School bus agency shines on singing competition show

WHITTIER, Calif. — Pupil Transportation Cooperative (PTC), a seven-district joint power agency with a fleet of 130 buses serving communities in Southern California, recently hosted a film crew led by former N’Sync band member Joey Fatone.

Fatone was searching for competitors on his TV show airing on TLC called “The Singing Office.”

On the show each week, Fatone and former Spice Girl Mel B. surprise an office by holding an impromptu audition to create a team of the five best singers, who later compete on stage in a choreographed sing-off for a chance to win $50,000.

Glory LaVorin, one of PTC’s behind-the-wheel trainers, auditioned for a spot on Fatone’s team. “People were excited to have a film crew out here,” she said. “Of course, we have our school runs that we have to do, so a lot of people had to audition and then run to do their route and come back.”

LaVorin said that the film crew shot some of the auditions inside school buses, near the wash rack and fueling station, and in the driver lounge. PTC employs 125 drivers, 15 office staffers and five shop staffers.

LaVorin was also one of the five people chosen from PTC to attend a two-day boot camp with Fatone, where participants learned a song and dance routine. The PTC team then competed against five employees from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles animal shelter and adoption center. That episode aired July 20.

The PTC team came out of that round victorious and moved on to the final competition, which aired Aug. 24. They performed Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” but ended up losing to another team.

LaVorin explained that the purpose of participating in the show was to show the students they transport that although bus drivers can be stern sometimes, they can also have fun. “I just want the kids that we transport to know that no matter what your disabilities are or what you think you can’t do, if you have a positive attitude, you can always achieve your goals,” she added.