Effective Discipline on Our Buses
XYZ County Transportation…
The Best Driving the Best!
Driving a school bus is a hard job. The realization that you carry in your hands the
lives of 72 children everyday is overwhelming to say the least. The responsibility of safe
driving is compounded when you add the challenge of effective student discipline into
the mix. Effective student discipline begins long before the first student boards the bus.
Some bus drivers, like teachers, just seem to have the “it” factor and kids seem to
respond to them positively. Others struggle to gain control and sometimes the respect of
kids on their bus. The “it” factor is nothing more than certain behaviors that convey a
caring, professional approach to driving the bus. Those behaviors have been identified by
XYZ County drivers and can be duplicated by anyone. Special thanks to the drivers who
helped prepare this information. The following information is designed to help all drivers
with the enormous task of maintaining effective student discipline on the bus.
1. Bus Management
What It Is
1. Establishing clear expectations from the first
day. It is a business-like approach where we
communicate to kids “These are the rules of
this bus and they will be enforced.”
Several drivers talked about how they practice
good behavior with their students. One
elementary driver has them practice leaving the
bus with their finger over their lips as they exit
the bus (“the quiet sign”) and walking in a
straight line into the building!
2. Looking at the faces of each student and
greeting students with a warm “Good morning”
as they board the bus each morning.
Standing and greeting students as they board
the bus at school. Both practices convey
sincere interest and care for the kids. Just as
importantly, it gives the driver a chance to
observe the student as he/she boards the bus.
This is important in identifying students who
may be acting in a suspicious manner.
3. Effective use of your monitor (if you have
one). Expect the monitor to abide by the same
principles you do when it comes to greeting
and observing students.
What It’s Not
Assuming kids know the rules. All students
should be reminded of driver expectations
several times throughout the year.
When was the last time your students were
reminded of your bus rules?
Several drivers talked about reminding kids
every week what is expected and why it is
expected.
Sitting in the seat emotionless while students
board the bus. Remember…You may be the
first pleasant person they see each morning and
last one they see in the afternoon.
Besides communicating care for the student,
this practice can go a long way as a deterrent to
possible problems on the bus later!
How is this a deterrent?
Allowing your monitor to sit near you so you
can talk to an adult during the ride.
1
What It Is
4. Avoiding “Mugability.” Mug-ability can be
conveyed by:
* Allowing a few to get by with breaking rules.
This lets them all know that your rules are
negotiable.
* Not being aware of your own behavior and
what you communicate to the kids
inadvertently.
What It’s Not
What it is not is not being willing to learn as a
driver. For example, think about misbehavior
that bothers you the most from your riders.
Reflect on your own behavior that may actually
allow or open the door for such behavior. Make
the effort to watch a bus video from your bus
and note your own behavior and things under
your control that can be changed.
5. Being NICE summarizes all you need to
know about effective bus management:
N – Name – Know student’s names. One of the
drivers from XYZ school told me the reason
why they won the “Best Bus Award” this year
was because they all greet students by their
first names.
I – Interest – Show an interest in them and in
maintaining their personal dignity. One driver
talked about attending honors day and special
programs his bus riders were in.
C – Consistency – Be the same and maintain
high expectations everyday.
E – Effort – Make it. Simply put, what you
look like, sound like, and act like will
determine your success.
-Being aloof and uncaring.
Could be better
Average
1
2
3
4
5
 Thumb’s Up! What just spoke to you?
-Letting them get away with misbehavior one
day and yelling about it the next.
-Looking like you just rolled out-of-bed and
sounding like you need to be asleep.
-Remember that bus management is greatly
impacted by your own appearance. As one
driver put it, “How do you expect kids to listen
to you if you look like dirt.”
Bottom line…Save some clothes for the woods,
the hospital or the beach… but not the bus.
6
7
8
Got it goin’ on!
9
10
2. Positive Communication with Students
What It Is
1. Showing respect for all students in your:
A. Tone of voice
B. Choice of words
C. Follow-up after discipline
One driver talked about his favorite approach
with kids when one needed correction. He asks
them to stay back and then tries to talk alone
with the student. He begins with… “You and I
can fix this problem or I can write you up. I’d
rather work with you than write you up. Can
you tell me what’s bothering you?”
2. Greeting all students as they board your bus
everyday. As one driver told me, “They don’t
always respond to me at first…but eventually
they will. I’ll keep doing it until they do!”
What It’s Not
Redirecting students by restating the rules
instead of the “You better…” message.
Sitting in the driver’s seat like a lump of coal.
2
3. Bus “Chemistry” - Realizing a bus load of
kids can take on their own personality different
than any one child. This personality can range
from gang-like to angelic – both are impacted
by the driver’s attitude toward them.
4. The emphasis on showing respect toward
students cannot be overemphasized.
Confronting a student in front of his peers is a
no win situation for any driver. In an effort to
“save face” the student will likely respond to
the confrontation in an inappropriate manner.
The situation is likely to escalate into a
scenario that is bad for everyone involved.
Further, friends will likely side with the
embarrassed student and the potential for a buswide power struggle is created.
5. Connecting to your students.
Several drivers of older students talked about
taking time to talk to their kids about their
interests every chance they got while waiting
for others to board the bus, waiting for all to
exit, etc…
6. Picking your battles.
Several drivers spoke of how important it was
for them to address behavior alone with
students away from their peers. If they saw an
infraction that was not life threatening on the
afternoon route they would wait until the
morning route and ask the student to stay back
so they could talk after the other students had
exited the bus.
Could be better
Average
1
2
3
4
5
 Thumb’s Up! What just spoke to you?
Have you ever had this thought…
“This is the same bus route I had last year but
this year these kids act much differently than
they did last year.” Realize that kids change
and new leaders appear on the bus. This can
impact bus chemistry and will require different
strategies for the driver.
Yelling to the back of the bus…
“Billy Bob, you better shut-up or I’ll write you
up!”
“Just keep on talking and see what happens.”
Missing a chance to connect to one student
who needed to know you cared. You start their
day.
How do you want them to remember you when
they think of you during the day?
Kids will be kids and could probably be caught
being kids once every five minutes. While
safety infractions cannot be ignored, knowing
when and how to address misbehavior
separates the best from the rest!
6
7
8
Got it goin’ on!
9
10
3. Knowing Kids
What It Is
1. Knowing that kids at any age will act goofy.
That’s why they are called kids. We cannot
take it personally when they misbehave on the
bus. They will challenge you at some point.
Know that and know how you will handle it.
2. Elementary students learn in concrete terms.
Abstract terms like “diligence” will mean little
to them. They respond to outward praise and
can be motivated by tangible items such as
stickers and “1 cent certificates.”
What It’s Not
Taking misbehavior personally.
Becoming “Mr. Drill Instructor” to manage the
bus. You cannot out-yell 72 kids.
Telling them to behave.
Be specific and refer back to the rule.
“Billy Bob – stop turning around in your seat.
Remember the rule about facing the front.”
3
3. Middle school students often have very
fragile self-esteem. This may be conveyed
several ways:
A. Mr. Cool
B. Mrs. Hide me from everyone
C. Mr. Don’t draw attention to me
4. High School Students – Complete this
sentence from a high school student… “That’s
not _________.” High school students are
emotional beings by design and need to know
the “why” behind what we do.
5. While kids will act goofy, they still need
direction and someone who will correct them
when they need it. Ignoring some minor issues
may allow it to go away. Ignoring constant
misbehavior that threatens the safety of others
will cost you the respect of kids, their parents,
and your job. Most importantly, it could cost
you in the court of public opinion and the court
of law (See Court of Appeals of Georgia v.
McDowell – July 15, 2008 as it applies to
sovereign immunity).
WARNING: Praising them and correcting
them by name in front of their peers is often
counter-productive.
Try redirection or group correction.
6. Respect is a learned behavior.
Several of our drivers pointed out that many of
our kids come from environments where
respect is not shown or may not be valued. The
first example they see everyday of what respect
looks like is YOU!
Simply put…Model for kids what you would
want modeled for your own kids.
Could be better
Average
1
2
3
4
5
 Thumb’s Up! What just spoke to you?
Answering their questions with…
“Because I said so.”
That may have worked for mama, but it does
not fly with our teens!
We will discuss suggestions in the next section.
Being their buddy. Being the guy who lets
them eat and drink on the bus and act unruly
without correction hurts you and it hurts other
drivers who expect more from their students.
6
7
8
Got it goin’ on!
9
10
4. Low Profile Intervention
What It Is
1. Using what you know about kids and
effective communication to determine how to
correct misbehavior without embarrassing them
or drawing undue attention to them.
Remembering that kids will act impulsively
and they, by design, are emotional beings. That
emphasis on emotions can actually hinder their
ability to think through behavior to realize
consequences.
2. Elementary –
 Assigned seats
 Informing parents
 Praising correct behavior of others
 Tangible rewards
What It’s Not
Embarrassing students in front of their peers.
Tone of voice or choice of words that are
demeaning.
Backing students into a corner with our own
behavior where they have no choice but to save
face in front or their peers by responding or
challenging the driver.
Ruling by fear or intimidation.
4
3. Middle school –
 Assigned seats by sex
 Correcting away from peers
 Addressing the group for correction
rather than single students
 Redirecting misbehavior creatively
Example - asking a student to make
sure the window is secured who is
being loud.
4. High school –
 Explain the “why”
-“Stopping the bus makes us all late.”
-For older kids one driver took a
graphic approach. “Watching you takes
my eyes off of the road and we could
wreck. A dead friend could be your
fault.”
-“You could end up being put off of
the bus and you nor I want the hassle.”
 Use of logical consequences
-“You’ve violated safety rules that I
have to report.”
-“I hope you make a better decision
next time someone messes with you.”
-“What could you have done
differently?”
 Assigned seats discretely
 Meet with the student at school. Most
schools would welcome your interest
in the student. A conversation like the
one below can go a long way:
“You acted out on the bus today. I
don’t want to look bad in front of
everyone and neither do you. It means
I have to write you up to let other
students know they cannot get away
with similar behavior. Then we wind
up hassling each other. There are
much better ways to spend our time
today. I need you to stop that behavior
for both of us.”
Could be better
Average
1
2
3
4
5

 Thumb’s Up! What just spoke to you?
Correcting a student by name in the front of
other students.
Responding to them inappropriately if they
“smart off.” Learn to count to ten and remind
yourself of what you know learned about kids.
Issuing threats –
“I’m gonna put you off this bus.”
“Go ahead and see what I’ll do.”
“You better watch yourself.”
“Go ahead and tell yo mama.”
6
7
8
Got it goin’ on!
9
10
5
5. Professional Behavior
What It Is
1. Professional appearance – A professional
appearance impacts the perception the students
have of the driver. It also impacts the
perception kids pass along to parents. This can
have significant impact on the support you get
from parents if the child misbehaves or is put
off of the bus.
2. Professional behavior. This will include
regular attendance, being on time, and
maintaining a clean bus.
Remember what being just five minutes late
does to the student:
Elementary – misses breakfast and enters the
classroom unprepared to learn.
Middle school – Misses breakfast and walks in
late and embarrassed – cannot learn that period.
High school – Misses breakfast and walks in
late after attendance has been taken. That
absentee may not be changed and could be the
one absentee that costs him/her a credit needed
for graduation!
3. Remembering that YOU are the adult on the
bus. Don’t make the situation worse when
confrontation does occur. Students can also
have a bad day and our best efforts may still
result in an unexpected confrontation.
4. Schools have a school culture. It can be a
caring and warm environment, or can be a cold
and sterile environment. You can feel it when
you walk in the door. Your bus is no different.
Your “bus culture” will exist whether you want
it to or not. The question is whether you will be
the one who establishes it or not, and what that
culture will be!
5. Professional radio protocol.
Being a professional dispatcher or bus driver
means acting that way on the radio as well.
Remember that parents are often on the phone
when you are answering dispatch. They, and
others, can hear what you say. Use established
protocol like “98-97 clear” and a lot of patience
when talking with dispatch. They can only
handle one call at a time. Remember to use
your emergency button in the event of a real
emergency.
What It’s Not
Wearing daisy Dukes and a halter top.
Wearing pajamas.
Wearing a T-shirt with last week’s spaghetti
proudly displayed on the front.
Running the route late because you overslept or
forgot to get fuel the day before!
Remember the impact being late has on a
student who arrives late to school!
Leaving the “big stick” at home and not taking
it on the bus.
Using a conversational volume reduces wear
and tear on your throat and reaffirms you as
leader on the bus. Leaving the stick at home
means leaving certain behaviors completely off
of your bus such as yelling, embarrassing or
grabbing students.
The bus that pulls out of the parking lot
everyday with kids hanging out of the windows
and flashing gang signs to their friends.
-Yelling on the radio… “Somebody better
come get these children – they’re all crazy.”
-Making comments about students or groups of
students on the radio.
-Having any personal conversation over the
radio
6
6. Respect your job!
One driver who worked on this project turns 70
Probably the best advice we heard from drivers in April. He could retire today but does this job
was the need for everyone to respect their job.
for the kids.
“You are not just a driver” was the recurring
You are not “just” anything.
theme. “Most of us care and don’t want to hear Make a difference in the lives of the kids and
your belly-aching!”
the people you work with!
Do I hear a witness?
Could be better
Average
Got it goin’ on!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
 Thumb’s Up! What just spoke to you?
What do you do if you are here today and you feel like you
have lost control of your bus? We put this question to our team
of drivers and here is what they suggested…
1. Know that this job is very difficult and there are many people who
have felt the same way. Don’t give up. The problem can be fixed!
2. Seek the advice of fellow-drivers who have been driving a while.
They can provide ideas and lend assistance. Ask us for a suggestion of
who to talk to.
3. Ask a lead driver to pull a hard drive and watch it with you. You will
see things you can do differently and can get the help of people who
have driven for years.
4. Be willing to change. Your own behavior may be contributing to the
problem. An honest attempt to change your behavior and the kids’
behavior is important!
5. Remember that the kids need to see you as the authority on the bus.
Asking for lead drivers to speak to kids may help for a while, but the
kids need to see you as the final authority on the bus for lasting
results.
6. Establish a clean start with the kids and tell them so. Remind them of
expectations weekly and the “why” behind them.
7. Give the kids and yourself a fresh start every day. Don’t hold grudges
with kids or harbor disappointment with yourself.
8. Connect to the kids. Win one at a time.
9. Identify the “ring leader” and connect to him/her.
10.Be careful who feeds your soul. Hang around people who will provide
insight and encouragement. The drivers on this team put it best. “The
drivers I talk to who have the most problems are those doing it for the
insurance and not the kids. “I wouldn’t spend my money on them and
can’t wait until I get them home.”
7
Final thoughts from the Transportation Leadership Team…
1. When do I call a lead driver for help and when do I write the child up?
Write the child up when he/she needs discipline consequences.
Contact the lead driver when you need advice.
2. Be patient with school administrators after submitting a referral.
School administrators have many other duties during the day and may not get to
your referral immediately.
3. What can I do to maximize support from school administrators?
A. Realize you can attract more with honey than vinegar.
B. Deal with the small issues yourself rather than writing up every child for
the smallest of infractions.
C. Redirect kids you see who are starting to become a problem during the
route:
“Billy, come up here and help me find 196 Waugh Road.”
“Susie, come up here and read the route sheet to me.”
D. One great suggestion came from a veteran driver. “I’ll go in the school and
tell the principal what is going on and ask her if she would mind talking to
the child for me before I have to write him up. That usually takes care of
the problem.”
4. Remember that your updated route sheets help sub drivers. If a sub driver makes a
wrong turn with a bus full of teens he can become the source of verbal abuse from
those on the bus. This abuse could have been avoided with an accurate route
sheet.
5. One driver had a problem with a middle school child dancing in her seat during
the route. At the end of the route she had the student stay on the bus and sit in the
driver’s seat. The driver sat in the student’s seat and showed her what she looked
like. The demonstration was followed by one question… “If I am trying to drive
and keep seeing you dance like that what could happen?” The student realized
how her behavior could cause a wreck and the behavior stopped.
The Troup County School
System Transportation
Department…
The Best Driving The Best!
8