New York County Names School Bus Driver of the Year

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County has named its School Bus Driver of the Year: Andrea Whittaker.

The award recognizes Whittaker’s outstanding service and safety record, according to Ulster County Executive Mike Hein.

Whittaker, who works for Ethan Allen Transportation, has 27 years of school bus driving experience. She was nominated by the Kingston City School District.

The School Bus Driver of the Year honor and other awards were issued in conjunction with the Ulster County Traffic Safety Board and Operation Safe Stop.

“I appreciate Operation Safe Stop’s outstanding efforts to educate the public and raise awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses,” Hein said. “Those recognized today represent the approximately 700 school bus drivers throughout Ulster County who have the important job of transporting children to school on a daily basis.”

In a ceremony at the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center on Friday, Deputy County Executive Robert Sudlow presented awards to Whittaker and three others for their safety efforts.

Deputy Sheriff Deborah Prusack received the Charles Schaller Award, recognizing her service and dedication to Ulster County and traffic safety.

Linda Leskody and Edward Wakeley, both of Arthur F. Mulligan Inc., received certificates from the Mid-Hudson Transportation Supervisors Association for outstanding bus driving performance. Leskody drives in the Rondout Valley Central School District, and Wakeley drives in the Kingston City School District. They each have more than 20 years of school bus driving experience.