• Age: 36

• Role: Cost Clerk 

• District: New Hanover County Schools 

• Location: Wilmington, NC

Following her mother’s example, Latisha McIntyre Johnson wanted a job that followed her daughter's schedule. Looking forward to a steady paycheck and unmatched benefits, she too started driving a school bus just like her own mom did.

She loved the ability to send her children to any school in the district. She picked the most family-oriented and PTA-driven school her district had to offer. She calls being close to her kids and building relationships with the administration the biggest blessing. 

With her daughter in college now, she only transports her son to the bus garage each morning. Then, she enters bus data from the previous day into the state’s system, places orders for the department, prepares reports on costs and efficiency rates, identifies deficiencies, and serves as a substitute driver when needed. She also serves on a few social and administrative committees. 

“I make it a point to have lunch in the lounge area with the school bus drivers,” she said. “I do this because I want them to understand that although I am a part of the administrative staff, I’m still a part of the team and a driver at heart. And that I’m here to support, listen, and advocate for their concerns.”

McIntyre Johnson recognizes that there’s much more to school bus operations than most realize. Even as a driver and monitor, she felt like she didn’t fully understand what went on behind the scenes. 

“I looked at transportation superficially,” she said. “It wasn’t until I became the cost clerk that I realized everyone in the transportation department played an intricate role in what is truly a puzzle. We can’t complete one without the help of another. We are a team, and our success is based on how well we work together.”

It is this team spirit that her award nominator referenced, too. Debbie Trafton, the district’s transportation director, noted McIntyre Johnson’s ways of contributing to school bus operations while bringing staff together. “Because she still drives a bus while working as a cost clerk, she's able to reach out to almost everyone,” Trafton said. “In her many roles, she helps mechanics order supplies, create contracts for vendors, welcomes new hires, recruits through her social media page, and most importantly, continues to support students by jumping on a bus whenever needed. Her spirit embodies school bus transportation and the pride she takes in her work is contagious.”

To others seeking to join student transportation, McIntyre Johnson says first get in, then start investing in your future from day one. For her, this means contributing the maximum to retirement, saving, and only using sick days and annual leave time when absolutely needed.

And if you’re curious about another role, start working toward obtaining the knowledge needed for that job. “For example, I had always been privy to numbers,” she said. “I’ve been a math whiz all my life. I originally had my eye set on a school treasury or central office position in finance. I went back to school and obtained my associate’s degree and later my bachelor’s degree. It just so happened a finance-based job came open in transportation. I was able to stay in my department and continue to enjoy the flexibility the department grants while doing a job I love!”

She hopes to see transportation continue to innovatively grow through collaboration, data collection, and use of technology. Then, “we can continue to make transporting our most precious cargo a safe and enjoyable experience.”