Christopher Bates, Eleanor Taylor, local school bus drivers extraordinaire

Christopher Bates, a dispatcher for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District's Transportation Department, won second place in the state bus driver championship held by the California Association of School Transportation Officials on May 27.

Bates started his career in school bus transportation in 1992 and has been competing in "Roadeos" ever since. As captain of the PVUSD Roadeo team, Bates trains and recruits new drivers who compete in sectional and statewide Roadeos, and has personally competed in the last six CASTO State Championships. He is extensively involved with the school bus industry, and making sure that safety remains a top priority.

Eleanor Taylor, a bus driver with the Monterey County Office of Education, is heading to Wisconsin to compete at the 42nd Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. The competition takes place July 14-15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it's an opportunity for six California drivers and hundreds nationwide to demonstrate their skills.

“School bus drivers and other classified employees are absolutely integral not only to the operations of their school district, but they often make a real difference in the lives of the kids they serve,” Superintendent of California Schools Tom Torlakson said in a statement. “They are knowledgeable, enthusiastic members of their school communities, and they make the safety of our children their top priority. It’s my absolute pleasure to recognize the contributions of these outstanding workers and wish them luck in Milwaukee.”

Congratulations, Mr. Bates! Good Luck, Ms. Taylor!