'More like a family': Marshall transportation department garners national recognition
MARSHALL — The Marshall Public Schools Transportation Department has been named one of the top transportation teams in the country by transportation management software company Transfinder.
Marshall is one of six recipients of the company's inaugural Top Transportation Teams award, created in response to the inspiring leadership school districts demonstrated in dealing with challenges created by the pandemic.
Winners were selected solely on the anonymous survey responses of their teams, with those districts scoring the highest in employee satisfaction receiving the Top Transportation Teams designation.
Teams were comprised of transportation supervisors, routers, dispatchers, drivers and others considered core to the transportation department. Survey questions covered a variety of areas including morale within the department, leadership, safety and benefits.
“My team is amazing and we have come so far," Monique Bryant, transportation director at Marshall Public Schools, said in a release. "Our team has become more like a family. It didn't happen overnight but we have worked hard to get where we are. We appreciate each other and we try to help each other through our everyday challenges. We care, we show up, we give it our best every day. We love our students and appreciate our district. We try to see each day as a new day. I am incredibly proud of my team!”
Winners were divided into two categories: Departments with 100 or fewer employees and departments with more than 100 employees. The winners in the more than 100 employees category include Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana, Klein Independent School District in Texas and Garland Independent School District in Texas.
The winners in the 100 or fewer employees category include Pembroke Central School District in New York, South Lewis Central School District in New York and Marshall.
"Marshall Public Schools is fortunate to have a world class transportation department," Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Rebecca Jones said. “Our district covers a large area, spanning 169 square miles across two counties. The team of bus drivers, aides, and office support that Monique has built as transportation director are a dedicated and hardworking crew. We as a district are grateful that the Marshall Public Schools transportation team has been recognized as one of the best transportation departments in the country. We see their hard work displayed day after day, it's nice to see them recognized at the national level."
Representatives from each of the winning teams will discuss what makes a top transportation team during a panel discussion at the School Transportation News Expo July 17 in Reno, Nevada. The discussion will be moderated by Transfinder President/CEO Antonio Civitella.
“When we speak with transportation leaders, visit with them at trade shows or on their campuses, and read about them in publications like School Transportation News, we constantly see the amazing work they do in extremely challenging conditions,” Civitella said. “Transportation departments deal with safety issues such as illegal passing. They are dealing with a nationwide driver shortage. They are facing more demands from their communities. They are coping with tighter budgets as well. And yet we see these leaders smile, do their jobs and remain passionate about the safe transportation of schoolchildren. I just felt these heroes needed more recognition.”
To learn more about the Top Transportation Teams award program, visit toptransportationteams.com.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Marshall transportation department garners national recognition
