MINETTO SCHOOL BUS DRIVER AND MONITOR GO THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP A STUDENT SAFE
Minetto, NY – Durham school bus driver Stephanie Conn and monitor Joanna Whitney are truly a dynamic duo, and their act of heroism has earned them the company’s highest honor—a Values Award. A Values Award is presented to outstanding team members each year by Durham’s parent company, National Express LLC (NELLC). Conn and Whitney received the Customer Value award for demonstrating extreme care for their students that they transport to and from school safely every day. Conn and Whitney’s quick thinking when their four-year-old student with special needs wasn’t at the bus stop may have saved a life. When Conn and Whitney arrived at the stop, the student and her grandfather were not there, which was unusual. With more students to pick up, they could have just continued on their route, but their instincts told them to investigate. The team went up to the house to find the young student’s grandfather lying on the floor in need of assistance. By coming to the rescue, the grandfather received needed medical care, the student was kept safe and a life was likely saved. “We are proud to recognize a team that truly cares about their students, and go to extreme lengths, well beyond the operation of their bus route, to keep them safe,” said Wes Richters, Chief Operating Officer for Durham. “Our Values Awards allow us to celebrate our team members who demonstrate our values every day in the communities we serve.” NELLC recognizes employees annually who best demonstrate the company’s core Values: Safety, Customer, People, Community and Excellence. “These are the values by which we operate as a business, and how we live as individuals,” Richters said. “Stephanie and Joanna are true examples of what it means to serve our Customers.” Conn and Whitney’s act of heroism has put them in an elite group—14 individuals and teams among NELLC’s 27,000 team members and 280 service centers across North America to be recognized for demonstrating the company’s values. They have been invited to attend the international awards ceremony hosted by National Express in London this May.