• Age: 38

• Role: First Alt, Sr. Director

• Employer: First Student 

• Location: Houston, TX

One company serving students with special needs and those experiencing homelessness is First Alt, and one of the faces behind that work is Jessica Aquino, who came on at its inception.

When she joined the industry 13 years ago, she was ready to make a meaningful impact and help all students receive reliable access to education. What she loves most now is that her role blends logistics, problem-solving, and service to create real change.

“Being part of a team that helps students overcome transportation barriers and reach the education they deserve is deeply fulfilling,” she said.

One reason this issue is so personal is that she lost everything during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. When she was displaced from her home, it helped her realize how hard it was for her, even as an adult with a solid support system in place. She became further fueled by imagining what it would feel like as a child trying to focus on school while also facing the challenge and insecurity of homelessness. 

Now, her days consist of solving transportation challenges for homeless and special needs students across the country.

“Beyond the day-to-day, I focus on the bigger picture,” she said, “How can we make student transportation more efficient, accessible, and sustainable?”

One of her biggest accomplishments was leading First Alt’s software development team as it built a driver app and back-end support technology. She still works closely with them to enhance the technology, collaborate on feature development, provide operational feedback, and ensure the platform meets expectations.

As new drivers are onboarded, they needed a simple user interface to be able to upload the required First Alt, state and district required documents.  Parents also needed a way to track their students and be alerted to their status. And, First Student First Alt needed to be able to track the real-time location of drivers and students. After many late nights, early mornings, and years of tireless work, the solution was launched in November of 2022 and has since been awarded Forrester’s 2024 Technology Strategy Impact Award.

One of the most valuable lessons she’s learned is that everyone is fighting their own battles, and leading with empathy makes a difference. “Every day, we work with students and families navigating difficult situations,” she said. “The interactions we have with these families and their students has reinforced the value of listening, understanding, and finding solutions that truly meet people where they are. At its core, special needs student transportation is about more than just logistics; it’s about breaking down barriers and making a lasting difference.”

Her biggest piece of advice is to work with both patience and purpose. “The human side of this work matters most,” she said. “The students and families we serve rely on us … When you keep that at the center of everything you do, even the hardest days become worth it.”

Her hope for the future is threefold: 

1. That every student — regardless of their circumstances — has safe, reliable access to school. 

2. That technology will play a key role in shaping the future of student transportation: Smarter routing, real-time data, and better integration with school systems while also investing in driver training, support, and workforce sustainability, and

3. For student transportation to be recognized not just as a necessity, but as a critical part of the educational experience. 

“By combining innovation and a people-first mindset, we can build a system that works for every student, no matter their situation,” she said.