Bus drivers from various districts learn ‘Love & Logic’ strategies

July 26, 2019 | 3:07 am

Updated July 25, 2019 | 8:47 pm

Marian Edmunds has been a DCPS bus driver for more than 20 years working with exceptional students. | Photo by Ashley Sorce

School bus drivers from the Daviess County, Owensboro, Hancock County and McLean County Public Schools districts participated in a specialized training focusing on “Love & Logic” strategies and trauma-informed practices on Thursday, July 25. These trainings were designed to help transportation professionals recognize and respond to student behaviors in a positive way.

Bus drivers are often the first member of a school team who sees a child at the beginning of the day, and the last to see them at the end of the day.

“They can absolutely be that one positive adult relationship that kids need,” said DCPS district social worker Christina Dalton, who facilitated the training along with Highland Elementary School principal Leslie Peveler.

Marian Edmunds has been a bus driver for DCPS for over 20 years and understands the impact that she can have on the students she transports each day. Edmunds’ route caters to those students that may have individualized special needs and, for that reason, she looks forward to going to work each and every day.

“I’ve worked with troubled kids and special needs kids and I love it,” Edmunds said. “Children with special needs have a pure heart. I love my kids — it’s not for the money.”

Edmunds said she has enjoyed working with students who need extra love and compassion over the past 20 years and has “had to pick her battles” as necessary. The ‘Love and Logic’ training offered to these drivers was designed with the same level of understanding in mind.

“All of the participating districts requested this ‘Love & Logic’ training in recognition of the recurring need to reinforce our understanding, compassion, communication and positive discipline skills when safely conducting daily pupil management within our respective school communities,” said DCPS Director of Transportation Downey Ward.

According to Ward, 300 school bus drivers and monitors were scheduled to attend the training session Thursday.

The goal of providing these trainings to education support professionals is to embrace children with consistent, supportive and positive adult behaviors throughout the school day.

“We know that in order for things to change for a child, we have to first change ourselves,” Dalton said.

July 26, 2019 | 3:07 am

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