Heather Free, a seasoned pupil transportation professional with a diverse background spanning contractor operations, public school districts, and state government, was recently elected as the Regional Director for Region 3 on the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Board of Directors in a January 2026 special election. Free, who serves as a program administrator with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, earned the trust of her peers in Region 3 and will bring her experience in policy, training, and cross-stakeholder collaboration to the national stage following her election.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career in pupil transportation.
I’ve been working for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for about five years now as a program administrator. My role is to help enforce the laws that keep our students safe while acting as a dedicated resource for the districts and contractors we serve.
I started in school transportation with a private transportation contractor. I always have to laugh when I look back, because at the time, I used to jokingly tease my younger brother—a school bus driver—that it wasn’t a “real” career. Little did I know. Finally, one day he and I were talking as I was looking to change career paths. He encouraged me to look into school transportation. So, one day I finally decided I was going to see what my options were and applied for a dispatcher position. Despite having no CDL and zero experience behind the wheel, the hiring manager called me for an interview that consisted of putting me in the driver’s seat of an 84-passenger transit-style bus and guided me as I drove around the school compound. I thought they were out of their mind, but the whole point was that if I was fearful of getting behind the wheel, I would never be able to manage a fleet or drivers. To this day I really appreciate that experience. I worked for the private contractor for about three and a half years, then left and went to a traditional public school district for just over three years before making my move to the Department. Having both the private contractor and public district side of experience really helps in understanding the expectations and requirements of both the federal and state level of laws.
What motivated you to pursue a leadership position on the NAPT Board of Directors?
I enjoy being involved in things that bring industry leaders together. There is so much expertise and knowledge we can tap into when we work together. Having each other as a resource and being able to collaborate and share those experiences I feel betters us as leaders.
At the state agency, we train a lot of drivers and supervisors throughout the school year. Being able to see what others have had positive outcomes with is rewarding. Sharing those resources with our own transportation professionals to help them grow is important to me.
In Ohio we tend to do some things differently, whether it’s our school bus construction standards or certain driver training requirements we are more stringent with. We’ve often have other states reach out to learn more about what we do so they may enhance their own programs. Overall, working more in depth with other leaders and creating additional training and leadership opportunities is why I pursued the board position.
From your perspective as a new board member, what are the most significant needs of the membership in 2026?
I think one of the biggest needs in our industry is the expansion of professional development. At every conference and leadership program I attend, the feedback is consistent: our professionals are hungry for opportunities to refresh their skills and strengthen their leadership. They want to be better for their staff and, ultimately, for the students and communities they serve. If we can continue to develop and promote those opportunities, I think it will make our leaders and drivers even stronger in the future.
What does NAPT provide that can’t be found elsewhere?
I think NAPT provides so many resources that people don’t even realize are available to them. It’s not just another association or organization; it’s truly a network. From the professional development series—whether someone is pursuing their certification or simply wanting to expand their knowledge base —to the conference and trade show, there are so many opportunities to learn, grow and connect. I am excited as we are looking forward to our upcoming PDS weekends this year- as I feel those events are incredibly valuable to those who may not be able to get away for a full conference experience.
I feel if people truly understood the depth of what is available to them, they wouldn’t see NAPT as a mere membership; they would see it as a transformation tool for their career.