On any given school day, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) has 220 buses hitting the roads to safely transport 10,000 students! A bus driver is the first smiling face students see in the morning, and the last staff member they see in the afternoon.
Each year one dedicated driver is selected from a pool of nominations to be honored as the BCS Bus Driver of the Year/Tracy Lea Calhoun Award. Ms. Calhoun was a bus driver in the Raleigh area who passed away in a tragic school bus accident. Her legacy lives on through this award that honors exemplary work in transportation.
This year’s award goes to Bob Roland of A.C. Reynolds High School (ACRHS). Mr. Roland was the only person to receive two nominations which were from Assistant Principal Nathan Padgett of ACRHS, and Principal Anna Austin of Buncombe County Early College.
“Mr. Roland greets the students by name upon boarding the bus,” said Ms. Austin. “He builds a positive rapport with the students even if they are not riding his bus. Students take time to stop by his bus just to say hello and give a hug.”
“His dedication to safety does not go unnoticed at ACRHS,” said Mr. Padgett. “The staff at ACRHS and A.C. Reynolds Middle School are extremely grateful for his long standing service and dedication to our school system.”
Congratulations, Mr. Roland, and thank you for all that you do to transport students safely.