NAPT and the NAPT Foundation will soon launch a new partnership with the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute (PTSI) that is set to enhance professional development opportunities across the student transportation industry. Effective January 1, 2026, PTSI will become NAPT’s online professional development provider, creating a collaborative approach focused on delivering accessible, high-quality training and resources for NAPT members nationwide.
School BUSRide spoke with NAPT Executive Director and CEO Molly McGee-Hewitt, PhD, CAE, and Jonathan Bentley, CEO of the PTSI, about this exciting development and what it will mean for NAPT members.
How do you think this partnership with NAPT and PTSI will impact the student transportation industry?
Molly: PTSI was at NAPT’s side when the PDS program was first created, and without PTSI we would not have the courses or programs we have today. To me, this partnership represents a return to a previously successful collaboration with a respected organization that understands our industry deeply.
Jonathan: I see the combined strengths of NAPT and PTSI giving school transportation systems access to cutting-edge, up-to-date training that reflects current best practices. Our industry continues to evolve, from alternative transportation options to new ways of getting students safely to school, and organizations need support navigating that landscape. Together, we aim to create an environment where state directors, school districts, contractors, and vendors can confidently adapt to industry changes while ensuring strong support for students, families, and transportation professionals.
Molly: Our members need training that can be quickly updated, reflects current issues, and provides digital access to transcripts and online testing. PTSI’s Learning Management System (LMS) and login infrastructure make that possible.
This partnership aligns with our conferences, programming, and member needs. It reconnects us with partners who helped build the program and positions us to deliver better service, better access, and stronger offerings. It is truly a win-win.
What new features does PTSI bring to this endeavor?
Jonathan: As Molly mentioned, the biggest enhancements involve the online user experience. Members will be able to log in, view transcripts, see which courses they have taken, identify gaps, and explore new offerings. The platform is designed to robust, interactive, and user-friendly. It will also allow us to gather feedback from users on what they want or need; information we can take to NAPT to support growth and new training opportunities.
Online testing and immediate certification processing will streamline the entire professional development journey for the user. Our goal is to make completing NAPT’s PDS courses simpler, faster, and more user-friendly.
Molly: Exactly. In today’s digital world, how we conduct business online matters enormously. NAPT has long-needed upgrades, not due to lack of effort, but because of limited staff and resources. That’s not a criticism, it’s simply our reality. As the largest national student transportation association, the credentialing body of our industry, we must provide a modern, seamless user experience for our members.
This partnership also expands access to individuals and organizations that have not previously engaged with NAPT. It helps elevate our offerings and ensures we’re meeting the expectations of a digital age.
PTSI originally created the NAPT Courses; how will this reunification impact the PDS offerings and certifications?
Molly: This gets to the heart of the partnership. While our instructors are excellent and our course materials strong, our online courses in particular need significant updates. PTSI has already developed a new catalog of courses that complement our existing offerings. Members will begin seeing new materials right away, giving us time to refresh the older online courses.
Our certification program is another area ready for modernization. We have excellent certifications, but many professionals did not renew after the pandemic. This partnership will allow us to streamline both certification and recertification.
In the past, individuals could pursue certification without formally notifying NAPT. Going forward, members will register their intent so we can help them track progress and steer them to required courses—online and in-person. PTSI’s LMS and testing platform are essential to this improvement.
We are also exploring new certifications: for example, a leadership program for head or lead mechanics. This would not teach mechanical skills, but the leadership and communication skills needed to manage a team and interact with district leadership.
NAPT has two core pillars that motivate us to move our
mission forward:
1. Student safety
2. Leadership development and education
This partnership helps us strengthen both pillars and serve our members more effectively.
Jonathan: Molly said it well and I agree. PTSI’s history with the curriculum means we’re uniquely positioned to help modernize and realign courses for a new generation of leaders.
With student safety at the center of both organizations, combining forces allows us to elevate safety practices nationally and globally.
How will this partnership help modernize NAPT’s processes, especially following the pandemic?
Molly: Like many organizations, the pandemic forced us to prioritize survival over growth. Some processes remained functional but became outdated. For example, course materials should be delivered digitally—there’s no need for printed packets today.
Most professional organizations provide online portals where members can track progress. That’s the experience our members deserve. The partnership gives them ownership of their certification journey, easy access to transcripts, and targeted information.
This spring we’ll offer in-person PDS weekends in four regions. With improved systems, we can directly reach the members who need specific courses rather than sending broad notices. Our members are dedicated, but many struggle to know which requirements they need next. This partnership brings clarity, efficiency, and a much more intuitive experience.
What benefits will members see first?
Molly: The biggest benefit is time. Many people started certifications before the pandemic but couldn’t complete them because of course availability. This partnership increases access and speeds up both certification and recertification.
Certifications should take one to two years, not five or more. Shorter timelines lead to greater completion rates, stronger confidence, and more professional mobility.
Next, members will benefit from a more robust selection of courses.
Jonathan: Members will also benefit from the motivation that comes with visibility. When you can see your completed courses, know you’re only a few classes away from a certification, and access everything in one place, progress becomes easier. Transitioning courses into the system is just the first step. We’ll then review and refresh them to keep them engaging and relevant.
Molly: I’d add that last year, under Aaron’s leadership and with support from a few board members, we offered our first PDS weekend in Chattanooga. One participant drove from Virginia for a single course he needed to complete his certification, on his own time, and his own dime. That’s the level of dedication our members have. That dedication deserves a system that supports members’ goals. With more online options, fewer travel requirements, and better tracking, this partnership honors that commitment and makes professional development more accessible and affordable.
What does PTSI expect from this partnership?
Jonathan: Growth. The enthusiasm we saw at the NAPT conference was extraordinary. People were genuinely excited to see PTSI return as a partner, it felt like the start of something important.
When I joined PTSI, it became immediately clear that working with NAPT needed to be a long-term goal. We made internal changes, new platforms, expanded course offerings, improved processes, even office renovations to ensure we were ready for this responsibility.
We envision a strong joint presence nationwide and internationally. With the addition of Region Six, opportunities for global engagement continue to grow.
The partnership has also raised our internal expectations. Our team is pursuing additional training and certifications so we can meet the high standards we’re helping set. Growth, organizational and industry-wide, drives everything we’re doing.
What does NAPT expect from this partnership?
Molly: There’s a saying: Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. We are not seeking the same results, we’re aiming for better ones.
Over the past three years, NAPT has been in a period of significant evolution. After several years without an annual conference, we returned strongly with events in Columbus, Oklahoma City, Grand Rapids, Louisville, and soon Myrtle Beach. We’ve rebranded these events as ACTS to strengthen recognition.
We’ve updated our bylaws and governance, added the immediate past president role for continuit y, restructured regions, and launched Region Six for international members. We’re also exploring educational pathways with universities to support certificate, bachelor’s, and graduate-level opportunities.
In short, NAPT has evolved. Our governance, our conferences, our regional programs, our leadership academies, new certifications, and our relationships with state affiliates. Evolution is not always easy, but it’s essential if we want to meet member needs and lead the industry.
This partnership with PTSI is a natural and necessary part of that evolution.
Why is now the right time?
Molly: Simply put: because it’s desperately needed. Wishing for improvement wasn’t enough, we needed to act.
NAPT is a small but mighty team: three full-time staff, a part-time consultant, several contractors, and strong boards for both NAPT and the Foundation. PTSI is also in a stable, growth-oriented position. The timing is right for both organizations. If we missed this moment, we would miss a major opportunity for our members and for the industry.
Jonathan: I feel the same. When I joined PTSI, partnering with major organizations like NAPT was a priority, but we weren’t ready yet. We worked hard to build that capacity.
The industry is changing rapidly: new regulations, electric vehicles, alternative transportation, and emerging best practices. Schools, state directors, and contractors need guidance. At NAPT conferences, you can hear the concern, people are unsure about what’s next or where to turn. Now is exactly the time to come together and provide that support.
As NAPT transitions to a new learning technology platform and partner, all previously purchased online PDS courses must be completed by December 31, 2025. To support this transition, the current Online PDS Cart will be discontinued at the close of business on Wednesday December 31, 2025.
Please note that there will be a brief period during which online PDS courses will be unavailable while content is migrated to the new system. Members are encouraged to plan accordingly – particularly those who need to complete a remaining course to meet certification requirements.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to deliver an enhanced NAPT learning experience.