O’FALLON, Mo. – The Francis Howell School District secured first place in the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation’s (MoAPT) 50th Annual School Bus Driver Safety Competition.
Hannah Scharfenberg will represent Missouri in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition in Texas. A driver from the Pattonville School District will also represent Missouri, making them the only two drivers from the state to qualify for this prestigious event.
The competition tests the skills and expertise of school bus drivers across Missouri in various safety-related challenges, including vehicle inspection, driving skills, and emergency procedures. It serves as a platform to promote and recognize excellence in school bus transportation safety practices, aiming to enhance overall safety standards for student transport.
Scharfenberg joined the Francis Howell School District in May 2017 as a driver under First Student. During the 2022-2023 school year, she took on the role of router intern while continuing her driving duties. In July 2023, she became a full-time router but continued to drive as needed.
“I started working for Francis Howell School District in May 2017 as a driver under First Student. During the 2022-2023 school year, I became a router intern and worked in that position while also driving,” Scharfenberg said in an email. “In July 2023, I was hired as a full-time router and had to hang up my full-time driving position. I still drove during this last year to help cover routes.”
Scharfenberg obtained her bus driver’s license in January 2006 while employed by the Rockwood School District. She has since competed in nearly all regional and state competitions.
“I have qualified for the international competition for the tenth time. They haven’t held a competition since it was in Austin, Texas in July 2019 when I represented Francis Howell School District for the first time,” Scharfenberg said. “I was fortunate enough to win first place at the International Competition in the Transit Division for Francis Howell under First Student, right after I joined in July 2017.”
Scharfenberg’s participation in bus driving competitions was inspired by her mother’s background as a bus driver. The competition became a passion for her, driven by the desire to learn and improve continuously.
“I have an extremely competitive spirit, but it became more about becoming a better driver. The competition becomes an obsession to learn more, do better, and understand exactly what space a bus can or cannot navigate,” said Scharfenberg. “The goal is always to come away with a new piece of information you can use. Whether it’s for the competition or in our industry, it’s also about networking and meeting people from across the state or even the country at the international level. It’s called international because it includes Canada and Puerto Rico. They become your friends, confidants, and even family.”
MoAPT is sponsoring Scharfenberg’s registration for the competition.
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