School transportation doesn’t follow a single path, and neither do the women featured here. Each of them was selected to spotlight during Women’s History Month (held every March) not just for the roles they hold, but for the care, thoughtfulness, and commitment they bring to their work every day, in ways that don’t always get the spotlight. 

Finding women to highlight has never been the hard part. Choosing just a few? That’s the real challenge. Women across school transportation have long been leading, innovating, and supporting their teams, even when their contributions weren’t always widely recognized.  

The voices shared here represent just a small snapshot of leading women, offering insight into their experiences and lessons shaping the industry today. Here are their stories (in part). 

Cherie Hime 

Executive Director, Wisconsin School Bus Association; Executive Director, Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association, Wisconsin 

Hime’s career in transportation leadership has been shaped by curiosity and a deep respect for the people doing the work. She began her association career in 1995 at the Wisconsin Trucking Association, where she supported multiple divisions and learned firsthand what it takes to run a successful organization under strong, transparent leadership. After nearly two decades, she transitioned to the Wisconsin School Bus Association in 2014, stepping into the role of executive director with a clear understanding of both operations and people. 

Her leadership style is grounded in listening and clarity. “One of the best leadership lessons is active listening,” Hime said. “Whether in personal or professional life, active listening shows you care and are open to hearing information that often provides new ideas or improvement with current processes and procedures.”  

She also emphasizes the importance of slowing down when needed — making sure expectations are aligned before moving forward. 

As a woman in the industry, Hime has watched more women enter school transportation roles and finds motivation in the shared commitment she sees across the workforce. “Those I meet truly care about the kids and understand the importance of the work they are doing,” she said. 

That care became especially evident during COVID-19, which she described as the biggest challenge of her career. During the shutdown, school buses became lifelines through delivering meals and internet access, reinforcing, once again, the essential role school transportation plays in communities. 

Judith Crawford 

Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Mobility, Rhode Island 

Crawford didn’t grow up imagining a career in school transportation, and that’s part of what gives her leadership perspective its depth. Raised in Scotland, where school transportation looks very different, Crawford’s career initially unfolded across people-centered industries like hospitality and accountancy. The common thread, she said, was always the same: take care of people, and everything else follows. 

She eventually found her way into school transportation “almost the way you find an unexpected shortcut — you weren’t planning on it, but suddenly it makes perfect sense.”  

What keeps her there, more than 15 years later, is purpose. “We’re not just moving buses; we’re moving people,” Crawford said. “We provide mobility without limits; we transport people to live, learn, and achieve.” 

As a leader, Crawford prioritizes consistency, listening, and humanity. “People first, always,” she said. “If folks feel seen, supported, and respected, they’ll do extraordinary things.”  

She’s also candid about navigating an industry where women are often still the exception. “Being a woman in this industry has been a little like being the only person at the party who brought snacks,” she said. “You stand out at first, but eventually everyone’s just glad you’re here.” 

That experience has shaped her commitment to inclusive leadership. “Representation matters,” Crawford said. “People notice when someone who looks like them makes it to a leadership seat — and it inspires them to think, ‘Maybe I can do that too.’”  

Through grit, mentorship, and a clear sense of purpose, she continues to lead with both speed and grace, even when the work feels like “changing a tire while the bus is still moving.” 

Malinda Sandhu 

Business Development Partner, Malinda Sandhu Innovation Partners 

For Sandhu, leadership, advocacy, and strategic growth have always gone hand in hand. Her decision to co-found Women Accelerating School Bus Electrification (WASBE) was sparked by an industry article calling out “manels” (male-only panels) in school transportation and highlighting women, particularly women of color, as subject-matter experts. Sandhu was on that list, and the experience reinforced what she had long observed firsthand. 

“The lack of representation was never due to a lack of talent,” Sandhu said. “There was a lack of visibility and promotion of women in the industry and their expertise.”  

That realization became the foundation for WASBE, a platform designed to elevate voices, expand networks, and bring women’s expertise into spaces where it had too often been overlooked. 

WASBE quickly became a space for connection and confidence-building. By creating opportunities for women to share their experiences, Sandhu and the WASBE cofounders have helped normalize leadership and open doors to speaking roles, webinars, and conference panels. “We are actively bringing out the table that continues to be hidden from women,” she said. 

Sandhu’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in connection and adaptability. Managing massive territories early in her career and attending 20 to 30 conferences annually taught her how to build trusted long-term relationships across diverse stakeholders and align people who don’t normally sit at the same table. “Relationship-building isn’t a soft skill,” she said. “The ability to walk into unfamiliar environments, engage school district leadership, law enforcement, utilities, elected officials, and executives, and align those perspectives toward a common goal has consistently positioned me for leadership roles.” 

Unexpected career disruptions further shaped Sandhu’s approach to resilience and ownership. “My role may change, but my value travels with me,” she said. That mindset led her to formalize Malinda Sandhu Innovation Partners, an intentional step toward focusing on the work she does best and helping others do the same.  

“Bringing a fresh new outlook to the industry allowed me to break molds, take creative approaches, and go places others didn’t,” Sandhu added. 

Today, she continues to advise, coach, and connect leaders across borders and organizations, turning experience into opportunity for the industry and for the leaders coming next. 

Susan Shutrump 

Consultant; Retired OT/PT Supervisor, Trumbull County Educational Service Center, Ohio 

Shutrump’s path into school transportation leadership began with a single phone call and a willingness to act on what she learned. Early in her career as an occupational and physical therapy supervisor, a parent raised concerns about unsafe transportation practices for her child with disabilities. That moment prompted Shutrump to dive into research and best practices surrounding student transportation safety. 

Her review of studies from the University of Michigan, Riley Hospital for Children, and other researchers ignited a passion to improve how students with disabilities are transported. The result was a significant change: Trumbull County Educational Service Center buses were retrofitted with forward-facing wheelchair securement systems, and Shutrump’s role expanded to serve as a liaison between transportation and special education teams. 

Through that work, Shutrump gained a deep appreciation for the complexity of school transportation and the expertise required to do it safely. “I have learned firsthand just how demanding and complex the roles of school bus drivers and attendants truly are,” she said, noting the vigilance, compassion, and judgment required in a high-risk environment. 

Leadership, in her view, is inseparable from collaboration. Developing individualized transportation plans reinforced the idea that safe outcomes occur only when disciplines work together. “Safe, successful outcomes only happen when a committed, multidisciplinary team works together, each contributing their specialized knowledge,” Shutrump said. 

As a woman entering transportation through a non-traditional path, Shutrump leaned heavily on mentorship and shared learning. Early on, she benefited from mentors who were pioneers in the field and who helped her navigate an industry where women were underrepresented in leadership roles. Those experiences cemented her belief that progress comes from respect, listening, and ensuring every stakeholder has a voice, especially when student safety is at stake. 

Advice for Other Aspiring Women in School Transportation 

• Cherie Hime: This industry “bleeds yellow,” and it is infectious. Showing care, concern, and initiative will help any woman advance. Be a lifetime learner and always ask questions, not only to understand why, but also to be better informed. 
• Judith Crawford: Don’t wait to be “ready.” If you’re 60% ready, go for it. The rest comes with doing. Use your voice, even if it shakes at first. This industry needs leaders who bring empathy, clarity, and common sense. Women bring all three in spades. 
• Malinda Sandhu: Seek out mentors, communities, and peers — both inside your organization and across the industry — who challenge you, support your ambition, and aren’t threatened by it. Strong careers are rarely built alone, and the right support system accelerates both confidence and opportunity. 
• Susan Shutrump: Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek clarity. Safe transportation plans cannot be developed while working in silos. I would also encourage women to seek mentors and to understand how vital it is to learn from people with different backgrounds and perspectives. Most importantly, believe that your voice and perspective matter. 

Women Leading the Way Forward 

Taken together, these stories feel less like interviews and more like conversations about what it really takes to build a career in school transportation, especially in an industry where leadership hasn’t always reflected the workforce. One theme came up again and again: real progress starts when people feel supported and genuinely valued. 

Gender disparities don’t fade just because we acknowledge them. Shifts happen when leaders listen, when lived experience shapes decisions, and when organizations create real opportunities to grow. When different perspectives are welcomed, policies make more sense, communication gets easier, and trust has room to grow. 

Women’s History Month is a perfect reminder that change doesn’t happen all at once. Really, it happens through people willing to show up and help open doors for others. At its core, school transportation has always been about people, so when leadership reflects the communities it serves, the industry moves forward with more dignity and shared progress.