Beloved bus driver retires after 35 years

Jan Willson drove bus no. 91 back to base on April 16, cleared out the well-wishing cards, letters, flowers, and banners she'd collected on her route that day, and hung up her keys for good.

Her retirement marked the end an era for hundreds of families in the District. For 35 years, south-end students have started and ended their school day with Willson. She's driven the children of the children of the children she once drove to school, and some of her former passengers have grown up to become colleagues in the District Transportation Department. She's logged more than a half-million accident free miles. And—most importantly—students love her.

"If I am ever sad, I come to her with my problems," one Liberty High student said, a little misty-eyed after giving Willson a final hug. "School just won't be the same without her."

On her Maywood Middle run on her final day, the students spontaneously passed around sheets of paper to sign sentiments like "I will miss you so much, Jan!" and "We have the best bus driver in the world. Thanks, Jan!!!!" Families stood on the side of the road holding giant banners and the High Valley community posted farewell-and-good-luck fliers on bulletin boards.

Willson was drawn to driving buses decades ago because of the schedule that allowed her to be home with her own kids outside of school hours. She never expected to become so invested in the lives of the students she drove. "They're like my family, I just haven't been able to say goodbye until now," she said. "Every day is rewarding and every day is a challenge."

In a goodbye letter to the community, Willson told students: "I always enjoyed hearing about your adventures as you grew from kindergarten to high school graduates … All of you in one way or another have made my job fun and interesting! I will miss seeing your smiling (or sleepy) faces."

She has always approached the wheel with humor and consideration for students. "I try to be fair and understanding because with children, they're just learning," she said. "Riding a bus might be scary for them at first, or it takes time to learn what we're both like and how we work together."

One parent last year wrote Transportation Director Jo Porter to say how reassured she felt sending her kindergartner to his first day of school with Willson. "It was clear to this anxious parent that he would be in excellent hands," the parent wrote. "Jan was clear and firm with what she expected of them so they could cross safely to the bus. However, she was warm and welcoming as they took those big steps onto the bus … She knows each child and parent and every day when I say goodbye to my son, I'm aware of how grateful I am that he has a person like Jan to take him to school."

Willson took the same care with special-needs students and all others-everyone felt welcome and safe on her bus. Porter said Willson was a true star among drivers. "She has been a role model for others," Porter said. "She is dedicated to her job, has almost perfect attendance, and she has a great smile and a good sense of humor."

Luckily, Willson lives on a school bus route so she will still see plenty of her District family as they drive by and give a honk while she gardens, happy in retirement after 35 years of superb service to local students.