When August rolls around, children load their backpacks with new school supplies and pack their lunchboxes. They might even have a hard time sleeping the night before school starts, with the anticipation of a new school year looming large. 

But it’s not just the youngsters who are gearing up for their first day. Numerous employees, many of whom are as old as the students’ grandparents, also take great pride in their roles—whether it’s driving the yellow buses or tutoring them in class.

Elaine Wong

“It’s almost like volunteering to help the community, but you get paid for it,” said Elaine Wong, 74. 

Before becoming a paraprofessional for Academy District 20, Wong worked as an ESL teacher in Japan and a professor at various universities. Now she works alongside a diverse group of colleagues, including bus drivers and fellow paraprofessionals who come from varied professional backgrounds—ranging from a retired nuclear engineer to former business managers and military veterans.

RETIREMENT REDEFINED

Working as a bus driver or paraprofessional is particularly well suited for older employees. These positions offer numerous benefits such as generous time off, flexible part-time hours, retirement benefits and the chance to positively impact students from all walks of life. 

“We have one driver who just passed the 30-year mark, and our oldest employee is 85 years old,” said District 20’s Director of Transportation Joey Eisenhut, 61. 

One driver even works alongside the man who was his own bus driver when he was a kid! 

The Transportation Department at District 20 employs about 200 people, with 75% of them over age 55. Many drivers start working with the intention of retiring at 65 but continue working because they enjoy it. 

Pat Plagman, 77, a former IT technical engineer and manager, became interested in driving after attending a school district’s bus rodeo in Georgia. It wasn’t until returning to Colorado with his wife Sheila, 64, that he decided to pursue a position as a bus driver, later persuading Sheila to apply for a paraprofessional job. 

Bus driver Sheila Plagman’s friendly greetings help students start their school day on a positive note.

Sheila, who was a certified project manager at Hewlett-Packard, remarked, “I swore I would never drive a bus. But after a few years and a lot of soul searching, I applied for a driver’s position because I wanted more responsibility.” 

Sheila enjoys working with children, drawing on her past experience with the Special Olympics, a passion she shares with Pat.

EXPERIENCE MEETS ENERGY

Working with children keeps employees young at heart and brings unexpected moments of joy and laughter.

“You’re really old,” blurted one of Wong’s students.

“Oh, yeah? How old do you think I am?” Wong asked. 

The student thought for a moment before replying, “50!” giving 74-year-old Wong a good laugh.

In many cases, bonding with students often happens quickly. As a substitute paraprofessional, Wong interacts with a variety of students—often over a very short period. She fondly recalled a particularly touching moment:  

“One time I subbed for about two weeks before the regular para came back. One of the kids took my hand and said, ‘I don’t want you to leave.’” 

In just a short time, Wong had left a positive impression.

Opportunities to connect are plentiful, whether in the classroom or on the bus. 

Sheila shared her experience on one of District 20’s toughest routes: “I had a young lady on the bus who was a sophomore in foster care, and a very difficult student. On my last day, she exited, then came back on the bus, gave me a hug and said, ‘I’m really going to miss you.’” 

Senior employees give generously of their time and experience, and they receive so much in return.

“You can actually come into work having a bad day, but when you see your favorite student, they’ll turn it around in a heartbeat,” Sheila said.

SCHOOLED IN SAFETY

These memorable experiences with students are made possible by the unwavering dedication of transportation professionals who prioritize student safety and comfort.

District 20 strictly adheres to the No Student Left Behind policy, ensuring that transportation staff conduct thorough inspections of their buses at the end of each trip to confirm no students remain onboard.

Pat Plagman

The commitment to safety extends beyond District 20’s own routes. Eisenhut works with third-party organizations like HopSkipDrive to provide transportation for students living outside the district’s regular routes, including those who are unhoused or in foster care. HopSkipDrive supports the district’s safety policies with strict driver background checks and real-time smartphone alerts that track every part of the journey.

District 20 offers comprehensive safety training to its drivers and paraprofessionals, covering CPR, first aid and protocols from the Crisis Prevention Institute. They are also trained in securing wheelchairs, safety vests and additional car seats. 

The Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association collaborates with the Colorado Department of Education to host seminars and banquets that keep transportation employees up-to-date with the latest safety protocols and technical standards.

Transportation professionals play a crucial role in creating a positive atmosphere for students from the moment they step onto the bus. 

“Bus drivers and paras facilitate the opening and closing ceremonies for every student that rides our buses,” Eisenhut said. “I tell them, ‘You’re the first representative of District 20 they see at the beginning of the day and the last representative at the end of the day. You have the power to set the stage for the student’s entire day.’”

Superintendent Jinger Haberer praised the transportation team for their exemplary service. 

“Our transportation team at D-20 is truly world-class and proves to be an essential part of our district,” said Haberer. 

She is particularly grateful for those team members who are in their second careers and show up for the students every day.

“Their dedication to excellence allows our students to safely get to school and embrace their learning. We are so grateful for the entire transportation department and their cornerstone contribution to D20 Team One!” she stated, referring to the district’s aspiration to be one cohesive learning community.

The Plagmans, who are integral to this effort, share a unique perspective on their roles. 

“It’s not a job,” Pat noted. 

Sheila quickly added, “It’s an adventure!”