PCSD25 Bus Driver named 2023 Special Needs Driver of the Year

Roy Allen was recently named the 2023 Special Needs Driver of The Year by the Idaho Association of Pupil Transportation (IAPT).

The IAPT website describes the award as follows: “It takes a very special person to transport students with special needs. This award focuses on those who do an exceptional job every day, and truly care about the students.”

Mr. Allen was nominated for the award by PCSD 25 transportation supervisors, Jeffrey Corrington and Samantha Steed. The nomination letter reads:

“We all know wonderful employees that consistently perform their job responsibilities without requiring a lot of extra supervision. They are the quiet types that show up for their shifts on time, drive their routes without problems, treat others with kindness and respect and never complain. We have an employee that fits this classification and would like him to be considered for the Special Needs School Bus Driver of the Year Award."

Roy Allen has worked for the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 for the past nine (9) years, first as a substitute bus driver and for the past four (4) years as a special needs bus driver.

During his employment with our district he has proven himself to be an asset to our transportation department. Roy's calm and even temperament helps our department reach a high level of service to our community, especially the special needs students he works with on a daily basis. The families of his students trust him and appreciate the job he does.

Roy is a dependable, reliable, conscientious individual. He has an ability to make sound judgment in relation to the responsibility he has in safely transporting the children of this school district to and from school. He maintains a high standard of discipline that is expected of our special needs route drivers while safely maneuvering the buses he drives through all traffic conditions. Roy is friendly, courteous, and positive with the students, district staff, and other school district patrons that he works with. He takes pride in the work he does and is responsible, on time, and willing to do whatever it takes to complete his assignments safely and professionally. Roy earned the respect of management and staff to become a trainer where he delivers exceptional service to others as he helps them become great employees. We appreciate him.

It is people like Roy that we believe greatly influence the children/students he works with because the students are able to feel safe and secure while in his care. He values the children he works with and encourages them to achieve their potential. Roy brings out the good in his students and they bring out the best in him.

This is not the first time that PCSD 25 transportation staff member have been recognized for their outstanding efforts. In 2019, IAPT named Dennis Ottley as Driver of the Year and Connie Clark as Special Needs Drive of the Year.