Know an Outstanding School Bus Driver? We Want to Hear About Them!

Recognizing the extraordinary acts of the everyday heroes among us, the School Bus Driver Hero Award is an annual prestigious program that recognizes school bus drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to help others and keep our nation’s children safe. Whether they demonstrate courage and integrity during a crisis or their everyday actions inspire trust and hope, these drivers embody the dedication and compassion that make a lasting difference for the schools they serve and the students they transport.

This 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award program is brought to you by School Bus Fleet and AngelTrax, an advocate for child safety.

Who is Eligible?

Any school bus driver residing in North America who has been actively employed by a school district or contracting company for at least one year is eligible for nomination. A CDL is not required.

We’re looking for a compelling nomination that demonstrates the nominee’s impact, commitment to safety, everyday heroism, and courage in the face of adversity.

Winner’s Package

One inspirational driver hero will be recognized in the September 2026 print issue of School Bus Fleet with a story and photo, profiled in a story on schoolbusfleet.com, and celebrated at 2026 School Bus Fleet ConneX (SBFX) September 21-23, 2026, (in which the driver’s district or contractor administrator is invited to attend in Scottsdale, Arizona, at no cost), where they will be presented with a plaque.

The selected winner, nominator, and winner’s supervisor will be notified by mid-July 2026.

How to Nominate

To submit a nomination, fill out the form below. Nominations can be made by a driver’s supervisor. Self-nominations and submissions from co-workers are allowed, but the nominee’s supervisor must be informed.

Tips for a Compelling Nomination

• Start early and take your time filling out the nomination form. Present a compelling narrative about the nominee.
• Share their professional journey: Beyond personality traits (although we want to know those, too!), describe how they show up every day, how they work with others, inspire their students and colleagues, and go above and beyond. Include testimonials from parents, administrators, or peers if you can.
• Showcase community and industry impact: Tell us about involvement or positions in any associations, conferences, boards, committees, clubs, or regional groups they participate in.
• Include attachments: Photos, documentation, and letters of recommendation are not required but do strengthen nomination quality. Share news stories or district website posts where they’ve been featured. 
• Be detailed and be specific. The more you can share, the better!

Note: Multiple nominations for the same person are allowed, but quantity of nominations per person will have no bearing on the decision. The selection process assesses the individual strength and story of each nominee. We prefer one comprehensive submission for each nominee! 

For more information and questions, please email SBF Executive Editor Amanda Huggett at amanda.huggett@bobit.com.

The School Bus Driver Hero Award name, logo, brand, and all associated branding materials are legally owned and operated by Bobit Business Media Inc., and Bobit's wholly owned School Bus Fleet brand.  Permission for any commercial use must be obtained in writing by Bobit Business Media Inc. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.