If you don’t know already, on May 30, 2014, Seon completed a month long school bus driver contest. To enter, drivers sent Seon’s Facebook page a message. In the message they included a photo of themselves at their school bus, and told us 1. How they prevent bullying on the school bus, and 2. Why they love their job. Then we added the entries to a Seon Facebook Album called, “School Bus Drivers Preventing Bullying.” We had 19 entries, all of which were unique, thoughtful, and inspiring. The competition was tough, but when we received Leslie Taggart’s entry (school bus driver for 10 years at Centralia School District in Washington), we knew we had found our winner.
Leslie’s photo showed her school bus filled with student passengers, and more students and herself crowded in front of the bus holding posters reading, “On our bus…we are equal.” The looks of pride on Leslie and the children’s’ faces were priceless. And then there was her response to our questions. This is part of what Leslie wrote us:
“My kids know that no matter WHO they are, on my bus everyone is equal. NO ONE is any better than anyone else, and they move over for kids to sit with them who are strangers; it’s just like a family on my bus. I run a very full bus between 72—78 children daily, and everyone gets along.
I love being a school bus driver because I get a chance to help teach kids how to “cope.” School nowadays is more of a life lesson than anything. I teach them how to cope with disappointment, heart break, friends, and how to have an overall outlook on life that everyone will always have an opinion on how THEY think YOUR life SHOULD be, but… it’s up to YOU on how you let their opinions affect YOU.”
Read Leslie’s full entry in the Facebook Album!
Before the contest started, Leslie was recognized at Centralia SD for her outstanding job and involvement with the students. “I challenged kids on my bus to do three random acts of kindness to people that they do not know. 66 out of the 78 children participated and spread positivity and good spirit to others in the community and in their school. I was very proud of them.”
Leslie heard about Seon’s Facebook contest, and wanted to spread her message to the public and raise awareness about bullying and other issues both on and off the school bus. She never imagined she would be the winner, and was shocked to hear the news. I had the opportunity to congratulate Leslie over the phone.
“When I found out that I had won the contest, the kids were loading onto the school bus. I let out a very loud squeal,” she laughed. “Right away the kids asked me what happened, as I gave them quite the startle! I let them know I won Seon’s contest, and they all screamed in excitement for me, themselves, and our school bus. It was definitely a moment I will always remember.”
Leslie reflected on when she started driving her current route and the issues that were present. “When I first took over the route it was infused with a lot of gang affiliated kids, and I worked daily to curb it. I would end my day frustrated, cleaning graffiti on the seats only to have them written on again the next day,” she explained. “One day, I pulled over and had a serious discussion with my kids, explaining that if they had the urge to write bad words on something, write on their jeans, or back packs, or their foreheads…better yet, go home and write on their parents’ couch and see how they would like it. I said that I expected the writing to stop. That speech was seven years ago, and my seats have been graffiti free ever since. I think the point was made.”
Another way Leslie spreads words of encouragement and positivity to her student passengers is by making post cards and flyers for the kids. “I share inspiring words that I feel will challenge them— I treat the kids like family. I do not segregate the children by age or grade. I believe this mentality creates a sense of bullying. For example, an older child could exclaim, “You’re too little, you can’t sit here.” I treat everyone equal on the bus — like the posters in my entry photo show. It was a lot of hard work in the beginning, but I reap the benefits of a bus-family now.”
Leslie will receive $200 for herself as a gift of appreciation from Seon. The transportation department at Centralia SD will receive $500 for driver training. Her submitted photo is now Seon’s Facebook Cover Photo for the month of June. She will also receive a Seon anti-bullying medal, pin, personalized anti-bullying certificate, and 2 of The Bully Project Educator’s DVD and Toolkits.
“I am very excited to receive The Bully Project DVD Kits. I have watched the movie, Bully, and have suggested for our school to play it at an assembly to educate and create awareness about bullying. Now that we are receiving two of the kits, I will pass one onto the school, and keep one with the transportation department so that we can go ahead with bus driver and transportation training — the school can also decide on a way to show the film to staff and students.”
Reading and viewing Leslie’s entry, communicating with her over Facebook, and having the chance to speak to her over the phone has been a tremendous privilege for me. Hearing her encouraging words, grateful attitude, and positive outlook on life is something that I won’t forget. It is a reward for me to share Leslie’s story, and commend her in the difference that she makes in the lives of her students. Seon is proud to announce and award Leslie as an anti-bullying advocate.
With that, let’s part with more inspirational words from Leslie Taggart:
“The words on the flyers for my children come from my heart. I am so proud of my kids, I just can’t tell you how much. You can be anything you want to be. Hard work, honesty, dedication, and integrity are all you really need to succeed.”
Tia O’Grady | Marketing Coordinator
tia.ogrady@seon.com
