SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Honorees include special-needs transportation expert Kala Henkensiefken and school bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 9, 2015
NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools won NAPT’s Special Needs Transportation Award. She is seen here with Bud Fears (left) of Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, the award sponsor, and Minnesota state director Brian Reu, who nominated Henkensiefken.

1 min to read


RICHMOND, Virginia — Honors for heroism, training efforts and leadership have been handed out during the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit here over the past few days.

Here are the NAPT 2015 award winners:

Ad Loading...

The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, went to Bryan Johnson of Howard County Public Schools in Maryland and Rhonda Watson of the School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties in South Carolina.

The Special Needs Transportation Award, sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, went to Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools.

Winning the School Bus Driver Training Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was Mark Lindstrom of Marietta (Ga.) City Schools.

The Heroism Award, sponsored by Blue Bird Corp., went to Macon County (N.C.) Schools bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting in June.

The NAPT awards committee is composed of Theresa Anderson, chair; Jerry Milliken, co-chair; Marisa Weisinger; and Chris Ellison.

Ad Loading...

Other awards presented during the Summit included School Bus Fleet’s Administrator of the Year honor, which went to Pam McDonald of Orange (Calif.) Unified School District.

Also, Charmane White of Albemarle County (Va.) Public Schools won STN's Leadership Award.

More Management

Laptop displaying HopSkipDrive RouteWise AI transportation analytics dashboard with charts and routing performance data for school district operations.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 13, 2026

What Happens When AI Rebuilds a School Bus Route

A look at how HopSkipDrive's Routewise AI tool has helped stretch district transportation budgets and get students more classroom time.

Read More →
Attendees gather across the ACT Expo opening reception and exhibit hall featuring major commercial vehicle and electrification brands.
Managementby Amanda HuggettMay 12, 2026

Clean & New School Bus Technology on Display: ACT Expo 2026 Highlights in Photos

ACT Expo 2026 showcased the latest innovations in electric school buses, fleet charging, AI, V2G technology, diagnostics, and clean transportation. Check out the highlights from Blue Bird, IC Bus, Thomas Built Buses, RIDE, Cummins, Geotab, and more.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Dawnett Wright and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Dawnett Wright's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 11, 2026

She Left the Air Force, But Never Left the Idea of Service

Dawnett Wright found a second calling in student transportation, one rooted in flexibility, family, and service. See how that mission still drives her in this National Military Appreciation Month profile.

Read More →
School transportation employees wearing high-visibility safety jackets pose in offices and near school buses as part of a driver safety recognition program.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 7, 2026

Wrapped in Appreciation: Contractor Awards Custom Jackets for Commitment to Safety

Summit School Services recognized more than 5,500 drivers and monitors with safety awards after meeting accident- and injury-free performance standards over the past three years.

Read More →
A bus lot of Leander ISD school buses.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

Leander ISD Saves $1M Through Route Optimization

Leander ISD identified more than $1 million in projected annual savings after using AlphaRoute to optimize bus routes without changing schedules or stops.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
OSHA compliance training materials for school bus technicians and drivers, including manuals, USB drive, certificate, and laptop displaying course content.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

The School Bus Safety Company Updates OSHA Compliance Course

The updated training course offers school bus operations a structured program covering 29 safety standards for technicians and drivers.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Thomas Gray and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Thomas Gray's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 4, 2026

What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?

See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.

Read More →
Close-up of fuel pump nozzles at a gas station, representing rising diesel costs and fuel management challenges for school bus fleets.

Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools

With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
zonar system image
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026

Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.

Read More →