Principal of the Buses

One Norman Public Schools administrator’s new focus? Classrooms on wheels.

By David Chandler

Principal of the Buses? As you sit and read this article, you may be asking yourself, what in the world is the Principal of the Buses? As principals, we all have things to juggle daily: irate parents, students not behaving properly, teachers having meltdowns. These are but a few things that can occur before the first bell rings to start your day. Now throw in an issue on the bus that must be dealt with, and you have spent most of the morning investigating and trying to bring a resolution to yet another conflict. For many principals, an issue on the bus can be the straw that broke the camel’s back—just too much to handle. Enter the Principal of the Buses to aid fellow administrators in resolving misbehaviors that happen on the bus.

I have been in administration for 13 years. All that time has been spent in a building, and it has been awesome. At the end of last school year, I was approached by the central office in Norman Public Schools to widen my lens of leadership and embark on a journey that will allow me to see another side of the district while still helping students: I was asked if I would like to take on the role of Principal of the Buses. While I really did not know what to expect, I knew my skill set would make me successful in this new position. I was told that our transportation department needed someone to focus solely on building relationships with students, working with drivers and monitors to build trust, and cultivating a positive alliance with parents and community members. In my mind, I knew I could do this because I love building positive relationships with all parties involved in a school setting. However, instead of monitoring classrooms within a building, I would be working in a classroom on wheels.

Relationships Are Key

As I embarked on this new position, I knew one thing for sure: Bus drivers and monitors needed to be assured that they were valued and appreciated. Throughout my years in administration, I have discovered that bus drivers are not always looked upon as being integral parts of the school community. They are sometimes viewed as “just bus drivers,” and in this new position, I wanted to dispel that myth and assure my drivers that they were highly regarded and a very important part of a student’s day. I work diligently to build positive relationships with my bus drivers and monitors and to let them know I appreciate the important and often thankless job they perform daily.

Another aspect of this position deals with student management and fostering healthy relationships with students. Since day one, I have reiterated to the drivers and monitors that relationships are key. They are so important to behaviors students exhibit on a bus. I truly believe that when positive relationships are nurtured, students will act better because they know that they are safe and secure. I remind drivers and monitors that their job is so important because they ultimately set the tone for a student’s day. The bus drivers are the first district personnel a student encounters each morning and the last one they will see before they go home. Having a positive relationship with students is KEY to possessing a great bus route.

Pbis On The Bus

A technique I have brought with me from the brick-and-mortar school is the concept of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). I have seen it work in many schools, and I think if it is implemented with fidelity, it can also work on our buses. I have begun teaching our drivers and monitors about PBIS and how we can incorporate it into our management procedures on the buses. By recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors while students are riding to and from school, we can create a safe environment for both the driver and the passengers.

PBIS on the bus is a work in progress, but I know that with everyone working in collaboration, we will achieve the goal of positive relationships between drivers and students and a subsequent decrease in student discipline referrals on buses. ■

David Chandler has been in education since 2005. He started his career as a high school English teacher in Millwood Independent School District. During his time as a teacher, Chandler held many leadership roles that prepared him for his move into administration in 2010. Chandler has been an administrator in Oklahoma City Public Schools, Edmond Public Schools, and Western Heights Public Schools and at the collegiate level as the Director of Upward Bound. Chandler has been with Norman Public Schools for three years, his first two as an assistant principal at Irving Middle School and his current role of Transportation Principal since July 2023. Chandler currently serves on the Executive Committee of OASSP as the Region 14B Representative. If you have questions about Chandler’s role as Transportation Principal, email him at dchandler@normanps.org.