GCPS Honors Bus Driver Appreciation Day, National School Bus Safety Week

     On Monday, October 20, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) observed Bus Driver Appreciation Day, recognizing the team of over 1,590 bus drivers and 190 monitors who safely transport more than 133,000 students to and from school each day. This week kicked off the week-long National School Bus Safety Week (October 20-24), a time dedicated to reinforcing the importance of safe pupil transportation.

     Schools and transportation teams throughout GCPS showed their appreciation through thank-you cards, breakfast goodies and small celebrations for all of the hard work bus drivers and monitors do each day to not only provide safe and reliable transportation, but a secure environment for students that can set the tone for a positive school day.

     GCPS also observes National School Bus Safety Week by participating in the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) School Bus Safety Poster Contest, which encourages school bus safety messages from K-12 students through artwork. This year’s theme is “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” and highlights the critical role school bus drivers play in protecting and keeping students safe. Last year, GCPS had two state winners in the annual contest: Anaisha Taran, 3rd grade, Division 2, second place winner from Sugar Hill Elementary School and Ehxi Chen, 6th grade, Division 3, third-place winner from Northbrook Middle School. Winners of the 2025 poster contest will be announced in May 2026.