The Opening General Session of the NAPT ACTS celebrated the resilience and progress of the school transportation industry with a blend of recognition and inspiration. NAPT President Teena Mitchell, CDPT, CSNT, welcomed attendees, expressing excitement for the organization’s second post-pandemic gathering and highlighting new offerings, such as continuing education available through conference sessions. Mitchell introduced the conference’s new app, designed to enhance attendee engagement with live updates, interactive games, and networking opportunities.
She discussed the “NAPT Under Construction” a three-year initiative, aimed at re-evaluating and enhancing NAPT’s role in a post-pandemic world. This initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to adapting to changes in work patterns and technology within the transportation sector. As NAPT approaches its 50th anniversary of the Annual Conference and Trade Show the initiative encourages a forward-looking approach to meet evolving member needs
During the session, Mitchell and other leaders honored award recipients:
Jennifer Gardella, CSPT, Director of Transportation at Rockwall ISD (TX), received the Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses.
Danielle Bedsaul, Supervisor of Transportation at Harford County Public Schools (MD), was honored with the School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award, sponsored by IC Bus, for her dedication to enhancing driver training.
Finally, the Heroism Award, sponsored by Blue Bird, recognized Acie Holland III, an eighth grader from Glendale-River Hills School District, for his quick actions in safely stopping a bus during an emergency.
From there, RIDE, serving as the session’s sponsor introduced the keynote speaker Kamin Samuel, PhD, International Rapid Business Transformation Coach.
Samuel delivered an empowering keynote, “Embracing Your Inner Superhero,” focused on recognizing and utilizing personal strengths. Samuel, the U.S. Navy’s first female African American helicopter pilot and a transformation coach, shared her journey, highlighting the power of inner strengths. Using anecdotes from her career, she encouraged the audience to uncover their “superpowers,” traits that help navigate challenges and achieve extraordinary success.
She described strengths as “benevolent, created, and innate,” and highlighted the VIA Character Strengths assessment, which categorizes strengths such as bravery, kindness, and fairness. By understanding these strengths, she explained, individuals could enhance resilience and confidence. “We are not permanently anything,” she said, emphasizing that strengths evolve and should be revisited.
“Embracing our strengths helps us self-regulate and stay energized,” she said, relating how this mindset led her through her career, both in the military and in corporate leadership. Samuel also discussed the value of recognizing strengths in others, fostering teamwork, and improving relationships.