GREENVILLE, S.C. — Students and parents alike were surprised to see who was driving a school bus here on Wednesday: Santa Claus.

The St. Nick doppelganger was actually Carroll Bailey, who has served as a school bus driver for Greenville County Schools for five years. The white-bearded Bailey donned a Santa suit to spread Christmas cheer and hand out holiday treats as he delivered kids to school.

Bailey said he enjoyed seeing faces light up throughout his school bus route.

“Every student who got on the bus today had a smile on their face, and they were laughing about seeing Santa drive the bus,” he said, adding that parents and other drivers also got a kick when they spotted St. Nick.

Michelle Parham, Bailey’s supervisor, said that he even brought joy to the Greenville County Schools transportation department.

“In our day-to-day duties, we tend to forget the sweet innocence of what it was like being a child,” Parham said. “It was a joy to see coworkers laughing and giggling because Santa was in the building. Hearing him tell me how much in awe his students were makes my heart happy. All he did was wear a costume, but in those children’s eyes it was so much more!”

Here’s a clip of Santa the school bus driver (aka Carroll Bailey) at the wheel:

Coincidentally, School Bus Fleet’s December “BUSting Up” cartoon also depicts Santa driving a school bus.