Cherokee School District Celebrates Bus Drivers

CANTON, GA -- On Tuesday, the Cherokee County School District's Transportation Department honored the hundreds of men and women who are responsible for driving the county's most precious cargo to and from their respective schools.

The district held its third annual Bus Driver Appreciation Week breakfast where 500 bus drivers, monitors, specialists, technicians and administrators were treated to breakfast provided by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at CCSD’s bus shops in Holly Springs and Woodstock.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Community Development Officer Janet Read -- also a former Cherokee County School Board member -- gave sponsor remarks, thanking bus drivers for their service. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower and Transportation Director Jim Georges also shared messages of appreciation.

School board members attended at both locations to show their appreciation (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

“Our school bus drivers carry the most precious of cargo, and they do so with great pride and professionalism,” Dr. Hightower said. “We value our school bus drivers and invest in continuous training to assist them in maintaining safety at all times. We hope that everyone in our community will join us in thanking school bus drivers for all they do to care for our children."

Everyone in attendance received a gift bag, with gifts provided by community partners, including Chick-fil-A restaurants of Cherokee County, Roly Poly in Towne Lake, Stars and Strikes Family Entertainment Center and Waffle House. Credit Union of Georgia and Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q provided door prizes.

CCSD bus drivers every day transport 29,000 students along routes totaling 20,000 miles. In addition to the district’s event, many CCSD schools and PTAs organized special activities to thank bus drivers for all that they do.

Photo 1: CCSD school bus driver Sonny Carmichael salutes the crowd with a wave of a celebratory muffin, as he is recognized for 52 years of service.

Photo 2: School Board Vice Chair Mike Chapman, center, and School Board member Patsy Jordan, herself a former school bus driver, right, talk with bus driver Louisa Vital before the breakfast.

Photo 3: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower speaks with school bus driver Kay Saunders and thanks her for taking care of students each day.

Photo 4: School bus-themed decorations graced tables and walls.

Photo 5: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta provided a small gift with a sweet message for bus drivers at the breakfast, which the organization sponsored.

Photo 6: CCSD Transportation Director Jim Georges thanks school bus drivers for their hard work and diligence in transporting thousands of students to and from school.

Photo 7: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Community Development Officer Janet Read praises CCSD’s school bus drivers for their commitment and love for children.

Photo 8: CCSD school bus drivers were treated to breakfast today as a celebration of School Bus Driver Appreciation Week at both the Holly Springs and Woodstock bus garages. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta sponsored the event.

Photo 9: CCSD school bus driver Thomas Thorpe picks up a Chick-fil-A biscuit and coffee at the Bus Driver Appreciation breakfast, sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Photo 10: School Board member Patsy Jordan, a former school bus driver, takes a seat behind the wheel to check out one of CCSD’s new smaller buses for its preschool program.

Credits: Cherokee County School District