Winners Named in School Bus Driver International Safety Competition

Oregon, Washington, and Texas drivers take the top spots in the small bus, conventional bus, and transit categories.

July 18, 2016

Winners Named in School Bus Driver International Safety Competition — Kristina Raley from Vidor (Texas) Independent School District took the top spot in the Conventional Bus category of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. Photo courtesy NSTA

2 min to read

Kristina Raley from Vidor (Texas) Independent School District took the top spot in the Conventional Bus category of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. Photo courtesy NSTA

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Exceptional drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showed off their knowledge and skills in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition this weekend.

The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) hosted the 46th edition of the competition at Thomas Built Buses Inc. in High Point.

The contestants began on Saturday with a written exam testing their understanding of the rules of the road. On Sunday, they got behind the wheel of a school bus and completed a road course. Drivers competed in one of three categories: conventional, small bus, or transit.

"This great event showcases excellence in school bus knowledge, maneuvering and skill. School bus transportation is the safest mode of transportation available and these elite drivers are truly the best of the best. We congratulate all of the competitors in this international competition as well as the winners in each vehicle category," said NSTA President Todd Monteferrario.

Here are the top contestants:

Small Bus
1st — Virginia Smythe, Greater Albany Public Schools, Oregon
2nd — Geoffrey Roan, Educational Bus Transportation, New York
3rd — Gloria Flor, Crosby-Ironton Transportation, Minnesota
Honorable Mention — Claudia Christen, Prairie Bus Lines, Alberta, Canada

Conventional Bus
1st — Kristina Raley, Vidor Independent School District, Texas
2nd — Michelle Derryberry, Marysville Joint Unified School District, California
3rd — Larry Hannon Sr., Centennial School District, Pennsylvania
Honorable Mention — John Labus, Cabell County Schools, West Virginia

Transit Bus
1st — Mark Miller, Bellingham Public Schools, Washington
2nd — Delene Lewis, Allen Independent School District, Texas
3rd — Joey Goodpaster, Cabell County Schools, West Virginia
Honorable Mention — Derek Bosserman, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, California

The National School Transportation Association hosted the 46th edition of the competition at Thomas Built Buses Inc. in High Point, North Carolina. Photo courtesy NSTA

The School Bus Driver International Safety Competition was held in conjunction with NSTA's 52nd Annual Meeting and Convention, which began on Sunday and continues through Wednesday.

Topics:NSTA Oregon safety competition Texas Washington Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.