A Berks County school bus driver was among three drivers recognized by the Shapiro Administration Wednesday for their performance in Pennsylvania’s annual School Bus Driver Safety Competition.
Pamela Little, a driver with Krise Transportation in Berks County, earned third place in the conventional bus category during the 47th State School Bus Driver Safety Competition, held in June at Bald Eagle Area High School in Bellefonte, Centre County.
Nearly 50 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participated in the competition, which evaluated their knowledge and driving abilities through a written examination and a practical driving skills test conducted on a closed course.
Little was recognized alongside first-place winner Angela Martin of Brightbill Transport in Lancaster County and second-place winner Joanne Cowan of Krapf School Bus in Chester County.
The drivers were honored Wednesday during a School Bus Safety Week ceremony at the Hershey Antique Automobile Museum, where state officials also recognized students for their entries in the 2026 School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
“School bus drivers are on the front lines and in the public eye every day ensuring the safety of our children as they travel to and from school and activities and are doing an extraordinary job,” said Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Zeina Black, Permits and Bus Safety Division Supervisor for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Division of the Bureau of Patrol. “Every day, they deliver their precious cargo to its destination without incident, reinforcing the trust parents have in their abilities.”
The ceremony coincided with School Bus Safety Week, observed October 19-23 in Pennsylvania under a proclamation issued by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
State officials said school bus drivers transport more than 1.4 million students across Pennsylvania each day.
“With the end of another summer, school is back in session, and school buses have returned to our roads, shifting the Shapiro Administration’s focus to getting young Pennsylvanians to and from school safely,” said PennDOT Director of Driver Licensing Dios Arroyo. “School Bus Safety Week gives everyone an opportunity to pause and realize just how much our own actions behind the wheel can affect innocent, young lives.”
In addition to recognizing the drivers, PennDOT and Pennsylvania State Police honored 10 students for their school bus safety posters. This year’s contest received 92 entries from schools across the state under the theme “Safe Rides – Everyday Heroes.”
The first-place poster entries advanced to a national competition in August, where two Pennsylvania students earned placements in their respective divisions.
