In Woodford County Public Schools, knowing our students well and building relationships with them is fundamental to everything we do in the district. Jerry Gardner, who has been driving a bus in Woodford County for 17 years, demonstrates this commitment to his students each time they set foot on his bus. Brittany Sherrod, a senior at WCHS, says, “Mr. Gardner is very personal with each student. He has high fives and fist bumps and handshakes for every student every day. He’s so kind.”
These simple gestures speak volumes to students. For example, Preston Woods, a senior at WCHS, laughs as he explains how the students who ride the bus with him tell Jerry that he shouldn’t retire until they all graduate. Preston remarks, “He’s always very upbeat and asks how your day is. It makes you want to ride the bus with him.” Jerry shares this same sentiment; he enjoys being with the kids he drives, so he continues driving for WCPS. In fact, the most rewarding part of the job for Jerry is “seeing students do well.” He says, “To see one of them be successful is my favorite part. I’ve had some good ones over the years that I haven’t forgotten. They still make contact with me, and I enjoy seeing them.”
Students appreciate Mr. Gardner for many reasons. As Kay Penn, Director of Transportation, describes, “Jerry has a true servant heart when it comes to the students he transports. He is caring and full of heart, dedicated, and has great integrity; his work ethic is second to none. His devotion to the students of Woodford County and his willingness to go the extra mile are exemplary.” Additionally, Scott Hawkins, Superintendent, says the following about Jerry's role in Woodford County Public Schools, “Our bus drivers are so important to what we do in our school district because they are the first people that our kids see in the morning and the last people that they see each day. By creating a great environment on that bus ride in or the bus ride home, that’s a great benefit to our kids.”
It's easy to see why Jerry was selected as the recipient of the 2018-2019 Woodford Outstanding Service Award for the Transportation Department. Mr. Gardner says he was humbled and caught off guard to receive this award. Jerry's humility, kindness, and desire to go above and beyond for others make him an integral member of our school district; we are grateful to have him in our school district!
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