Assistant transportation director earns NAPT certification

CRYSTAL LAKE, Illinois — Penny Fleming has been designated a certified director of pupil transportation by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT).

Fleming is the assistant director of transportation and safety for the Transportation Joint Agreement (TJA) in Crystal Lake, which serves Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 and Community High School District 155.

Fleming is one of 152 people in the U.S. and Canada who have achieved NAPT’s director certification. Requirements for the program include taking more than 20 professional development courses, attending two NAPT conferences and passing a written test.

Fleming has served the TJA and districts 47 and 155 for nearly 20 years. The TJA, which the districts formed in 1974, provides bus service for students who live more than 1.5 miles from school.

Fleming said in a news release that she has always given 100% in her career but decided to pursue the NAPT certification because she wanted her “all” to be a better “all.”

“When you think you've seen it all, something happens and you’re reminded just how much you have to be able to think on your feet," Fleming said of working in the school transportation business. "Transportation directors wear many hats and have to be a ‘jack of all trades.’"

In addition to her position with the TJA, Fleming is a northern region director for the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation. She also serves on another transportation board and a local nonprofit board.

Fleming is now working toward NAPT’s special-needs transportation certification, which she hopes to attain by the end of 2016.