August's School BUSRide Letter from Molly McGee-Hewitt, PhD, CAE: The Significance of the Beginning of the School Year

• By: admin
• On: 08/21/2024 08:37:21
• In: Association Updates

The beginning of the school year holds a unique significance. While parents and students view it as a fresh start, transportation professionals have spent months preparing for this day. The behind-the-scenes efforts leading up to the first day may seem like magic to our students and their families when the buses smoothly arrive.

To be 100% truthful with you… I believe that there is magic involved! Not the supernatural kind, but the very hard-working student transportation professional kind! The kind that is created by countless hours of planning and coordination. Juggling population statistics, new housing situations, aging buses that need replacements, keeping the driver pool hired and trained, creating the best routes, payroll, budgets, bus stops, timetables, and so much more! The magic work is really hundreds of hours of time well spent! Time that creates a positive first day for students that will set the tone of the school year.

Thank you. Thank you for your dedication and hard work in serving the students. Thank you for your commitment to ensure the safest and most efficient routes. Thank you for the recruiting, training, retraining, and coaching of your teams. Thank you for the collaboration and cooperation with various departments within your school district. Thank you for always going above and beyond, and for consistently delivering exceptional results.

Chances are, discussions about this start of the school year will not focus on your amazing work; there is a strong possibility that there will be questioning why certain things unfolded or didn't unfold, rather than acknowledging your exceptional efforts. There will need to be a review of issues and complaints, followed by time allowed for problem solving and redirection. Prepare yourself to hear what the reviewers of your work need to say; allow them to share their thoughts on what could have been done or should have been done. What will you do? How will you respond? By attentively listening, tackling the concerns, and persisting with your service-oriented leadership approach. Bravo! You have grasped the art of handling critics with grace, which is not always easy to do!

In executive leadership positions, it is always easy to want to hit back or answer the nay sayers with a similar energy. Those who have no clue of the depth and breadth of your work are eager to evaluate, review, and suggest! It is just part of our world. Thank you for taking the high road and being the awesome professional that you are.

A friend recently inquired about my perspective on our industry, especially NAPT. I immediately praised the amazing individuals I have the honor of collaborating and working with. I highlighted the industry's daily achievements and expressed my deep pride in being a part of this profession. Finally, after more than three decades in education, I felt privileged to work with such exceptional individuals – true rockstars!
Welcome to the new school year! Here's to the best year ever for our profession!

With love, respect, and a knowing nod,
Molly