Editor’s Note:Professional development can take many forms in school transportation, and state associations can be a valuable place to find it. After seeing Fanchon Hines share her experience at the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation’s (TAPT) Emerging Leaders Forum, we asked her to tell us more. In her own words, she shares the lessons that challenged her to think differently about leadership and what she’s bringing back to her team.

I became involved in TAPT leadership development opportunities, including the TAPT Leadership Development Forum, because I want to continue growing in my role and become the most effective leader I can be. I have specific goals I want to attain within school transportation, and opportunities like TAPT help prepare me for that growth.

This was my first time participating in the TAPT Leadership Development Forum. I have taken TAPT courses before, but this forum was a new experience. The instructors included TAPT executive leaders and course instructors from throughout the organization, many with years of experience in school transportation. Hearing perspectives from retired transportation professionals and leaders from neighboring districts across Texas made the experience especially valuable.

Here’s what I learned.

Leadership Starts With Self-Awareness

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was gaining a deeper understanding of what leadership really is. Leadership is not simply a position; it is a function that requires action, an attitude, and a sense of responsibility for making a difference. Leadership is also not a one-person effort. It is the business of everyone within an organization. As a leader, my responsibility is to help others want to contribute and see the success of the organization — in my case, our school district.

Several topics from the forum made me stop and reflect, particularly around self-awareness and emotional intelligence. One statement that resonated with me was that we often judge others by their actions, but ourselves by our intentions. It is often easier to seek grace for ourselves than to extend it to others.

Another powerful concept was that impact matters more than intent. While intent matters, it does not erase the impact our words or actions may have on others. As a leader, that challenged me to think beyond what I meant and consider how my words, actions, and reactions are experienced by the people I lead.

We also discussed how the story we create in our own heads is not always the truth. We all have different perspectives and process situations differently. That reminded me to pause, ask questions, and seek understanding before concluding.

One statement that particularly stuck with me was, “If you’re defensive, there’s usually something to learn.” Instead of immediately asking, “Why are they saying this?” I want to be more intentional about asking myself, “Is there validity to what they are saying? Is there something they are seeing that I need to see?”

That kind of self-awareness is essential to growth.

These lessons also made me reflect on how I respond to stressful situations. School transportation requires flexibility and adaptability, and every day can bring unexpected challenges. I want to become more aware of when I am becoming overly focused or reactive. Sometimes we become so wrapped up in what we are trying to accomplish that we forget to be present — or forget that other people are present. I want to be intentional about pausing, assessing what is within my control, prioritizing what needs to happen, and working through one thing at a time.

My goal is not to eliminate stress because that is not realistic in transportation. My goal is to make sure my response to stress helps rather than adds to the situation. Being able to remain steady when things around you are moving quickly can provide stability for your team.

Setting Standards and Holding Yourself Accountable

Accountability and standards were another area that stood out to me. The ideas that “you get the behavior you tolerate” and “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept” made me think about leadership, compliance, and morale.

As leaders, we have to ask ourselves: What are we allowing? What are we reinforcing? And how can we shift the mindset of the people we lead? Ultimately, that starts with us.

For me, accountability means addressing things that should not be tolerated while also understanding that accountability benefits the entire team. I also must hold myself accountable. Humility means being willing to acknowledge when I have made a mistake or when something I said or did was not received the way I intended. Leadership is not just about what I intend; it is also about the impact I have on the people I lead.

Why Investing in Leadership Development Matters

I value leading alongside my team. I believe leaders must be willing to get away from the desk and do the hard work with their teams when they can. That builds relationships, camaraderie, and trust. When your team sees that you are willing to work alongside them, they are more willing to follow your lead.

That is ultimately why I value leadership development opportunities like those offered through TAPT. They allow you to step outside of your day-to-day responsibilities, learn from experienced professionals, reflect on your own leadership, and return with a different perspective. I have specific goals I want to attain within school transportation, and I see professional development as an investment in getting there.

I would absolutely recommend TAPT and other leadership development opportunities to anyone who has not participated. If you are interested in growing, developing, and improving, and you have goals you want to achieve within school transportation — particularly if you are interested in leadership — you must be willing to invest in yourself.

This forum was impactful because it reminded me that leadership is a continual process of learning, self-reflection, and growth. The best leaders remain willing to evaluate themselves, accept accountability, listen to feedback, learn from others, and continue improving — not just for themselves, but for the people and organization they serve.

As a leader, I am always conscious of the environment I create in my office and, more broadly, within my team. I often ask myself, What does it feel like when someone approaches me? More importantly, how do they feel when they leave? Am I approachable? Do they feel heard, respected, and valued, or do they feel like I was too busy to give them a moment? Those things matter to me.

Leadership is not only about getting the work done; it is also about how people experience you while you are doing it. If I want people to feel supported, respected, and willing to come to me, then I have to intentionally create that environment. That, to me, is part of leading by example.

About the Author: Fanchon Hines is a transportation operations supervisor at Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Texas, one of the largest school districts in the U.S.