Creative Approaches to Training for School Bus Drivers and Bus Attendants July 16, 2015

George Horne George Horne, President Horne Enterprises 5017 Bissonet Drive Metairie, LA

3 “Like an elegant meal, training should be nourishing, flavorful and temptingly presented.”

INGREDIENTS (AKA “TRAINING TOPICS”)  Basic driving maneuvers?  Proper use of the vehicle’s signals?  Defensive driving techniques?  Loading/unloading procedures?  Statutes, policies and other regulations?  Accident/incident/emergency procedures?  First aid/CPR?  “Special” transportation procedures?  Child-specific training?  Confidentiality training? 4

…AND EVEN MORE TOPICS  Communication skills (including listening)?  Passenger management/discipline/bullying?  Interpersonal relations skills?  Personal appearance?  Personal behavior?  Attitude in the workplace?  Cultural sensitivity?  Documentation skills?  Available resources? 5

DOES YOUR TRAINING REGIMEN REFLECT DIVERSE ABILITIES AND NEEDS OF YOUR DRIVERS AND MONITORS?  Experience?  Educational levels?  Differentiated job requirements?  Cultural backgrounds?  Learning styles?  Needs of passengers transported?  Access to resources? 6

SOME DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR DRIVERS AND MONITORS (ATTENDANTS/AIDES)  Changing needs of children (e.g., stages of development)  Showing that you care  “Saving” children (from danger; from misdeeds)  Delayed gratification  “Walking the walk”  Legal “ramifications” of various situations 7

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH TOPICS TO SELECT FOR TRAINING SESSIONS?  Be observant.  Review complaints.  Review accident reports.  Talk to school-based staff.  Talk to special support staff.  Listen to parents and students.  Listen to drivers and monitors.  Use evaluation instruments.  Know your state’s requirements. Encourage input! 8

GETTING PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED THIS? OR THIS? 9

SPICE IT UP WITH FUN ACTIVITIES “Choices”“Acronyms” “The Numbers Game” “What Do I Know?” (Find the Hidden Words) “A Fantasy Trip” 10

1. Put your finger on any gray box. 4. Move diagonally to the nearest white box. 2. Move left or right to the nearest white box.5. Move left or right to the nearest gray box. 3. Move up or down to the nearest gray box.6. Consensus? Let’s start there! 11

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 Cell phone usage (humorous commercial)  Bullying on the bus (TV news clip)  Child dragged by his school bus (TV news clip)  NC School Bus Stop Law (video clip)  Child Safety Restraint Systems (NHTSA)  CPR for Children (short clip)  CPR—continued chest compressions  Missouri school bus crash photos and NTSB report  Etc. 17

 To download videos from U-Tube, open the U- Tube website and find the video you wish to download.  Open the video. Move the cursor to the URL at the top of the screen.  Insert ss after then, strike the “enter” key. Select MP 4 360P or MP4 480P and “save” or “download.” 18

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1.What topics am I teaching? 2.How am I teaching what I teach—what methods do I employ? 3.What resources do I provide? 4.How effective is my (our) training regimen? SELF-EVALUATION 21

WE TRAIN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE…  With our drivers and monitors;  With the children they transport;  With the world of today and tomorrow! 22

SUGGESTED RESOURCES  U.S. Department of Transportation:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:  National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, rev. 2010:  Operation Lifesaver (Check you state’s chapter address.)  National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation:

SUGGESTED RESOURCES (CONT.)  National Association for Pupil Transportation:  National Head Start Association:  School Bus Fleet:  School Transportation News:  Pupil Transportation Safety Institute:  Education Compliance Group, Inc.: educationcompliancegroup.com educationcompliancegroup.com  (Add your State Department of Education, State Office of Motor Vehicles and local/regional resources.) 24