lakes School District, Pa.
Dr. Samantha Abate was
already a veteran in the education field, with 10 years of experience as a special
education teacher at the Avon- worth School District, before she was appointed to assistant princi- pal of Deer Lakes School District in July
2018. The longtime resident of the community said tak- ing the position was “coming home.” When approached by district superintendent Dr. Janell Logue-Belden to take on the position of director of transportation, Abate said she knew it would be a valuable learning experience as well as a lesson in wearing multiple yet complementary hats. She continues to serve as an assistant principal while also leading the transportation department. “I took the job and every day since has provided me
with a variety of new learning opportunities,” she shared. “Beginning my career as an educator did not allow me to fully understand the importance a bus driver has on the district. The bus driver builds relationships
with the riders that lasts for years as students move through their academic careers.” Abate commended the communication within the transportation department as a key factor to keep- ing operations running smoothly, especially as the district began using Traversa, a Tyler Technologies student transportation software for fleet management. The software switch required constant and consistent communication with not only department staff and me- chanics but with parents, and the rest of the district. “Our phenomenal bus drivers came in during the summer to discuss routes, review bus stops, and togeth- er we were able to create efficient bus routes with the safety of our students as the top priority,” she said. As the first female director of transportation for the
district, Abate said she is committed to following the best transportation practices for her district’s students. “Moving forward I would like to continue having
conversations with the essential stakeholders to ensure that our bus routes are both safe and efficient for our students,” she added.
BO (GUY) ALEXANDER Transportation Supervisor Franklin Special School District, Tenn.
Bo Alexander was
introduced to student trans- portation by a family friend who drove a bus route for stu- dents with special needs. “After I got my CDL, he asked me to drive for him occasionally to give him a respite,” Alexander said. “That
was my first introduction to the world of yellow buses.” Alexander is starting his fourth year as transporta-
tion supervisor for the Franklin Special School District. Among his various administrative duties, Alexander also supervises training and supplies resources. Safety is a top priority for him, which includes reviewing school bus camera footage for driver quality control to track- ing weather events and other factors that can affect bus routes. He has even gone behind the wheel when staff shortages have left routes without a driver.
44 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2021
“I have been blessed with a supportive and positive working environment,” Alexander said. “I couldn’t write a script for better bosses—I am given flexibility and discre- tion to run the department, but I know that support and accountability is just a phone call away.” Alexander said that the district’s safety record of zero
student injuries on or near a school bus since he began his role as transportation supervisor is a testament to his hard-working team. He added that his number one goal is to keep that record going by providing the necessary resources, training and support. Alexander said that working in student transportation
has given him valuable insight into the impact of edu- cators and school staff on the students they work with. “I never imagined I would end up in this job, but I am certainly glad I was led here. It sounds cliché, but I really think the work we do has a positive influence on a lot of kids,” he concluded.
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