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・Executive 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.

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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:

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.

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.

Topics:conferences driver training heroism NAPT Special Needs Transportation Safety Management

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