Teen Honored for Helping Save Choking Student While on School Bus
Fla. Driver Honored for Saving Student Choking While on School Bus
Tanya Rivenburg, a four-year bus driver for Levy County School District, performs CPR on the student who was choking on a piece of candy.

Gary Masters, Levy County (Fla.) School District’s transportation director, presented bus driver Tanya Rivenburg with the Levy Impact Award for her quick response in saving a student who was choking while on her bus.
Photo courtesy Levy County School District
A school bus driver for Levy County (Fla.) School District was recognized for her quick response in saving a student who was choking while on her bus last month.
Tanya Rivenburg was driving her regular morning route on Oct. 22 when she heard a student from the back of her bus yell that another student was choking, Gary Masters, Levy County School District’s transportation director, told the district’s board during its meeting on Oct. 27 (his remarks begin at 9:20). The student was apparently choking on a piece of candy, according to a post on Levy County School District’s Facebook page.
Rivenburg told WCJB that the 7-year-old student was not breathing and was blue when she saw him. She added that after several failed attempts to get him breathing, she was able to perform CPR before emergency personnel arrived to the scene. She also said that saving a student’s life was something she never thought she would have to do in her four years of bus driving.
During the board meeting, Masters presented Rivenburg with the Levy Impact Award. He also thanked her for her quick response in securing the bus and keeping students safe.
“What I did that day is nothing any of our other drivers wouldn’t do,” Rivenburg told the board. “We’ve all had excellent training; we’re like a family out there… I love my kids, each and every one of them.”
As for the student who she saved, Rivenburg told WCJB that he is “happy and healthy and back to riding the school bus again.”
View a statement from Levy Couty School District, posted on the district's Facebook page, below.
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

