2026-2027
Bus Driver of the Year Program Information
Since 2005, the PCAL Bus Driver of the Year program has honored the best of the best: drivers who exhibit professionalism in all they do to help PCAL Members safely transport students every day. Please join us again this year to recognize one of your outstanding drivers.
One driver will be selected by your parish to be recognized as:
Purpose
PCAL Parish Bus Driver of the Year
The driver you choose will receive:
a commendation
a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler
and a special new gift
From the group of Parish Bus Driver of the Year honorees across your region, one driver will be chosen by PCAL as:
PCAL Regional Bus Driver of the Year
This driver will receive:
a commendation
a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler
a special new gift
and a desk plaque along with a $500 cash award
PCAL Statewide Bus Driver of the Year
Additionally, PCAL will choose one exceptional Bus Driver of the Year to represent the entire program as PCAL Statewide Bus Driver of the Year
This driver will receive:
a commendation
a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler
a special new gift
and a wall plaque along with a $2,500 cash award!
The PCAL Bus Driver of the Year Process
The Quick Start Participation Guide summarizes the steps for selecting your Parish Bus Driver of the Year.
Detailed Participation Instructions
Form a Bus Driver of the Year committee to aid in your decision-making process (not mandatory).
Committee members may include transportation leadership, the business or risk manager, a teacher, a campus administrator, the superintendent or assistant superintendent, and/or a parent.1
Determine which drivers are eligible to become your Parish Bus Driver of the Year.
Eligibility requirements should be determined by the parish. For example:No at-fault accidents within the last (x) yearsNo moving violations within the last (x) yearsZero student, parent, or citizen-founded complaints within the last (x) yearsNo department disciplinary actions received within the last (x) yearsAttendance meeting department expectationsMeeting all other department expectationsIn overall good standing with the parish
2
3
Decide on a procedure for selecting your Parish Bus Driver of the Year.
To select a driver among those who are eligible, the parish may create its own selection procedure or decide on one of the following:Nominations + selection committee: Nominations are submitted to the parish committee by transportation stakeholders, such as other drivers, teachers, students, and parentsVoting among peers and supervisorsHand-picked by leadership due to outstanding performanceRandomly picked
Establish a selection deadline.
Your internal selection deadline should be no later than December 11, 2026, the last day to submit your selection to PCAL.4
Announce the PCAL Bus Driver of the Year program is underway.
Once your eligibility requirements and selection procedure have been determined, announce the beginning of the program.5
If your parish chooses to use a nomination-based selection procedure as mentioned in step 3, make nomination forms available to stakeholders.
Nominations may be completed by any transportation stakeholder, e.g. drivers, other staff members, managers, teachers, administrators, and parents.6
Evaluate and select.
Using your chosen procedure, select your Parish Bus Driver of the Year.7
Submit the PCAL Parish Bus Driver of the Year Selection Form and any supporting documents or nominations (for that driver only) to PCAL no later than December 11, 2026.
Please ensure the driver’s name is spelled correctly, as you wish it to appear on the commendation.Your completed Selection Form and any supporting documents can be emailed to: busdriveroftheyear@pcalprogram.org.Alternatively, these documents can be faxed to 830.693.2729, Attn: PCAL Bus Driver of the Year.8
PCAL will evaluate the Parish Bus Driver of the Year honorees from across the state and thereafter determine the PCAL Regional Bus Driver of the Year and PCAL Statewide Bus Driver of the Year.
We strongly encourage you to send any additional management and/or stakeholder comments about your driver that provide deeper insight into how they excel in their role. Simply attach additional pages to your Selection Form. Without this insight, it is difficult to consider your driver for a higher-level award. 9
10
Members will be notified if their Parish Bus Driver of the Year has received a higher-level award by January 15, 2027.
At the Member’s direction, higher-level honorees will be held in confidence until the awards are presented. Prizes will be delivered by your PCAL Broker or shipped to the Member Representative at the Broker’s direction.Materials
Announcement Flyer
Nomination Form
Selection Form
PCAL Bus Driver of the Year is a value-added component of your PCAL Program. PCAL Bus Driver of the Year and recognition prizes are provided at no additional cost to you. It’s another example of the benefits of PCAL membership. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your successful loss prevention efforts.
PCAL Statewide Bus Driver of the Year Past Recipients
2005: Sabine PSB, Lynn Martinez2006: Iberia PSB, Francis Derouen2007: LaSalle PSB, Sharon Coon2008: Avoyelles PSB, Sherry Dodge2009: Sabine PSB, Kendall Miley2010: Vernon PSB, Norma Bush2011: LaSalle PSB, Bobby Francis2012: Iberia PSB, Warren Gaschassin2013: Vernon PSB, Jackie Grimes2014: Tensas PSB, Lille B. Lewis2015: Sabine PSB, Robert Johnson2016: Vernon PSB, Evelyn Haymon2017: Bienville PSB, Monica Brice2018: Avoyelles PSB, Shelia Callihan2019: Jackson PSB, Regina Stewart2020: Sabine PSB, Sonya Townson2021: La Salle PSB, Susan Nelson2022: Bienville PSB, Jackie Egans2023: LaSalle PSB, Gawan Burgess2024: Richland PSB, Solomon Staten2025: Caldwell PSB, Penny Brown2026: Bienville PSB, Angelia Martin-JacksonQuestions?
For questions regarding the PCAL Bus Driver of the Year Program:
Email: busdriveroftheyear@pcalprogram.org
Call: 830.639.2728
Fax: 830.693.2729
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