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.

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

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.
More Safety

School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →
Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights
New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.
Read More →
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →

