EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: NAPT Executive Committee

School BUSRide spoke with Keith Kaup, Melody Coniglio, Teena Mitchell, and Rosalyn Vann-Jackson about the NAPT outlook in 2026, the increasingly important role of technology, NAPT ACTS 2026, and more.

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As we begin 2026, how would you describe NAPT’s overarching vision for the association and for the school bus industry as a whole?

Keith Kaup: There’s an old adage that says the only constant is change and that is certainly true for our industry. The way we operate today is vastly different from what school transportation looked like 30 years ago, 20 years ago, or even two years ago.

NAPT’s goal is to meet that change head-on; to anticipate emerging challenges and equip our members with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in an ever-evolving environment. Our role is to help professionals not just adapt to change but to lead through it.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities, and challenges, school transportation professionals will face this year?

Melody Coniglio: The greatest challenge facing school transportation professionals this year is being asked to do more, serve more students, meet more mandates, and absorb more complexity, with fewer resources

and limited flexibility. That imbalance is the greatest challenge.

At the same time, it presents a powerful opportunity which lies in leadership, advocacy, and innovation, ensuring decision-makers understand the realities of today’s transportation climate. This is the moment for transportation leaders to share real-world data and advocate for systems that are safe, equitable, and financially sustainable. Professional, informed voices from within student transportation have never been more important, and this is the moment to ensure they are heard.

Allow me to name a few challenges to ensure we can seize this opportunity, at the national level. Here’s what student transportation professionals are facing in their daily operations:

1. Increased Special Education Transportation Demands

We continue to see significant growth in special education transportation needs. These routes require individualized service, specialized vehicles, additional training, and often one-to-one or two-to-one staffing models. While these services are absolutely essential for student access and equity, they place

disproportionate pressure on already limited driver availability and budgets.

2. Growth in Charter and Nonpublic Transportation Obligations

Districts are transporting more charter and nonpublic school students than ever before, often across greater distances and with more complex schedules. These obligations are typically mandated without proportional increases in funding, stretching district resources and creating operational strain on routing, fleet utilization, and staffing.

3. Legislative and Policy Decisions Without Operational Context

Lawmakers are introducing new requirements and mandates—often with good intent—but frequently without a full understanding of the current realities of school transportation. Regulations related to safety, reporting, equipment, or service expansion are rarely paired with sustainable funding or implementation timelines, placing districts in a position of compliance without capacity.

4. Limited and Competing Funding Streams

Rising costs for vehicles, fuel, insurance, technology, and wages continue to outpace available funding. Transportation remains one of the most underfunded components of public education, despite being essential to student attendance and access. Directors are increasingly forced to make difficult decisions about service levels rather than improvements.

Rosalyn Vann-Jackson: I agree with Melody, specifically how student transportation professionals are expected to absorb more complexity, with fewer resources and limited flexibility. This statement alone lends itself to the biggest challenge facing school transportation professionals this year which is uncertainty, particularly around the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and how that could impact funding, operations, and the overall way we do business. That level of uncertainty can be disruptive for districts and transportation teams alike.

While the challenge of uncertainty is intense it brings forward our greatest opportunity which rests in our collective voice. Student transportation professionals are resilient. We have proven, especially since the pandemic, that we can adapt to disruption and continue to deliver safe, reliable service for students. This year presents an opportunity for professionals to be better equipped with information and supported by NAPT as we communicate the value of what we do to school boards, superintendents, policymakers, and the public, while continuing to advocate for the safest form of ground transportation: the big yellow school bus.

How is NAPT positioning itself to help members move from reacting to daily challenges to proactively managing their operations?

Teena Mitchell: In 2026, NAPT is leaning into the fact that we are the credentialing body of the student transportation industry, at the national level. This has shaped our strategic approach for the year ahead.

NAPT recognizes that not all members and followers are able to attend national conferences to access professional development and build connections. With that in mind, we are bringing education directly to them.

We are bringing education directly to members through leadership academies, regional professional development, and practical guidance such as position papers on special needs and alternative transportation. These resources help members make informed, proactive decisions every day.

For those who attend conferences, we offer robust workshops with multiple learning tracks designed to support professionals at every career stage, preparing them not just for daily operations, but for long-term leadership.

To your point, NAPT recently launched a complete series for Professional Development Series (PDS) Weekends (four in total to be offered in 2026) after a successful launch last May. What inspired this model, and how does it meet the evolving needs of today’s transportation professionals?

Mitchell: The inspiration behind PDS Weekends was simple: bring education to our members rather than expecting them to always come to us.

By supporting education through state affiliates and regional efforts, PDS Weekends allow participants to complete approximately three courses in a single weekend without significant time away from work. This helps members progress toward certification while learning alongside peers who can support them throughout the process.

The 2025 launch of the PDS Weekend as a standalone event succeeded because it did exactly what it was designed to do – deliver meaningful, accessible professional development where members are. For NAPT leaders, it was a no brainer to continue and grow this type of event.

With that in mind, NAPT urges our members to fully leverage their membership benefits and opportunities. For those who can attend multiple events, we highly encourage active participation to enhance their professional skill sets and expand their networks.

What makes the Leadership Training Academies (four in total to be offered in 2026) essential for preparing the next generation of industry leaders? LINK:

Vann-Jackson: Leadership is a critical component of sustained development in pupil transportation, and it is also one of the most effective ways to combat burnout, which is prevalent in our industry. The Leadership Training Academies are essential because they equip professionals with the skills needed to influence people, improve performance, implement district initiatives, retain and attract talent, and drive (pun intended) innovation forward.

Leadership Academies ensure that leadership development is accessible and intentional, while also reinforcing the importance of professional growth. Strong leadership strengthens teams, supports employees, and ultimately improves outcomes for students.

NAPT recently announced a new partnership with PTSI. What makes this partnership significant for members?

Kaup: The partnership with PTSI is valuable because it allows NAPT to draw upon their longstanding research capabilities and subject-matter expertise.

PSTI has developed high-quality, research-based resources that we can integrate directly into our professional development offerings. This collaboration ensures that timely, relevant, and evidence-based materials are consistently available to our members.

How does this collaboration enhance training, credentialing, or professional standards across the industry?

Coniglio: Strategic partnerships and industry collaboration play a critical role in strengthening training, credentialing, and professional standards across school transportation by creating consistency, credibility, and shared accountability across the field. When associations, districts, and partners work together, training reflects real-world challenges and aligns with actual job responsibilities.

These shared efforts help establish respected credentials, raise professional standards, and create clear career pathways. Most importantly, collaboration fosters a culture of continuous improvement – ensuring the industry evolves alongside the growing complexity of student transportation.

Technology continues to play a major role in school transportation. What tech-driven safety advancements should professionals be paying close attention to in 2026?

Kaup: For me, artificial intelligence stands out. AI can analyze data from camera systems to assess driving practices and driver behavior, as well as from collision-avoidance systems that evaluate vehicle and environmental inputs in real time. Beyond safety, AI can enhance route planning, attendance trend analysis, staffing models, and training programs. It is an area that we need to continue to monitor and embrace as an industry.

Even if a district doesn’t currently have the capacity to implement new technology initiatives right now, understanding what is available and where the industry is headed allows leaders to plan strategically and consider phased implementation over time.

Vann-Jackson: Student transportation professionals should continue to focus on technologies that improve routing efficiency, on-time performance, and student safety, including advanced routing software, GPS, real-time communication tools, onboard and stop-arm cameras, and fleet telematics. These advancements not only enhance safety and reliability but also help districts better manage costs and resources.

Mitchell: Student behavior on buses is a major challenge, and video technology has advanced significantly.

Live video access combined with GPS allows districts to better support drivers and reduces feelings of isolation. Continued advancement in this area will be critical for driver support and overall safety.

Coniglio: GPS-driven systems are foundational to school transportation safety. Real-time tracking, dynamic routing, and integrated safety dashboards allow districts to respond proactively to disruptions and reduce driver stress.

Parent visibility tools also play a critical role by improving safety at bus stops and strengthening trust with families. Together, these technologies shift transportation from a reactive model to a predictive, data-driven approach that enhances safety, efficiency, and accountability.

Equity and specialized transportation for high-needs students are increasingly part of the conversation. How is the industry evolving to meet these responsibilities more effectively?

Mitchell: The industry is becoming more specialized as student needs evolve. Equipment improvements, such as lifts and wheelchairs that voluntarily comply with WC19 standards, are making transportation safer. Furthermore, earlier involvement in IEP discussions, and better planning allow transportation teams to meet students’ needs more safely and effectively. When transportation is brought in late, it often leads to higher costs and logistical challenges. Early involvement allows districts to provide services more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Kaup: In addition to special needs transportation, we’re seeing increased demand related to McKinney-Vento students, charter schools, and other non-traditional programs.

This requires us to reassess fleet composition, vehicle sizes, and route structures. Historically, transportation has supported student access to critical learning opportunities such as CTE programs, early college opportunities, and off-site instruction. That collaboration with instructional departments remains essential.

Some districts are now bringing programs in-house to reduce logistical challenges, and transportation has played a key role in supporting those transitions.

Coniglio: The industry is moving toward a more student-centered approach to specialized transportation, one rooted in dignity, trust, and partnership with families. This includes individualized planning, stronger communication with caregivers, enhanced training focused on empathy and de-escalation, and the use of right-sized vehicles and flexible solutions. Success is increasingly measured not just by efficiency, but by student well-being and family confidence.

Vann-Jackson:  The industry is evolving through greater awareness, stronger relationships, and a deeper commitment to meeting students where they are. From specialized routing and trained drivers and monitors/aides/attendants to the use of technology that supports individualized needs, pupil transportation teams are focused on ensuring students feel safe, supported, and valued.

Many drivers, aides, and attendants form meaningful relationships with students, creating a sense of belonging that can positively impact educational outcomes, especially for students who may be struggling. Equity in transportation is not just about access; it is about care, consistency, and connection.

ACTS 2026 in Louisville introduces several new advancements. What can attendees expect from this year’s conference experience?

Kaup: The theme of ACTS 2026 is Building Leaders for the Route Ahead and our intention is to stand by that through every planned detail. In 2026, NAPT ACTS will offer robust educational sessions addressing leadership and operational needs at all levels.

In addition, we will offer:

– A two-day registration option, allowing attendees to access key sessions and the trade show if they cannot attend the full conference.

• A path to recertification that beings before and at conference. This path will highlight how all roads lead to ACTS 2026 in Louisville, KY.
• An expanded NAPT Marketplace after a successful 2025 launch, providing more opportunities for one-on-one conversations with business partners.

If members take away one message from NAPT leadership as they plan for 2026, what do you hope it is?

Coniglio: The message is simple: You are not alone.

NAPT is committed to equipping members with practical tools, relevant professional development, and strong advocacy to meet today’s challenges with confidence. Our focus in 2026 is supporting transportation professionals, not just with resources, but with a community that understands their work and stands beside them.

NAPT’s focus for 2026 is centered on empowering members through:

• Relevant, real-world professional development that reflects what is happening in districts today;

• Leadership guidance and advocacy that amplifies your voice at the national level;

• A strong professional community where collaboration, mentorship, and shared problem-solving are the norm;

• To create a space free of judgement but one of community.

As you plan for 2026, our hope is that you move forward knowing this: NAPT is invested in your success, committed to your growth, and ready to lead alongside you—every step of the way.

Personally, what does being involved with NAPT mean to you?

Kaup: NAPT has provided a community I can lean on. It has expanded my education, strengthened my leadership skills, and enhanced my ability to support my district and students. The relationships I’ve built through NAPT are invaluable and have played an essential role in my career.

Coniglio: Being involved with NAPT is deeply personal to me because it represents community, shared responsibility, and the belief that none of us should have to do this work alone. Involvement with NAPT is not just a role or a title to me. It is a commitment—to our members, to our profession, and to the students and families who rely on us every day.

Vann-Jackson: Being involved with NAPT has been foundational to my career. I have been part of this organization for nearly two decades, and I attribute much of my success to the professional development opportunities, national certification, and strong relationships built through NAPT. I have a full Rolodex of friends across the industry, representing well over a hundred years of combined experience, who have supported me through challenges and celebrated successes throughout my leadership journey.

I would not be where I am today without NAPT and the leaders who came before me and continue to walk alongside me. Serving in leadership now is both an honor and a responsibility that I treasure.

Mitchell: NAPT gave me access to education, certification, and a community of mentors. Having a national certification program is incredibly important for our industry. The mentorship and support I’ve found through NAPT have been critical to navigating the daily challenges of transportation. That sense of community is one of the organization’s greatest assets.