School Bus Driver Accused of Letting Students Drive Bus
Joandrea McAtee of Indiana is apparently seen on video letting a student drive her bus, and parents tell the school district she let students take turns driving. She is fired and arrested for felony neglect.
VALPARAISO, Ind. — A school bus driver here has been fired and was arrested on Friday for allegedly letting three students drive her bus, police said.
A video posted on Twitter on Friday by @_caseyweber shows the driver, who the Porter County Sheriff’s Department identified as Joandrea McAtee, appearing to advise a child who is sitting in the driver’s seat and appears to be steering the school bus, to put her foot on the brake, CBS Chicago reports. In that video, McAtee also appears to tell students not to “tell other adults about this.”
In another video, also posted on the social media site by @breelavin24, McAtee allegedly says that she is letting a student, who appears to be steering the bus, “stop at Michael’s stop.”
In a letter from the Porter Township School Corp. to parents, the district said that it was made aware of the incident on Thursday, according to CBS Chicago. Parents at Boone Grove High School told a school resource officer that McAtee was letting students take turns driving the bus on the way home from school. After learning of the alleged incidents, the school district and police began an investigation, and the district and school bus company terminated McAtee’s employment.
The Porter County Sheriff’s Department said that McAtee had allegedly allowed three students — who were 11, 13, and 17 years old — to drive the bus down part of a street in rural Valparaiso while other students were on board, CBS Chicago reports.
The Sheriff’s Department also said that McAtee was arrested on Friday at the Porter Township bus barn when she went to collect her paycheck, according to NBC News. She was charged with neglect of a dependent, which is a felony charge, according to the news source.
Watch one of the videos posted on Twitter of one of the alleged incidents below.
Wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, Boone grove bus driver let’s a middle schooler drive, middle schooler drive. pic.twitter.com/IdF4zRkhRG
— Casey✨ (@_caseyweber) September 21, 2018
More Safety

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
