National School Bus Safety Week: Thank You, Transportation Team!

Did you know that our Transportation team received recognition from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) over the summer, for having back-to-back outstanding results during inspections of the school bus fleet?

In recognition of National School Bus Safety Week, we chatted with four members of the Transportation team to hear more about why they do the work they do, and what they love about it.

Here’s what they had to say:

🎤What inspired you to join the Transportation team?

🚍Beau Pulliam, who started driving buses for the district in April: “First and foremost, I live in the ISD and love the opportunities that this district affords its students. I reached a point in my life where I wanted to make a change, and it gave me a chance to fulfil a lifelong (I am not kidding, lifelong) dream of becoming a School Bus Driver. I really love knowing that the student will be met with and sent with a smile and a ‘have a great day.’ I know that there are kiddos that are in need of that, and getting to help be a bright spot for students gives me purpose.”

🚍Randi Zyskowski, a Transportation team office member who has worked for the district since 2016: “I started working for Issaquah SD to have the same days off as my kids and I enjoy driving. So, this was a great fit for me.”

🚍 Jordan Peterson, a mechanic who has worked for the district since 2007: “I grew up in Issaquah and saw this as an opportunity to give back to my community. Working on the school bus fleet has provided a great opportunity to make an honest living as a technician. Here I can focus on safety and doing the job right instead of profit.”

🎤What does a typical morning look like before students even get on the bus?

🚍Yewnet Smith, who has been driving buses for the district since 2014: “I make it a habit to arrive early to check for roadway updates, traffic conditions and any new announcements, while also taking time to connect with peers before starting the route. Then, I perform a thorough pre-trip inspection to ensure my equipment is functioning properly before heading out.”

🚍Peterson: “Two cups of coffee, a light breakfast, a little chaos, and then I get MY kid on one of OUR buses before rushing into the shop.”

🎤What’s your favorite part of the job?

🚍Zyskowski: “Seeing the kids and fellow bus drivers daily. Talking to the kids about what they did over the weekends and breaks. Driving with no day the same, i.e. traffic, weather.”

🚍Peterson: “The satisfaction of a job well done. From making a torn seat corner disappear with a hidden stitch to eliminating gremlins in electrical circuits, it feels good to make things work as they should.”

🎤What do you wish people knew about what it takes to safely transport students every day?

🚍Smith: “We don't just see them as passengers - we call them ‘my kids.’ That sense of ownership shapes everything we do. Safely transporting students goes far beyond driving; it means setting aside personal distractions, staying fully focused, and committing wholeheartedly to the safety and well-being of every student on board.”

🚍Pulliam: “I wish people knew that those big yellow tubes with sometimes 70+ (loud) students are not easy to maneuver. They take a lot of skill and training and require a lot of attention. So, when you see a bus please give the driver some grace, and some space. Move over if it is safe to do so, and please know that we (the driver) are doing the best we can and really just want to make sure we are getting the students to school safely.”

🎤Without sharing specific student or family information, what are some of the biggest challenges in your job?

🚍Smith: “One of the biggest challenges is hearing about the difficulties students face at school or at home. While I can't change their circumstances, it's important to me that every student feels safe, seen, and heard while riding the bus. Creating that supportive environment makes a meaningful difference in their day.”

🎤How do you help create a positive and safe experience for students on the bus?

🚍Peterson: “Through providing the safest buses available in the state. We continue to maintain 100% inspections with State Patrol. Myself and other mechanics also take the time to impart knowledge to our drivers about how their bus operates."

🎤What role do mechanics and dispatchers/office team play in keeping everything running smoothly and keeping students safe?

🚍Smith: “The saying ‘it takes a village,’ perfectly captures what it means for bus drivers to succeed. Mechanics, dispatchers and the office team play a pivotal role in ensuring everything runs smoothly and students stay safe. Their support behind the scenes is essential -- without the entire team working together, professional bus drivers couldn't do their jobs effectively. It truly takes the whole team to make it happen!”

🎤What’s something memorable or heartwarming that’s happened on your route, in the Transportation Office or in the garage?

🚍Pulliam: “Last year one of the high school students on my bus wrote me the sweetest note towards the end of the year. She told me that my kind and warm greeting every morning gave her the best start to the day and made her feel so safe on the bus.”

🚍Zyskowski: “I like driving the kids on the first day of school when everyone is really excited to see each other and parents are taking pictures of the kids getting on the bus for the first day of school.”

🚍Peterson: “Several years ago, I was training a new mechanic on how we burnish in new brakes on the busses on what we call 'the brake hill.' I had them drive the loop on their first week of driving a bus and unbeknownst to us the bottom of the road was closed and blocked! The flagger hadn’t been posted yet. That poor mechanic had to back up 1,000 feet and around a corner with me yelling instructions from the back seat of the bus and a construction worker acting as spotter. Talk about baptism by fire!”

🎤If you could emphasize one safety tip with families in the community during School Bus Safety Week, what would that be?

🚍Zyskowski: “As drivers, please stop when the stop paddle is out and stay off your cell phones when there a bus in view."

🚍Pulliam: “Please make sure that your students are at the bus stop at least minutes early and are at a safe distance from the road. My biggest ask is that you please have your students not come to the door of the bus until invited by the driver. The driver needs to ensure that the approach to the door is safe, and if the students rush the door before we have that time to verify safety, accidents may occur.”

🎤What makes you proud to be part of the Transportation team in our district?

🚍Pulliam: “I am proud to be part of the transportation team, because we are a team of professionals that absolutely without a doubt, care deeply for every student in our district that is under our care.”

🚍Smith: “I'm proud to be part of the Transportation team because of our ongoing commitment to learning, adapting, and innovating new ways to keep our students safe. Our dedication to safety and continuous improvement truly sets us apart.”

Thank you to the whole Transportation team, for your hard work keeping students safe on the way to and from school every day! 👏👏