Laura Bonanno, Regular Education Bus Manager of the Year
Marta Angelyne West, Special Education Bus Manager of the Year
Darlena M. Bumphus, Bus Monitor of the Year
Joey Guthrie, Fleet Technician of the Year
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) transportation team is one of the best around. In addition to safely transporting approximately130,000 GCPS students to and from school each school day, they have stepped in during Digital Learning Days to support the district’s food program for children in our community.
Each year GCPS hosts an awards banquet to honor a select group of transportation professionals who, through their hard work, dedication, and job performance, have proven themselves to be the “best of the best.” Although GCPS was unable to host the event this year because of COVID-19, the school district is pleased to recognize this year’s School Bus Managers and Monitor of the Year honorees for their service to Gwinnett students and their families— Regular Education Bus Manager of the Year Laura Bonanno, Special Education Bus Manager of the Year Marta Angelyne West, and Bus Monitor of the Year Darlena M. Bumphus— and honors for Joey Guthrie, GCPS Fleet Technician of the Year.
2019-20 Regular Education Bus Manager of the Year: Laura is a Gwinnett County native who has been with the school district for five years. She drives routes for McKendree ES, Creekland MS, and Collins Hills HS, and serves as a back-up driver for Taylor and Walnut Grove elementary schools. Laura says her most memorable moment as a driver occurred when one of her kindergarten riders opened up to her. She says, “The little girl refused to talk on the bus for three months and one day she whispered in my ear, ‘I love you.’ It was my first year driving a bus and my first ‘I love you’ from a student. I cried.”
2019-20 Special Needs Bus Manager of the Year: Marta is a veteran driver who has been with the district for 24 years. She drives routes for Brookwood, Craig, Grayson, Pharr, Starling, and Trip elementary schools, Bay Creek, Couch and Crews middle schools, as well as Brookwood and Grayson high schools. Marta has four daughters and three grandchildren who are the light and focus of her life. She adds, “I started [driving] because I wanted to raise my own children. Now I still drive so I can have time to spoil my grandchildren.”
2019-20 Special Needs Monitor of the Year: Darlena adores children and loves the opportunity she has and the pleasure she gains from working with them. She has worked with GCPS for eight years and is a back-up driver and monitor for the Norcross area. Darlena likes to engage students. She explains, “I want to help make sure they have a good day and that they are safe as they go to and from school. I want to get to know them, no matter what disabilities they have, and to give them a smile— and when I receive one back, it makes my day. I feel like I’ve done my job and I’ve made a difference in their life.”
The selection of the 2019-20 winners is the result of an extensive process. First, they were nominated by their colleagues in their transportation zone. There are 23 regular education zones and 21 special education zones. Nominees then were given a written and driving skills test. Eleven finalists were selected – five regular education bus managers, three special education bus managers, and three special education bus monitors. A judging committee selected the winners from among the finalists.
Don Moore, executive director of Transportation, is proud of the honorees, but disappointed they could not be recognized in the traditional way. He adds, “It is with great pride and a heavy heart that we announce this year’s Bus Managers and Monitor of the Year,” Moore said. “We are proud to recognize these incredible individuals, and sad that we could not honor them during our annual awards banquet. Our 22nd annual awards banquet was scheduled for March 17, 2020, the same week that schools were closed due to COVID-19. When we announced the cancellation, our winners, finalists, and zone representatives did what you would expect from exceptional individuals. They immediately started delivering food with the rest of the drivers and monitors to ensure the children of Gwinnett continued to be fed. We are blessed to have such incredible people as part of our Transportation family.”