School Bus Driver Honored on <I>Good Morning America</i> for Mother’s Day

PLANT CITY, Fla. — A school bus driver here was honored on Good Morning America with a special Mother's Day breakfast last week for her kindness towards students.

Terrie Campbell, who has been driving for Hillsborough County Public Schools for over two decades, won the news program's annual Mother’s Day “Breakfast in Bed” after being nominated by her sister, Margo Lewis. Lewis wrote in a letter to Good Morning America that Campbell’s “calling was now to take care of other kids” since her own children were old enough to attend school.

Lewis later told Campbell during the segment that she nominated her because she wanted the world to see how much she does for her students and how caring she is. Campbell was served breakfast in bed by Chef Emeril Lagasse and hotel and resort chain Hilton, which also awarded her an all-expenses paid vacation to Mexico.

Lewis told Good Morning America that Campbell often helps with various concerns her students might have, “whether it’s their hygiene, their clothes, their shoes, food.” One of Campbell’s students said during the segment that she is “like our extra mom to us.” Another student also recalled a time in which Campbell helped prevent her from being bullied.

Daphne Blanton, the principal for Marshall Middle School, told Good Morning America that by the time students arrive at school, “They’re already in a good mood because she’s laughing with them.” Blanton also said that Campbell cares about her students from “start to finish” and that she “goes above and beyond.”

Hillsborough County Public Schools congratulated and thanked Campbell in a post on the district's Facebook page. View the full post below, and watch the Good Morning America segment honoring Campbell here.