School BUSRide spoke with Maria Carocci, training and development specialist for the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute (PTSI). PTSI has been servicing the school transportation industry since 1994. Formed as a training company providing services to the New York State Education Department, PTSI has grown to an internationally recognized supplier of school bus driver training, management services, and safety resources. Carocci completed her coursework to become a Certified Pupil Transportation Specialist (CPTS) in 2024.
Please tell us about your career in transportation and how it led you to PTSI.
I started 30 years ago as a school bus driver and eventually retired. While I was a school bus driver, I worked for the district as a student behavior liaison, and I held that position for 17 years. When I got close to age 55, I realized I could retire, so I opted out. I took the retirement, and a position became available at PTSI for writing and training, which I love to do. It was a perfect fit for me, allowing me to work from home while doing the writing and traveling a bit to deliver training. So, it’s a win-win situation for me. Here I am, 30-plus years later in the world of pupil transportation. I’ve actually been in transportation as a whole for 38 years, but specifically in pupil transportation for 30. That’s how I fell into this position. I continued to earn certifications through different avenues, and that’s where I am today.
In your position at PTSI, what challenges do you see as most prominent in the pupil transportation industry?
The biggest challenge is communication. There are so many levels of transportation with which individual operations must comply. Since PTSI operates at a national level, we can step back and say, “Yes, this applies to New York,” but we also see similarities and conflicts across different regions.
Whenever we can communicate what the DMV and state levels are doing in those individual steps, it’s helpful. We’ve found that communication with directors, supervisors, and staff within operations is essential. Our biggest challenge is breaking down the different levels of communication and making them more digestible so people can truly understand them. Many seem to be very confused about these processes.
Beyond that, another major challenge is the shift in staffing post-COVID. Many experienced industry professionals stepped down, retired, or left, and new people were placed in their roles without fully knowing what to expect. So, there’s a huge learning curve for directors and supervisors across the country.
Communication is a major obstacle for many people because they often don’t know what they need to know until they make a mistake. For us, providing them with clear and structured information is incredibly important. It’s a powerful tool, and being in a position where we can help teach them the different levels of communication they need to understand is invaluable.
Transportation isn’t just about who you transport and where—it goes far beyond that.
Why did you pursue your CPTS certification, and why is it important to your career?
Years ago, I had an extremely supportive supervisor—a director of transportation—who strongly believed that knowledge is power. He encouraged us to take as many classes as possible whenever they were available within a reasonable distance.
So, I started taking classes whenever I could, building my portfolio without a specific direction. My specialty was student behavior management, particularly for students with special needs. Whenever classes on those topics were offered, I took them. Many of these classes were provided by NAPT at conferences, so I took advantage of those opportunities. Over time, I realized I was close to earning a certification and wondered what additional steps I needed to take.
At that point, I was retired and had some extra time on my hands. I decided to pursue certification and see what it would take to complete it. Last year, everything came together—I became a master instructor in New York State and completed my CPTS certification. I also applied for a certification in special needs transportation, but they are currently revamping the final exam.
My motivation was to use my knowledge and experience to contribute more to the industry. Pursuing certification was a natural step forward. It was also interesting to compare national-level certification with individual state certifications and learn more about their differences.
What advice can you offer other NAPT members in the same position?
My advice is to immerse yourself in learning about everything around you, generously share your knowledge, and embrace your passion for your work. When you do this, you’ll discover that work transforms into a delightful pursuit, and you’ll truly feel like you’re never working a day in your life.
What can NAPT do as an organization to best support you and others in your position?
It all comes down to communication. NAPT should continue helping individuals develop their communication skills—both in comprehension and in effectively conveying information. I’d love to see NAPT focus even more on educating professionals in the transportation industry on communication skills, because it’s such a critical aspect of the job.