Prosper Independent School District (ISD) in Prosper, Texas, is no stranger to growth. Situated in one of the fastest-developing regions in the state, the district continues to welcome new students, open new schools, and expand its transportation operations at a remarkable pace. With that growth comes complexity: more routes, more buses, more drivers, and heightened expectations from parents and the community
To meet these challenges head-on, Prosper ISD has turned to a comprehensive suite of solutions from Transfinder, integrating routing, navigation, and communication tools into a cohesive system designed to improve efficiency, enhance safety, and reduce stress across the board. Under the leadership of Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo, the district has implemented these tools successfully and leveraged them to build a high-performing, highly regarded transportation department.
Building on a Strong Foundation
When Mapengo joined Prosper ISD, she brought with her prior experience using Transfinder’s platform. The district had already adopted the system, but was in the midst of expanding its capabilities; particularly with the addition of Wayfinder, a tablet-based navigation solution, and Stopfinder, a parent communication app.
“When I learned we’d be using Transfinder, I was all in—I already knew it was a user-friendly tool,” Mapengo said. “At the same time, we were upgrading our tablets, which allowed us to roll out the parent app, Stopfinder, and implement Wayfinder on every bus. That combination set us up for the best start to a school year we’ve ever had, just six months into my role. It really came down to strong collaboration with Transfinder.”
Today, Prosper ISD utilizes a wide range of Transfinder solutions, including Routefinder PLUS, Tripfinder, Viewfinder, Stopfinder, and Wayfinder. The district relies heavily on the platform’s routing, trip planning, and optimization capabilities.
“All of our credentials are on Transfinder,” Mapengo said.
at Left: Teri Mapengo, at Right Antonio Civitella
Managing Growth Without Disruption
Prosper ISD’s rapid expansion presents ongoing logistical challenges. According to Mapengo, the district has added approximately 1,000 transported students since 2024, and growth continues.
From Transfinder’s perspective, supporting a district like Prosper requires constant adaptation.
“A growing school district has a couple characteristics,” said Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of Transfinder. “One of them is, by definition, because they’re growing, the need to keep adding staff.”
This influx of new employees creates an ongoing need for training and alignment.
“We have to constantly keep educating even the new employees about why Prosper ISD made an investment in our platform,” Civitella said. “They have to constantly keep looking at, for example, what point do you re-optimize the routes? At what point do you reshuffle the bell times?”
In a static district, routing systems can remain relatively stable. In Prosper, however, routes must be continuously evaluated and adjusted as new students enroll and neighborhoods develop.
“As more kids move around, things can get crisscrossed without our powerful routing solution,” Civitella said. “With growing districts like Prosper ISD, it’s almost like a brand-new client in our point of view, because so much is different.”
Despite this constant change, the district must maintain a seamless experience for families.
“The disruption of the community has to be minimized,” Civitella said. “They have to show to the community that even though they’re growing, the parents don’t feel it.”
A Strategic Approach to Implementation
One of the keys to Prosper ISD’s success has been its deliberate, collaborative approach to adopting new technology. Rather than rolling out new tools all at once, the district emphasizes piloting and stakeholder involvement.
“For new products, we like to do pilots,” Mapengo said. “Just because I have used it before, my team hasn’t. I want it to be a benefit to my staff and my team so that they see the value in it.”
This approach ensures buy-in from those who will use the technology daily. It also allows the district to evaluate whether a solution truly meets its needs before committing fully.
When the district decides to expand its use of Transfinder’s platform, the process is intentionally simple and collaborative.
“It’s a very structured and straightforward process,” Mapengo said. “It begins with a request for a quote, and from there we ensure all key stakeholders are involved early so everyone has a clear understanding of what’s being implemented, the timeline, and expectations moving forward.”
Prosper ISD also involves its IT team early in the process to address potential technical challenges.
“If there is an issue, we’re able to troubleshoot it right at the beginning,” she added. “Since implementing Wayfinder, the experience has been seamless.”
Training for Success
Effective training is critical when deploying new technology, especially in a fast-growing district with frequent onboarding of new drivers.
Prosper ISD has developed a comprehensive training program that begins with in-service sessions at the start of the school year and continues throughout the year for new hires.
“Our training program includes dedicated days where drivers work directly with trainers to learn Wayfinder,” Mapengo said. “Beyond that initial training, we have a designated point of contact to provide ongoing support and answer questions.”
That designated support person plays a crucial role, not only assisting drivers but also handling parent inquiries related to Stopfinder. This centralized support structure ensures that issues are resolved quickly and consistently.
In addition to formal training, the district leverages hands-on experience and real-world testing. Trainers and substitute drivers test systems in advance to ensure functionality, and continuous support is available once drivers are on their routes.
Enhancing the Driver Experience
One of the most significant impacts of Transfinder’s technology has been on driver experience, an increasingly important factor in recruitment and retention.
“Stress is the number one reason why people quit,” Civitella said. “So when you minimize stress today, you have drivers willing to go back to work tomorrow.”
Wayfinder, in particular, has been a game changer. By providing turn-by-turn navigation and real-time updates, the system eliminates the need for paper route sheets and reduces uncertainty.
“I had the pleasure of doing Prosper ISD’s onsite training for their drivers using Wayfinder,” said Shea Marstaller, Sales Engineer for Transfinder. “Teri had a goal to get her drivers trained during their dry run days to give them the opportunity to use the tablet for turn by turn. Teri and her support staff came with an excellent game plan and we were able to train all or her drivers within a three-day period but also help sway any concerns with how this technology would affect their day-to-day position. I walked away knowing that Teri had her team in a great place, ready to move forward with the future.”
“Whatever you had on Monday, by next Monday it could be different,” Civitella said. “With the Wayfinder app, changes become live as soon as they’re implemented.”
This real-time capability is especially valuable in a growing district where routes are constantly evolving. Drivers no longer need to worry about outdated information or last-minute changes. They can rely on the system to guide them.
The technology also provides peace of mind for substitute drivers, or “support drivers,” as Mapengo refers to them. With Wayfinder, these drivers can confidently take on unfamiliar routes without extensive preparation.
The system also allows for route simulation, enabling drivers to practice routes virtually before driving them. This feature helps reduce anxiety and improve readiness, particularly during the critical back-to-school period.
Beyond navigation, the platform enhances communication and engagement. Drivers can provide feedback directly through the system, flagging safety concerns or route issues with the push of a button.
“Drivers feel like someone’s actually paying attention to them,” Civitella said.
Improving Communication with Parents
While internal efficiency is critical, external communication is equally important, especially in a community experiencing rapid growth.
Stopfinder has transformed how Prosper ISD communicates with parents, providing real-time updates on bus locations and enabling features like geofencing alerts.
“When we first rolled it out, there were a lot of questions,” Mapengo said. “Parents just want that communication. They want to know where the bus is, and this solution just solved it for them.”
The district took a proactive approach to supporting parents during the rollout. Dedicated staff members handled inquiries and even met parents at bus stops to demonstrate the app’s functionality.
“We’ll go out to where the parents are and make sure that they can see the use of that product,” Mapengo said.
This hands-on support paid off. Unlike many districts that experience overwhelming call volumes when introducing new systems, Prosper ISD saw a smooth transition.
“We were not getting bombarded,” Mapengo said. “That itself shows that parents just want that communication.”
Driving Continuous Improvement
Prosper ISD’s commitment to excellence extends beyond technology implementation. The district actively seeks feedback and uses it to drive continuous improvement.
This approach was instrumental in the district’s recognition as one of the Top Transportation Teams in 2025, a competitive award that honors the best school transportation operations in North America.
The designation is based on anonymous employee surveys that assess factors such as culture, communication, and management.
Prosper ISD did not achieve this recognition on its first attempt. Instead, the district used survey feedback to identify areas for improvement.
“We read the feedback and realized there was still work to do,” Mapengo said. “That’s the value of it—you can see exactly where you need to grow and take action.”
One of the key focus areas was consistency between the district’s two transportation locations. Leadership made a deliberate shift to increase visibility at both sites while also creating more intentional avenues for employees to be heard and give feedback.
“Being more present at both locations made a big difference,” Mapengo said. “We have a team that is truly focused on safety, and that culture exists because they take ownership of it every day.”
The result was a stronger, more cohesive team, and ultimately, recognition as a top-performing transportation department.
Technology as a Strategic Advantage
For Prosper ISD, technology is a strategic advantage that supports every aspect of its transportation operation.
From routing and navigation to communication and feedback, Transfinder’s platform enables the district to operate more efficiently, respond more quickly, and serve its community more effectively.
It also plays a critical role in addressing broader industry challenges, such as driver shortages.
“Drivers are starting to ask, ‘Do you have an app?’” Civitella said. “If the pay is the same, why would I want to be in a school district that adds extra stress?”
By reducing stress, improving communication, and enhancing the overall work environment, technology helps Prosper ISD attract and retain drivers. This is a key factor in sustaining its growth and building on its already solid culture.
Looking Ahead
As Prosper ISD continues to expand, its transportation department will face new challenges and opportunities. But with a strong foundation, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to continuous improvement, the district is well positioned to adapt.
Its partnership with Transfinder and its thoughtful use of technology demonstrates how districts can not only keep pace with growth but also elevate their operations in the process.