|  | Bus driver donates $1,000 to Wheelock School
1/26/2006 11:50 AMSaint Paul, Minn. – School bus driver Howie Roberts
donated $1,000 dollars to Wheelock School because he believes the
teachers aides are the best he has ever encountered. Roberts,
honored with a 2005 “Driver Specialist Award” by the Minnesota School
Bus Operators’ Association, received $1,000 along with the award that
he could donate to any Minnesota school of this choosing. Roberts
immediately decided that he would donate the money to Saint Paul Public
Schools’ Wheelock School, Early Childhood Special Education/School
Readiness Inclusion. Roberts has driven the Wheelock route at various
times since 1992.
At a January 20th “Howie Roberts Celebration at Wheelock School,” the
student body of 2- to 5 year-old special education children gathered
with staff to honor Roberts and to accept his $1,000 donation.
“We are so very grateful for Howie’s donation and his kind words,” said
Principal Audrey Bridgeford. “And more importantly, the kids and
parents are so grateful for him becoming such an important part of
their lives.” Bridgeford explained that Howie requested that the aides
be included in deciding how the money would be used. A team of aides is
considering several types of playground equipment.
“I don’t like being in the spotlight — I like helping others,”
Roberts said to the audience. “However, I am so happy to donate
this money to Wheelock. I chose your school because of the teacher
aides. They bend over backward to do anything for the kids and for the
school.” Roberts said that he has worked with many schools while
driving for Monarch, but he has never seen anything like the commitment
and hard work displayed by the aides at Wheelock.
“Howie is a unique and special member of our team. He serves each child
here and makes safety his top priority. That is one reason he won the
award,” said Roberts’ employer, Bruce Dischinger, president of Monarch
Bus Service. “However, the award also recognizes those who give
back to their community. In addition to investing in each of you, he
invests his time in others through the Boy Scouts, through his church
and in many other ways throughout the community.”
The Minnesota School Bus Operators’ Association annually awards up to six “Driver Specialist Awards” statewide.
Caption1 (for photo titled AudreyHowie1A): Audrey Bridgeford (l),
principal of Wheelock School, receives a $1,000 donation from bus
driver Howie Roberts. Roberts received the money when he was
award the 2005 “Driver Specialist Award” from the Minnesota School Bus
Operators’ Association. Award winners receive $1,000 that they can
donate to any Minnesota school of their choosing.
(PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQEST.)
|
