February is Love the Bus Month, a monthlong celebration created by the American School Bus Council to honor the contributions of drivers, attendants and all transportation personnel to public education.
This year, PCPS’ PR department dispatched intern Darren Ortiz — who also studies in our district’s Transition program — to get to know some of our outstanding transportation employees. We’ll be introducing them to you all month long.
Thank you, PCPS transportation employees, for all you do to put Students First!
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Profile: Judy Schultheis, PCPS bus driver
When Judy Schultheis retired from Publix, she knew she still had more to give.
She loves children — being around them, she believes, helps to keep her young. She also has always enjoyed driving. Becoming a school bus driver for Polk County Public Schools seemed a perfect way for her to stay busy in retirement.
She applied and has enjoyed her second career every day since! Judy says she takes pride in building relationships with her students and in sanitizing her bus to protect them from COVID-19. Her coworkers call her a committed team player who is always willing to help other drivers by taking on additional routes, picking up students who’ve missed the bus.
Thank you, Judy!