Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) held its 26^th annual banquet to thank those who helped safely transport more than 130,000 GCPS students to and from school. As part of the celebration, the district honored 49 transportation professionals who have proven to be the best of the best through their hard work, dedication, and job performance. Laura Howell and Monica Mau are GCPS’ 2023-24 School Bus Managers of the Year. Stacy Welch is the district’s 2023-24 School Bus Monitor of the Year, and Auto Diesel Master Mechanic Ronnie Alston is the 2023-24 Fleet Technician of the Year.     

Monica Mau

2023-24 Regular Education Bus Manager of the Year

     Mau has been a bus driver for four years in the Norcross Cluster. She says she drives school buses because she genuinely enjoys working with kids and watching them grow. Her most memorable moment involves one of her elementary students, who is very active and energetic. She shares, “One day, I asked him to be my helper and to let me know who was making a lot of noise. In a very polite voice, the student said, ‘Ms. Monica, thank you for giving me this opportunity, but I’m not a snitch. I can’t do that to my friends.’ I had to turn around and laugh.”

 

Laura Howell

2023-24 Special Education Bus Manager of the Year    

     Howell has been a bus manager for six years. She says, “I love to see the kids smile, the silly moments, and the amazing questions they come up with.” Howell drives for the Brookwood and Grayson Clusters. Her most memorable moment was gaining a sense of community with a group of drivers pitching in to help a student last year. They all came together and raised funds for a Brookwood High School student to get his school’s letter jacket. The student loved buses, so he drew pictures of them and made t-shirts for a fundraiser to pay for his coat. A group of 20 drivers wore his shirts and posed for a photo in front of the buses. “The smile on his face was priceless,” Howell shares. “Being able to help him will be a treasured memory forever.”      

                                                                                                    

Stacy Welch

2023-24 Special Needs Bus Monitor of the Year

     Stacy Welch says she loves to see the children come out of their shells and interact with others. Welch has worked with students with special needs in the Norcross Cluster for the past two years. “I love children, and being able to spend one-on-one time with them is very special to me,” Welch shares. Her most memorable moment was when a nonverbal student turned to his mom one morning and said goodbye to her while boarding the bus. "This was the first time he’d ever done that, and Mom started crying out of happiness."

 

Ronnie Alston

2023-24 Fleet Technician of the Year

     The Fleet Technician of the Year Award recognizes the dedication and expertise of those who ensure the smooth operation and impeccable condition of our school buses. Alston considers his role a “personal mission.” GCPS Transportation Support Manager Carla Hart explains. “Every school bus he repairs carries more than just students; it carries a piece of his family. Ronnie's children are enrolled in the GCPS system, which adds a powerful layer of purpose to his daily tasks. He understands the importance of safe and reliable transportation for all students, but it hits even closer to home for him. With every wrench turn and diagnostic test, Ronnie is ensuring the well-being of not only his kids but every child entrusted to the care of GCPS buses.”

 

     Charley Humble, GCPS executive director of Transportation, says he is grateful to the honorees for going above and beyond. “We sincerely thank our bus managers, monitors, and fleet technicians for their dedication to our students and their safety.” Humble says. “They understand their profound impact on the lives of the children they transport – from the warm greeting in the morning to the safe drop-off every afternoon. They are the true heroes of Transportation who make it happen every single day.” 

     The 2023-24 winners were selected after an extensive process. First, they were nominated by their colleagues in their transportation zone. There are 25 regular education zones and 12 special education zones. Nominees were given a written and driving skills test, after which 11 finalists were selected: five regular education bus managers, three special education bus managers, and three special education bus monitors. A judging committee selected the winners from the finalists.