Festive school bus wins award in Christmas parade
Humble (Texas) Independent School District adorned a bus with Christmas lights, reindeer antlers and other decorations for a local parade, and the team took home a top honor.
Humble ISD school bus drivers Nicole Pennetta (left) and Karen Ferris were key players in the district’s Christmas parade entry.
HUMBLE, Texas — A school bus adorned with Christmas lights, reindeer antlers and other decorations took home a top honor in a local Christmas parade last week.
Humble Independent School District (ISD) bus driver Nicole Pennetta came up with the idea to enter a yellow bus in the parade, and she organized efforts to decorate the bus. Another Humble ISD driver, Karen Ferris, dressed as Mrs. Claus and drove the bus in the parade.
For the Dec. 2 event, Humble ISD assembled more than 50 drivers, attendants, other staff members and kids to ride in and walk with the bus down Humble’s Main Street. Mark Swackhamer, the district’s assistant director of transportation, said that many students in the crowd cheered on the bus team.
Decorations on the school bus “float” included Christmas lights, reindeer antlers and giant snowflakes.
The festive school bus was apparently also popular with the parade’s judges: The Humble ISD transportation team won the motor vehicle float category. Swackhamer said that trophies will be presented at the Humble City Council meeting on Jan. 8.
Humble ISD, based about 20 miles north of Houston, transports approximately 11,000 students to and from 43 schools with a fleet of about 267 buses. The district’s buses cover more than 1.7 million miles per year.
More Management
EverDriven Launches Route Consolidation Calculator to Estimate Diesel Savings
As diesel prices hit record highs, the largest alternative transportation provider says a 10% route consolidation could save a 120-route district more than $78,000 a year in fuel alone.
Read More →
Zum Secures Continued Financing Support for School Bus Expansion
Generate Private Credit has financed approximately $75 million in school bus deployments across three states, supporting more than 500 buses as Zum expands across the county.
Read More →
Beyond Discipline: A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements. Here’s how it worked. The Route is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
A Dean of Transportation's Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements on the bus. Here’s how it worked.
Read More →
Inside NAPT ACTS 2026: Highlights from Louisville
From federal updates and student behavior strategies to new school bus technology and industry awards, see highlights from NAPT ACTS 2026 in Louisville.
Read More →
Meet the 2025 School Bus Driver Hero Winner: Annette Brown
We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!
Read More →
Predictability Is Like Ketchup (According to 6-Year-Olds)
To students, a different school bus can feel like a full-blown crisis. One driver reflects on why familiar routines, showing up on time, and being reliably boring matter more than we think.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Free Driver Rewards Program
The new Driver Perks program gives eligible professional drivers access to discounts and offers without adding a cost for participating fleets.
Read More →
How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses
Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.
Read More →
Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!
We’re searching for the next generation of leaders making an impact across the K-12 student transportation industry to recognize as SBF’s 2027 Trailblazers. Nominations are open now!
Read More →