ACPS Transportation Hosts Month of Professional Development

By Albemarle County Public Schools

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — It might be a worrisome scene to someone who doesn’t know what’s going on.

There are people scattered on the floor throughout the room, and a chorus of “Are you OK?” rings throughout the space.

Thankfully, this is only a training exercise in which members of the Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) Department of Transportation are being trained in CPR administration. Others are building skills for clear and effective workplace communication.

Both of these classes are part of a series of professional development courses offered to ACPS bus drivers throughout the month of March, aimed at sharpening the multitude of skills our drivers need as they take to the roads with our students each day.

“Professional development is essential to ensuring our team remains safe, confident, and effective in a role that directly impacts students every day,” Daniel Richardson, Assistant Director of Transportation, said. “Transportation employees are often the first and last point of contact for students, so their ability to manage situations, communicate clearly, and respond to challenges is critical.”

Earlier in the year, department leadership surveyed staff to gather feedback and found that many members of the department had a strong interest in greater involvement in training, Richardson said. In response to this feedback, the department created a professional development program based on areas of need as identified by staff.

“The passion and effort our employee-instructors put into developing high-quality sessions has been truly impressive,” Richardson said. “This was an ambitious and logistically complex initiative, and I’m incredibly proud of the team for bringing it to life so successfully.”

With help from Transportation staff and other division leadership, the department offered employees classes on various safety topics like emergency response, first aid and CPR. There were also several classes offered in a variety of professional skills, like communication, student management and cultural awareness.

“Employees have told us they found the sessions helpful and engaging, and we’re encouraged by the level of participation and enthusiasm we’ve seen throughout the series,” Richardson said.

Richardson said employee feedback and enthusiasm for the courses have affirmed the value of this approach for the Department of Transportation, adding that the work this year has laid a strong foundation for future professional development programs.

“Our team is deeply committed to protecting students and being fully prepared for any situation,” Richardson said. “By investing in professional development, we’re not only strengthening individual performance, but also improving the overall safety, reliability and quality of service we provide to our schools and community.”