As the sun crests over the horizon each morning and students wake up for another school day, mother-daughter duo Hannah and Kathy Sneed take their places on bus 343, preparing for the students who will soon board.
As the students are picked up and the wheels on the bus carry them to their destination, Kathy Sneed navigates through the streets while Hannah Sneed monitors the students. A sweet tune fills the air as the Sneeds lead the students in a song as they near the schools on their route.
For Hannah and Kathy Sneed, driving a bus is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students and help them start their day on a positive note.
For more than 20 years, Kathy Sneed has worked as a bus driver for Durham School Services, holding her current route for the past 10. Four years ago, Hannah Sneed joined her mom as a bus monitor and now they work together to ensure each student feels seen and valued.
“When I first started, I drove a big bus and I thought it was important to get to know the kids’ names — I had 88 if you added them all together between the different routes,” Kathy Sneed said.
She made a deal with the students on those buses that if she couldn’t remember their names after two weeks, she would give those whose names she forgot a quarter. She only ever handed out a few over the years.
“You’ll find that [remembering names] goes a long way just to make them feel at ease,” Kathy Sneed said.
Now driving a smaller group, the duo builds connections through small gestures. Whether it’s adjusting where the students sit on the bus or singing them a song as they ride along, the Sneeds know how important their presence is to students.
“We know that sometimes they’re gonna have a rough day and we work through that with them,” Kathy Sneed said.
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