![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/04\/Story-1-photo1-10-1024x683.jpg\")
\u201cI love helping my co-workers, so I hardly ever say \u2018no\u2019 when they ask me to fill in for them. Both times that I was nominated, I was thrilled. It makes me proud to work with such great people in Bedford County. I enjoy teaching new people how to do this job that I love. I helped our retired trainer many times with our new employees,\u201d said Juarez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a full-time substitute, over the years she has driven every route inside the city limits. For the last six years, she was assigned to a midday route for students with disabilities, but was recently promoted to a position that excites her: training new drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you drive a bus, no two days are ever the same, so it\u2019s never boring. Call me if you would like to drive for Bedford County. We are all here to help you. There is a lot to learn, and you can do it!\u201d said Juarez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qualified applicants are required to pass a Department of Transportation physical and a background check. Once approved, applicants train with Juarez and get paid while training. Because training is provided, a commercial driver\u2019s license or prior experience isn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Juarez said, \u201cThese positions are ideal for grandparents, stay-at-home moms and dads, and anyone who wants to be at home with their kids on their days off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Superintendent of Schools Tammy Garrett said, \u201cWhen we think of the backbone of a successful public school system, bus drivers often go unnoticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, they play a vital role as caretakers, role models, and the first point of contact many students have with the school each day. They work early mornings; they sometimes face long hours, and they have significant responsibilities. Our bus drivers truly are unsung heroes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Juarez said, \u201cMy goal is for every bus to have a driver. This is a very rewarding job because we watch as the kids grow up, graduate, and become part of society. We are the first person students see in the morning and the last person they see at the end of each school day. I love the kids, and I love to drive. You have to like kids to do this job, and you must have the attitude of \u2018How would I want someone to treat my child?\u2019 I treat each of them like they are my own.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COMMUNITIES ACROSS the nation are grappling with a severe shortage of school bus drivers \u2014 a crisis that has deepened in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Tennessee, the situation is no different, and Gov. Bill Lee and state officials are working to find solutions. Measures such as raising pay, offering sign-on bonuses, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":23676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/04\/Story-1-photo1-11-1024x683.jpg\")