2026-2027
Bus Driver of the Year
Program Information
Purpose
Since 2005, the PCAT Bus Driver of the Year program has honored the best of the best: drivers who exhibit professionalism in all they do to help PCAT Members safely transport students every day. Please join us again this year to recognize one of your outstanding drivers.
One driver will be selected by your school district to be recognized as:
PCAT District Bus Driver of the Year
The driver you choose will receive a commendation, a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler, and a special new gift. From the group of District Bus Driver of the Year honorees across your region, one driver will be chosen by PCAT as:
PCAT District Bus Driver of the Year
PCAT Regional Bus Driver of the Year
This driver will receive:
a commendation
a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler
a special new gift
and a desk plaque along with a $500 cash award.
PCAT Regional Bus Driver of the Year
PCAT Statewide Bus Driver of the Year
Additionally, PCAT will select one exceptional Bus Driver of the Year to represent the entire program as PCAT Statewide Bus Driver of the Year.
This driver will receive a commendation, a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler, a special new gift, and a wall plaque along with a $2,500 cash award!
Additionally, PCAT will select one exceptional Bus Driver of the Year to represent the entire program as PCAT Statewide Bus Driver of the Year
This driver will receive a commendation, a 20 oz. Bus Driver of the Year YETI® tumbler, a special new gift, and a wall plaque along with a $2,500 cash award!
The PCAT Bus Driver of the Year Process
The Quick Start Participation Guide summarizes the steps for selecting your District Bus Driver of the Year.
Detailed Participation Instructions
10
Form a Bus Driver of the Year committee to aid in your decision-making process (not mandatory).
Committee members may include transportation leadership, the business or risk manager, a teacher, a campus administrator, the superintendent or assistant superintendent, and/or a parent.1
Determine which drivers are eligible to become your District Bus Driver of the Year.
Eligibility requirements should be determined by the district. For example:No at-fault accidents within the last (x) yearsNo moving violations within the last (x) yearsZero student, parent, or citizen-founded complaints within the last (x) yearsNo department disciplinary actions received within the last (x) yearsAttendance meeting department expectationsMeeting all other department expectationsIn overall good standing with the district
2
Decide on a procedure for selecting your District Bus Driver of the Year.
To select a driver among those who are eligible, the district may create its own selection procedure or decide on one of the following:Nominations + selection committee: Nominations are submitted to the district committee by transportation stakeholders, such as other drivers, teachers, students, and parentsVoting among peers and supervisorsHand-picked by leadership due to outstanding performanceRandomly picked
3
Establish a selection deadline.
Your internal selection deadline should be no later than December 11, 2026, the last day to submit your selection to PCAT.4
Announce the PCAT Bus Driver of the Year program is underway.
Once your eligibility requirements and selection procedure have been determined, announce the beginning of the program.5
If your district chooses to use a nomination-based selection procedure as mentioned in step 3, make nomination forms available to stakeholders.
Nominations may be completed by any transportation stakeholder, e.g. drivers, other staff members, managers, teachers, administrators, and parents.6
8
9
Evaluate and select.
Using your chosen procedure, select your District Bus Driver of the Year.7
Submit the PCAT District Bus Driver of the Year Selection Form and any supporting documents or nominations (for that driver only) to PCAT no later than December 11, 2026.
Please ensure the driver’s name is spelled correctly, as you wish it to appear on the commendation.Your completed Selection Form and any supporting documents can be emailed to: busdriveroftheyear@pcatprogram.org. Alternatively, these documents can be faxed to 830.693.2729, Attn: PCAT Bus Driver of the Year.PCAT will evaluate the District Bus Driver of the Year honorees from across the state and thereafter determine the PCAT Regional Bus Driver of the Year and PCAT Statewide Bus Driver of the Year.
We strongly encourage you to send us any additional management and/or stakeholder comments about your driver that provide deeper insight into how they excel in their role. Simply attach additional pages to your Selection Form. Without this insight, it is difficult to consider your driver for a higher-level award. Members will be notified if their District Bus Driver of the Year has received a higher-level award by January 15, 2027.
At the Member’s direction, higher-level honorees will be held in confidence until the awards are presented. Prizes will be delivered by your PCAT Broker or shipped to the Member Representative at the Broker’s direction.Materials
Announcement Flyer
Nomination Form
Selection Form
PCAT Statewide Bus Driver of the Year Past Recipients
2005: Beverly Marshall, Gainesville ISD2006: Charles Webb, Canyon ISD2007: Randall Farley, Frisco ISD2008: Benny Perez, George West ISD2009: Yolanda Sanchez, Round Rock ISD2010: Vivian Brown, El Campo ISD2011: Melville Murphy, Gladewater ISD2012: Donna McGee, Hardin-Jefferson ISD2013: Joe Page, Nacogdoches ISD2014: Shelley Wilkenson, Midlothian ISD2015: Jane Diehl, Liberty ISD2016: Eugene Baldwin, Godley ISD2017: Eddie Luna, Randolph Field ISD2018: Paul Kerutis, Allen ISD2019: Amelia Rubio, Victoria ISD2020: Bridgett Hale, Burnet CISD2021: Jose G. Rivera, Edinburg CISD2022: Arnolfo Cisneros, Refugio ISD2023: Henry Bailey, Floresville ISD2024: Sylvia Uriegas, Uvalde CISD2025: Rodolfo Montes, Mission ISD2026: Fate Breedlove, East Bernard ISDMember-owned since 2003
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