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	Bus driver donates $1,000 to Wheelock School 1/26/2006 11:50 AM Saint 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.)