NAPT: Driven Together
By Molly McGee-Hewitt, PhD, CAE NAPT Executive Director & CEO
Have you ever heard the cliché, ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over ad expecting different results?” I have and it has always resonated with me. I understand doing positive and productive things repeatedly but it’s important to remember that everything we do remains open to evaluation and improvement.
Since this is Love the Bus month, you may have recognized upgrades and additions to our campaign this year We truly appreciate the bus and aim for our members’ activities to recognize our industry, support one another, and celebrate our remarkable safety record. While February will always be designated as Love the Bus month, we will review and enhance it annually!
At ACTS25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we premiered a revolutionary, complex, and vitally needed initiative for our association and the student transportation called Driven Together. After weeks and months of planning, we unveiled a sixteen-month campaign that is designed to raise public awareness about student transportation and the issues we are addressing. We believe that no one can tell our story better than we can! We also believe that while the yellow bus is an iconic symbol- the majority of citizens and parents have no clue why we have an outstanding safety record, how our drivers are vetted and trained, the amazing construction of the school bus and all the new technology advancements and additions to the bus! There has never been a time in educational history that school buses have been better built, employees better trained, routes more effective and efficient and students better served by the yellow school bus.
At ACTS25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we unveiled a groundbreaking and essential initiative for our association and the industry “Driven Together.” After extensive weeks and months of careful planning, we introduced a sixteen-month campaign aimed at raising public awareness about student transportation and the challenges we face.
We believe that no one can tell our story better than we can! While the yellow school bus is an iconic symbol, we recognize that most citizens and parents are unaware of:
• The exceptional safety record of school bus transportation
• The rigorous vetting and training of drivers
• The time-tested safety design which also is continuously strengthened though advancements, a model of evolving protection
There has never been a more pivotal moment in educational history for the yellow school bus, still we have to fight for resources and revenue! We have people who believe that alternative modes of transportation are a more cost-effective alternative and that the yellow bus has lost its luster, this is simply not true. Every day, highly trained professionals safely transport students, supported by education system that is deeply committed to continuous improvement. Their work goes far beyond logistics, it ensures students can attend school consistently, participate fully, and stay connected to their learning communities.
NAPT leaders know that we need to expand our reach to key audiences from regulators to parents to the profession with a stronger, more unified industry voice. Driven Together is an enormous effort for our association that will support and uplift the members we serve.
NAPT recently appointed our committees for 2026-2028. Based on our new bylaws, some changes were made. Driven Together will fall under a newly created committee, the Strategic Initiative Committee, and will continually provide member involvement and feedback.
Your elected leaders and professional staff are fully committed to our mission and the work that supports it. If my opening cliché were true about NAPT, we would only do what we have always done! While I acknowledge that we may be a little crazy at times, insanity is not for us!
I am looking forward to what the next 16 months will bring and feeling uplifted by the support we received thus far. Feedback has proven we are on the right path and are thrilled our members are looking forward to joining us.
Molly