In October 2012, SBF spent a day at Tennessee’s Shelby County Schools to see how Director of Transportation Debbie Rike steers her exemplary operation toward success. Here’s a variety of shots from the day. To read the feature article, go here. Photos by SBF Executive Editor Thomas McMahon.
Inside an ‘Elite Fleet’: Shelby County Schools
As Shelby County Schools bus drivers return from their morning runs, they are greeted with treats — chicken biscuits and pastries — for achieving an accident-free September. Director of Transportation Debbie Rike is second from right. Transportation Supervisor Michelle Beasley is second from left.
Rike, Beasley and Veronica Norfleet (far right, a transportation supervisor) hold a meeting with a group of new drivers.
Rike meets with Tonya Foster, one of the district’s routers, to review bus counts and updates to routes.
Cam Alexander is Shadowlawn Middle School’s assistant principal and transportation coordinator.
Rike talks with school bus driver Curby White outside of Shadowlawn Middle School.
Before becoming the chief of operations for Shelby County Schools, Simpson was the director of transportation for the district for about 19 years.
A Shelby County Schools driver had a puzzle — showing a school bus in an autumn landscape — made for Rike. The puzzle is framed and hangs on the wall in Rike’s office.
Members of the transportation office staff, from left: Stacy Francis, dispatcher; Rebecca Yarbrough, receptionist; and Willie Barnes, CDL/safety specialist.
Rike talks with Elissa Stratton, assistant principal at Southwind Elementary. Stratton is wearing a T-shirt for the school’s Rough Riders program, in which teachers volunteer their time after school to ride the buses, making sure the kids get in their assigned seats and maintain good behavior.
Southwind Elementary teachers who serve in the Rough Riders program get perks like having a reserved parking spot in front of the school.
Third-grade teacher Brianna Gould keeps bus passengers on their best behavior as part of the Rough Riders program.
Driver Fred Knox checks his bus for students after a run.
In the garage, Rike talks with Mechanic Foreman Ken Mauney about a GPS system issue. Rike is a longtime Shelby County Schools educator and administrator who began serving as director of transportation about three years ago.
Shelby County Schools has four bus lots, with a total fleet of 304 buses.
At Shadowlawn Middle School, the staff holds an appreciation event with food, goodie bags and T-shirts for the bus drivers as part of School Bus Safety Week.
A loaded bus leaves Shadowlawn Middle School.
Rike and Mike Simpson, chief of operations for Shelby County Schools, meet over the phone with Larry Riggsbee, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Pupil Transportation.
Norfleet has worked for Shelby County Schools for about 20 years. Before joining the transportation department, she served as a teacher and as an assistant principal.
Rike speaks proudly of the staff at her operation, which she has dubbed “The Elite Fleet” — as noted in this sign in the main transportation office.
Beasley has been with Shelby County Schools since 1978. She has taught special education and has served as an assistant principal. She joined the transportation department 13 years ago.