Our bus drivers and monitors are an essential part of many students’ education, ensuring they get to and from school safely. Drivers and monitors are the first people in the district the students come into contact with daily, and it falls to them to help students have a great start and end to each school day and activity. USD 503 is thankful for all they do. Throughout this week we will be featuring our wonderful drivers and monitors, and sharing a little about them.
Featured today are Robert “Bob” Hoffman, Jaqie Viramontez and Carol Bynum.
Bob has been serving as a bus driver for the district for 2 ½ years. He is retired but does also maintain a small janitorial business. His favorite thing about being a bus driver: “I enjoy the children. I look at them and imagine their potential as the future.”
Something he shared about himself is that he is an FCC licensed amateur radio (ham) operator. “I enjoy using the hobby to talk to people from around the world using a radio the size of a shoe box, a battery and a wire for an antenna.”
Jaqie has worked as a bus monitor for 6 years now. Outside of that job, she works at Lincoln Elementary as a teacher’s aid. Her favorite thing about working as a bus monitor, “is seeing the kids’ faces and smiles every morning.”
What she would like people to know about her is that she loves spending time with family and friends. She is the mother of three children and has two dogs added into the family.
Carol Bynum is a van driver for Special Education students. She has served in that capacity for more than a year. Her favorite thing about her job is: “I enjoy the students. I also have wonderful co-workers.”
She said she is especially grateful to Jessica English, who assists her daily.
"I couldn't do this without her." Bynum said. "She is a huge help."
What she wants people to know about her is: “I love being a grandma.”