Schools

Floris Elementary Bus Driver Honored by Thomas Built Buses

Lorton's Jim Crockett inspired a local sixth grade student to nominate him.

Fairfax County bus driver Jim Crockett of Lorton was named runner-up in the Thomas Built Buses Children's Choice School Bus Drive of the Year essay contest. 

Floris Elementary School sixth grade student Rahul nominated Crockett with an essay which included a poem he wrote about the bus driver as well as a drawing. 

In Rahul's nomination of Crockett, he said, "As long as we are inside Mr. Crockett’s bus, we are free of any nervousness. He is a remarkable man who always keeps us cheerful." 

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Rahul said Crockett eagarly initiates conversations with his riders, quizzes students on schoolwork and even teaches them about the mechanics of the bus. 

"He doesn’t do his job just for money; he makes the ride fun for all of us," Rahul said. 

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Both Crockett and Rahul were honored at a school board meeting where they received Thomas Built jackets and lunch boxes. 

The contest is in its seventh year and began in 2005 as Thomas Built Buses celebrated its 90th anniversary. More than 750 students from 28 states entered the contest this year. 

Essays are judged for content and originality by Tom McMahon, the executive editor of School Bus Fleet; Ryan Gray, editor of School Transportation News; Alexandra Robinson, president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation; Tim Flood, president-elect of the National Student Transportation Association; and Max Christensen, president-elect of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation.

“We are committed to building safe, dependable buses, and we recognize, too, the important role of drivers in transporting children safely to and from school,” said Kelley Platt, Thomas Built president and CEO in a press release. “This contest lets us say thank you to the school bus drivers who take such good care of their cherished cargo, and to recognize their significant role in students’ lives.”

Rahul's full essay on Crockett is attached as a PDF. 

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