By CAITLIN PEARSALL
Special to the Bulletin
Manteca Unified now has three Certified School Bus Instructors who have successfully completed rigorous training with the state of California! Committed to ensuring the safety of students across the district.
The dedicated instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles through their credential program.
MUSD’s certified instructors include Debbie Rice, Elizabeth Milton, and Krysta Bender, each of whom has embarked on a journey of extensive training to uphold the highest standards in student transportation.
“Becoming a Certified School Bus Instructor is a long, intense process,” Milton said. “Before we even go to the academy, we have weeks of training and studying. Once we are approved to attend training, we relocate to Sacramento for 3 weeks for the program. It is a world of information.”
Bender, the newest addition to MUSD’s instructor team, expressed her excitement for the future.
“Being included in plans for making our department better and safer is very rewarding,” Bender said. “We all want to get our students to and from school as safely as possible every day. As an instructor, we have numerous job responsibilities, but to be able to teach and interact with the drivers is one of my favorite things.”
Rice, an experienced instructor with Manteca Unified, emphasized the importance of the role in the Transportation Department.
“With over 50 drivers on staff, and knowing we need more drivers to meet the needs of our growing community, I’m so grateful to have two dedicated instructors working with me to keep up with all that our school bus operators have to do, to be able to transport the students safely every day,” Rice noted.
As Manteca Unified School District continues to recruit during a national bus driver shortage, the need for dedicated and skilled drivers is critical.
The comprehensive training provided by these Certified School Bus Instructors not only ensures adherence to all regulations and safety protocols but also creates a supportive team of employees committed to delivering the best transportation experience for students.
Prospective employees (ages 23 and up) who are interested in making a meaningful impact on student safety while contributing to the community's growth are encouraged to apply via EdJoin (www.edjoin.org/musd). Training classes are running from October 9-23, 2023. For more information, call the District Office at (209) 825-3200.
