Every school day, more than 9,000 students across Kent School District rely on a yellow school bus to safely get to and from class—and the team behind that daily journey is as dedicated and skilled as they come. At the helm of the operation is Justin Dennison, Director of Transportation, who leads a department committed to student safety, efficient service, and community support.
In a typical school year, Kent buses cover an impressive 1.28 million route miles, with an average of 7,120 miles driven per day. From early morning pickups to after-school drop-offs, the scale of the district’s transportation system reflects just how vital it is to the functioning of the school system.
“Our philosophy is simple,” says Dennison. “Safety comes first. Everything we do starts and ends with keeping students safe—whether it’s training new drivers, planning routes, or simply reinforcing good habits with kids.”
With a fleet this large and responsibility so significant, the training process for bus drivers is extensive. Roughly 90% of new drivers come in with no prior commercial driving experience, but the district’s in-house team of certified trainers gets them classroom-ready and road-ready. The training includes:
Pre-trip inspections
Behind-the-wheel driving techniques
Navigation between schools
Rules of the road, railroad crossings, loading and unloading students
After passing the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test, candidates receive Kent-specific training, including driving to every KSD school and understanding each load zone.
Ongoing training is also a key part of the department's professional development. Drivers attend monthly safety meetings, annual in-service workshops, and even participate in the Bus Road-eo, a competition that tests driving skill through real-world challenges like parallel parking, student loading, and emergency stops.
Two drivers, Elizabeth Berninger and Sherrie, recently brought home top honors at the state Road-eo competition and will advance to the national event. “Elizabeth and Sherrie put in a tremendous amount of work preparing for the state competition,” Dennison says. “Their dedication paid off, and we’re proud they’re representing KSD on a national level.”
Routing more than 100 buses efficiently across a growing school district is no small feat. The department uses mapping software to build routes based on student addresses, school boundaries, and walk zones.
Buses are carefully scheduled to serve multiple schools across their morning and afternoon shifts—often covering high school, middle school, and one or two elementary routes in a single shift. The goal: maximize bus capacity while ensuring kids arrive at school at least 20 minutes early, giving them time to settle in and grab breakfast.
Student safety remains the department’s top concern, particularly during the loading and unloading process, which is statistically the most dangerous part of a student’s journey. Kent bus drivers are trained to:
Activate flashing amber lights 100–300 feet before a stop
Ensure all traffic has stopped before students cross
Communicate clearly with students about when it’s safe to approach the bus
To prepare students, the department also conducts emergency exit drills twice a year and teaches students how to evacuate a bus in under three minutes.
Like school districts nationwide, recruiting and retaining bus drivers is one of Kent’s biggest challenges. To address this, the department has revamped its hiring process—bringing new recruits on as temporary employees earlier, providing faster training pathways, and offering consistent professional support.
“Drivers are a key part of our school community,” Dennison says. “They build relationships with students and families. Without them, it would be incredibly difficult for many of our kids to access a quality education.”
What makes a successful transportation department? According to Dennison, it's about believing in the mission. “We remind our team that we’re here for students. We’re part of what makes learning possible. Every mile, every morning—it’s all part of supporting student success.”
From rigorous training and professional competitions to route planning and safety innovations, Kent School District’s transportation team isn’t just getting students from point A to point B—they’re helping carry students toward a brighter future.