SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Honorees include special-needs transportation expert Kala Henkensiefken and school bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 9, 2015
NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools won NAPT’s Special Needs Transportation Award. She is seen here with Bud Fears (left) of Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, the award sponsor, and Minnesota state director Brian Reu, who nominated Henkensiefken.

1 min to read


RICHMOND, Virginia — Honors for heroism, training efforts and leadership have been handed out during the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit here over the past few days.

Here are the NAPT 2015 award winners:

Ad Loading...

The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, went to Bryan Johnson of Howard County Public Schools in Maryland and Rhonda Watson of the School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties in South Carolina.

The Special Needs Transportation Award, sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, went to Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools.

Winning the School Bus Driver Training Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was Mark Lindstrom of Marietta (Ga.) City Schools.

The Heroism Award, sponsored by Blue Bird Corp., went to Macon County (N.C.) Schools bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting in June.

The NAPT awards committee is composed of Theresa Anderson, chair; Jerry Milliken, co-chair; Marisa Weisinger; and Chris Ellison.

Ad Loading...

Other awards presented during the Summit included School Bus Fleet’s Administrator of the Year honor, which went to Pam McDonald of Orange (Calif.) Unified School District.

Also, Charmane White of Albemarle County (Va.) Public Schools won STN's Leadership Award.

More Management

Lineup of the back end of Durham School Service school buses.
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 26, 2026

Durham School Services Adds New District Contracts Across Five States

The latest contract awards and renewals will bring the company's transportation services to more students while extending several long-standing district relationships.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic announcing the Top Transportation Teams 2026 recognition program. The image features a blue and gold badge with a yellow school bus illustration and the words "Top Transportation Teams 2026" on a navy background with gold confetti accents.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 24, 2026

6 School Districts Named Transfinder's 2026 Top Transportation Teams

The software company has named six school districts across four states to its list for the fourth year, with one 'three-peat' winner. Find out which teams took home top honors!

Read More →
An orange and black graphic with an image of a woman helping a young girl out of a car. Text reads "Innovation Was the Answer: Lessons Learned In School Transport."
ManagementJune 24, 2026

Innovation Was the Answer: Five Lessons Learned in School Transportation from 2025–26

Transportation leaders are embracing technology, transparency, and operational flexibility to meet growing demands with limited resources.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with a black and white image of Geotab official on stage with text reading "AI Tools Roundup: Turning Data Into Faster Decisions."
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 24, 2026

AI Tools Roundup: New Fleet Tools Aim to Turn Data Into Faster Decisions

The latest AI-powered platforms could help student transportation teams analyze fleet performance, manage maintenance, and uncover operational insights using natural-language queries.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet company news graphic displaying the logos of EverDriven and Pathwise on an orange background.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 23, 2026

EverDriven Integrates Pathwise's EZRouting into Routing Services

The new partnership combines trusted software with industry expertise to help district transportation teams streamline general education routing, improve efficiency, and lower operating costs.

Read More →
A professional portrait of David Perez on an orange background with text reading "David Perez Named Samsara Technology Leader of the Year."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJune 23, 2026

First Student Safety Executive Named Samsara Technology Leader of the Year

David Perez earned the honor for deploying AI-powered safety and fleet technologies that improved driver behavior and family communication.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage graphic featuring the Zūm logo surrounded by images representing the company's recent milestones: the Providence, Rhode Island skyline; a soccer ball decorated with international flags symbolizing FIFA World Cup 2026 transportation services; a trophy representing CEO Ritu Narayan's Entrepreneur Of The Year award; and the Philadelphia skyline.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 22, 2026

Zum Expands to Rhode Island with 2 New District Partnerships

The Ocean State becomes Zum’s 18th state served as the company expands its presence in the Northeast U.S., while launching operations in Philadelphia, and supporting FIFA World Cup 2026.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet leadership update graphic announcing Lewis Nelson as president of Stertil-Koni. The graphic features the Stertil-Koni logo and a portrait of Nelson standing with folded arms against a yellow and orange background.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 19, 2026

Stertil-Koni Announces New Company President

Lewis Nelson joins the heavy-duty vehicle lift provider, succeeding Scott Steinhardt in the lead role.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Frances Theiring stands with three other people holding an award
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJune 19, 2026

Tennessee Hall of Fame Honors Drivers for Decades of Service

Frances Theiring, a school bus driver for Wilson County Schools, retires this year after almost 50 years on the road. She is one of two long-time drivers honored for their service in the state.

Read More →