“We drive education” is the motto we live by in Greenville ISD’s Transportation Department.

That’s why our drivers are already maneuvering obstacle courses, practicing tight turns and mastering the art of parallel parking their mammoth vehicles with dual rear tires.

GISD bus drivers navigate 31 routes a day with 50 or more students on each route. Add in field trips, athletic, fine arts and other extracurricular activities, and you can see how much time they spend not only transporting students, but also have the opportunity to brighten their day.

So how do they manage to run their routes on time all while getting 50+ students to stay in their seats?

“Practice. Practice. Practice,” answers Transportation Coordinator Sam Day. “We know how important it is to get our students to school safe and on time, so we’re always sharpening our skills,”

“We also know what a difference it makes to have a great relationship with our students. A cheerful ‘good morning’ and a smile makes a difference for us all.”

John Ward, who is starting his 17^th year in GISD says he wouldn’t start his day any other way.

“I like getting up early, getting my chicken biscuit and my coffee and getting these kids to school,” he said. “It’s great to see them grow up, and it happens faster than you can believe.”

GISD’s transportation schedules and routes are set for the 2018-19 school year. Click HERE to visit the Transportation Department page.