Bus Drivers Guiding Principles for Training

  1. A relationship must be built with the drivers. This might be done accomplished best by having an outside source facilitate the training.
  2. It needs to be more of a facilitated discussion than a training.
  3. Discussion needs to focus specifically on buses.
  4. The action plan must be developed based on input from the drivers.
  5. The basic concepts of PBIS should be incorporated into the action plan but it needs be very specific relating to buses.
  6. Plan to center around safety on the bus for both students and drivers.
  7. When looking at behaviors it must include both students and drivers.
  8. Please note that in some cases the drivers feels it is us against them(school)
  9. Initially the training needs to focus on buses as a community of their own.
  10. Whatever action plan is developed it needs to be consistent on all buses, all students, and all drivers.
  11. Please keep in mind their major concern probably a safety and has nothing to do with academics.

Process

Part One: Intro

Internal or external facilitator

Provide previous bus experience

Outline session goal:Facilitate discussion to assist in creating a positive safe environment on the bus for students and drivers.

Discussion Starters:

What would you like the outcome of the session to be?

What do you see the best way to reach this outcome?

What are your overall expectations of students on your bus? Do you feel that these expectations are consistent?

Part Two: Behavior Expectations

Activity: Bus drivers review the overall school expectations including the bus (see matrix).

Set aside the school matrix to the side (may revisit this at the end to compare to bus driver developed matrix/expectations).

Provide very brief foundation and philosophy of PBIS.

Keep in mind once again academics is not there major concern.

Activity: Building Bus Expectations

What behaviors would you like to see eliminated on the bus?

Are there any behaviors/causes listed that they have no control over?

(i.e. bad parenting)

Are there any behaviors on the list that can be combined or are repetitious?

Assist them in grouping behaviors into 2 or 3 key expectations.

Activity: Make a list of the things are going well on the bus.

Activity: Break into small groups to prioritize the top 3 behaviors they would like to change.

Safety and respect are likely to be the top 2 priorities identified by each small group.

Part Three: Relationship Building

Facilitate a discussion on how they build relationships with the students on their bus.

Do they currently have a system in place for acknowledging students for good behaviors.

If so is a system consistent.If a system is not in place, what would an ideal system look like.

Is there currently a system in place for acknowledging bus drivers for positive behaviors?

If not, what would the system look like?

How do you want to communicate and interact with students? How will this impact behavior?

Part Four: Action Planning

Activity: Begin to develop a positive behavior bus action plan.

Key features that work:

Leadership team consisting of a few drivers, a bus company rep and a school or district rep. The goal is for this leadership team to take the input from the bus drivers and develop an action plan.

Reminders: It is a process and not going to happen overnight.

Focus on one or two behaviors you would like to see changed or eliminated.

Use PBIS framework: teaching expectations, acknowledging, prevention, communication, data (measures).

Wrap up Activity: If appropriate, review the connections to the school wide expectations matrix. How are they similar or different? Are stakeholders in agreement with what behaviors should look like on the bus?