A concern about her young children getting to school on time back in the late 1990s led to Marie Dean’s employment at Berkeley County School District.
When she communicated her concerns to the district’s then-transportation director on the phone, the two got to talking and Dean learned the district was in desperate need of drivers – and that it offered training if she was interested in the job.
“And I said, ‘When’s your next class?'” she said. “I’ve been driving ever since.”
Since 1998, Dean has worked a total of 15 non-consecutive years driving for the district, and she loves it. She works out of BCSD’s Westview bus lot.
Her pivotal role in safely transporting students to and from school has helped Dean earn state recognition after competing in South Carolina’s Bus Road-e-o, organized by the Association for Pupil Transportation. It is an annual competition where bus drivers from across the state demonstrate their commitment to school bus safety and driving skills through written and behind-the-wheel tests. The state road-e-o was held May 6 outside of Columbia.
Dean won first place in the Regular Education Driver division for the state – a title that earned her $500 and a chance to compete at a national level.
BCSD Director of Transportation Tyra Ramsey said she could not be prouder of Dean.
“With all the obstacles and the heat during the competition, she adapted and brought the win home to Berkeley County School District,” Ramsey said. “She is an outstanding member of our team, and we are excited to see her compete in the National Roadeo.”
Participating in the competition is voluntary – for Dean, it was a bucket list item.
“I always wanted to do a road-e-o just to see what it’s like,” she said.
Dean dotes on the children who ride her bus, and said she had their support going in to the big event.
“My little ones were giving me hugs and telling me I was going to be wonderful and to do a good job…my high school (and middle school) kids were giving me fistbumps and wishing me luck,” she said.
Dean signed up figuring she had nothing to lose – in fact, she bonded with other district bus driver participants during the weekend and made a lot of friends.
“I came back with a family,” she said.
It was a long day that started at 7:30 a.m.. Dean said the competition focuses on a driver’s every-day procedures, but in more restrictive spaces. Drivers were tested on their abilities to safely back up the vehicle, go through railroad crossings, drive in perfectly straight lines and more.
Dean’s favorite part of the competition was a part called the serpentine, where the driver has to weave the school bus through traffic cones without hitting them – sort of like maneuvering the bus to create the letter "S."
“I love doing the serpentine,” Dean said.
She competed against 120 drivers altogether from the state and came out on top with a score of 607 – but Dean did not find this out until a few days after returning from the competition. At that point, Dean was actually under the weather at home, but her supervisor called her to tell her the good news.
“I really didn’t expect to win, but when I was told I won I just broke down crying,” she said. “I could not believe that I’d won.”
Her supervisor also announced the good news over the radio walkie talkie to inform Dean’s fellow Westview lot drivers.
“When it came over the radio, the person who was driving on my route…she said my kids went crazy – they went wild,” she said.
When she was feeling better and returned to work, the Westview lot threw her a celebration party. Dean confirmed the news that she had won with the students on her bus. They stayed in their seats, but – “If they could’ve given me a standing ovation I’m pretty sure they would have.”
It is that love and affection she has for the students that keeps Dean in the driver's seat.
“I love the children,” she said. “They make me feel young. I’ve tried different jobs, and I’ve always come back to driving…they make getting up in the morning worthwhile.”
That mutual love comes in handy; being a bus driver is a tough job that often requires Dean to wear different hats.
“I’m their mom, their dad, their counselor, their secretary…” Dean said. “We’re not just bus drivers…we’re a lot more than just bus drivers.”
Now Dean is preparing for the national event, which will be held in November in Frisco, Texas. Dean is nervous, but is being supported by her BCSD family.
“I just want to say that driving for BCSD is a wonderful job,” she said. “It is fantastic to be able to be a bus driver and I just love it.”
