School BUSRide spoke with Athena Bartz, assistant director of Natrona County School District in Wyoming and the NAPT Region 5 Board Member. Bartz discussed her district’s challenges, and offered her seasoned advice to NAPT members.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your district.
I am currently serving as the Assistant Director of Transportation for Natrona County School District in Casper, Wyoming, where I have had the privilege of working for approximately one and a half years. Prior to my current role, I spent 11 years in Carbon County, Wyoming, based in Rawlins, where I held the position of Director of Transportation.
My journey into transportation began unexpectedly. While pursuing a nursing degree, I started working as a substitute bus driver. However, as a single mother of two, I quickly realized that balancing nursing school with family obligations would be a significant challenge. This led me to transition from part-time substitute driving to a full-time bus driver position in South Carolina. Eventually, I relocated to Wyoming to be closer to my family, particularly as my parents’ health was declining. I continued working in transportation here in Wyoming, progressing from bus driver to vehicle detailer, and ultimately, to my current role as Director.
Additionally, I have become deeply involved in professional organizations within the field, serving as Vice President of the Wyoming Pupil Transportation Association (WPTA). I also started up and help facilitate some roundtables for mechanics and trainers statewide. Furthermore, I chaired the committee responsible for developing the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) curriculum, which is available on the WPTA website for all new driver training across the state. I am also honored to serve as a Region 5 board member for the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), where I assist with the planning and execution of conferences.
What is the most pressing challenge for your district’s transportation department?
One of the primary challenges we are currently navigating is the increasing demand for activity drivers. With the expansion of sports programs such as softball and girls’ wrestling, we have seen a significant rise in the number of activity trips requiring transportation. On any given Friday, we may have up to 27 buses deployed for extracurricular activities, all while managing over 70 standard routes with a limited number of drivers.
To mitigate this, we have had to make our routing more efficient, often combining routes to free up drivers for activity trips or to cover routes in the event of unforeseen absences.
While we strive to avoid canceling trips whenever possible, this remains an ongoing challenge.
Given your own experience, what advice can you offer other NAPT members?
My advice would be to maintain flexibility and an open mind. The transportation landscape is constantly evolving, and embracing new ideas and solutions is key. Continuously learning and being open to innovative approaches allows us to grow and find creative solutions to the challenges we face.
How do you think state associations like yours and the NAPT can best work together?
I believe the most effective way for state associations and NAPT to collaborate is through offering professional development opportunities. States can benefit from the resources NAPT provides, particularly in terms of training and certification programs. By hosting professional development series within the state, we can help ensure that our employees are well-equipped with the necessary skills and certifications. In turn, this strengthens the workforce and enhances the overall effectiveness of our transportation systems, while also highlighting the value and support NAPT offers to state and district-level operations.
NAPT plays a crucial role in supporting state and local transportation departments by offering comprehensive professional development courses. These programs help ensure that our employees achieve and maintain the necessary certifications, which contributes to a more skilled, knowledgeable, and capable workforce. This collaborative effort ultimately benefits the entire state, ensuring that we have a highly qualified group of professionals providing safe and efficient transportation to students.