Shared Leadership Initiative 

Objective Measurable Criteria 

     When applicants apply for a bus driver position, Ms. Vine, our transportations coordinator, indicates that a person’s driving record and background check are important aspects when applying. She also acknowledges that a commercial license, passenger, and school bus endorsement are qualifications for being hired in her division. She emphasizes that it would be unwise and unsafe to hire a person who has many accidents, tickets, DUI, a criminal background on their driving record.  This is a red flag for an employer because these offenses show lack of judgement and responsibility from the person, which can lead to students being harmed.  Ms. Vine is also looking for a person who is knowledgeable of safety rules and regulations because our school’s mission and priority is students’ safety while riding the bus. This is also understood that bus drivers need to enforce policies that ensure all riders are obeying and applying safety rules when riding the bus.  

     Another factor is how well the drivers can communicate with the school and parents. Communications is one of the key aspects of a driver because without it, misunderstandings happen which causes students to miss the bus, which leads to students missing school. Communication is also vital for a bus driver because when things happen it is important to inform all parties, school administrators and parents, about the whereabouts of the students. Thus, ensuring the knowledge of where students are, pickup/ drop off designation and parent/ guardian that will be there for the arrivals of the student.

Leadership           

      When a driver has been selected to join our team, they will shadow a senior driver for about 20-30 days.  This process introduces them to the culture of the schools, the different facility, staff members, routes and students who ride the bus. Within these days this driver will be given training, safety procedures, protocol for checking the bus before and after usage, experience driving, learning the routes, and meeting the families. Also, once a week there will be a staff meeting in which they collaborate on best strategies to keep students safe, how to properly encourage positive age-appropriate guidance for behavior issues when riding the bus and events on the calendar.            

     Ms. Vine tries to support the drivers by giving them the tools they need to be successful.  These include laptops, new safety guidelines, updated protocol and procedures, additional training and review of laws and regulations. 

Team/Group Dynamics

Some of the ways team group dynamics works with our drivers are that in their in-services days they complete maintenance inspections, help each other in minor tasks, review laws and procedures as a team, annual training, ride with team on dry runs of the routes, and luncheon where they build working relationships with each other. 

Reference 

Agape Corporations. (2023- 2024). Agape schools transportations safety plan.