Sara Mayer
Cedar Falls
Summary
Operations leader in transportation, managing systems for over 4,000 students across 22 schools. Focused on optimizing bus routes to enhance on-time performance, ensuring compliance with regulations, and mediating stakeholder disputes to uphold service quality and community trust.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Transportation Manager
Waterloo Community School District
2022 - Current
- Directs daily transportation operations for 21 schools, supporting 4,000+ students.
- Supervised 22 employees and managed daily operations of 9 vans, ensuring compliance with safety standards and maintaining high performance.
- Develops and optimize bus routes using routing software and increasing on-time performance.
- Acts as primary liaison between the school district and contracted transportation provider, ensuring alignment on safety protocols, service standards, and performance expectations.
- Facilitated regular meetings and communication between district and busing company to address concerns, resolve service issues, and coordinate route adjustments.
- Ensures full compliance with state regulations, including DOT regulations, state transportation laws, and district policies and procedures.
- Mediated disputes between stakeholders, including parents, schools, and contractor, to uphold service quality and strengthen community trust.
Caseworker Foster Care & Adoption
Four Oaks Family Connections
2020 - 2022
- Wrote thorough, unbiased home study assessments for prospective and current foster and adoptive families, recommending licensure and adoption approval to DHS.
- Guided pre-adoptive families throughout the adoption process to ensure stability and successful transitions.
- Supported foster families to keep children stable for as long as placement is needed.
- Collaborated with stakeholders for case management.
- Conducted pre-screening activities for potential foster families to identify suitable placements.
VISTA Volunteer Coordinator
Corporation for National & Community Services
2019 - 2020
- Supported 800 Adult Education & Literacy Students.
- Collaborated with staff and instructors to assess and address volunteer needs.
- Developed a new volunteer program, creating a sustainable program with effective strategies for continuation and growth.
- Conducted community outreach and recruited volunteers to enhance ongoing engagement.
- Launched recruitment campaign to find, increase, train, and retain volunteers.
- Developed policies and procedures for volunteer handbook and training materials to support effective onboarding.
- Developed a data and document process to continue the growth of the volunteer program.
- Set and communicated goals, assessed progress, and gave regular feedback.
Veteran Outreach Specialist
Operation Threshold
2018 - 2019
- Received the 2019 Veteran Volunteer Award for assisting and supporting Black Hawk County veterans through Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs office.
- Successfully promoted the second annual 2019 Veterans Stand Down, which generated donations from over 50 local businesses.
- Successfully promoted the first annual 2018 Veterans Stand Down, which generated donations from over 30 local businesses.
- Delivered outreach support to connect homeless veterans in Black Hawk & Buchanan County with essential services.
- Facilitated referrals to local community resources for applicants not yet enrolled in programs.
- Documented client’s data in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) software and submitted data to supervisor for program eligibility.
- Clarified program expectations & eligibility requirements to ensure applicants understood their options.
Lead Teacher
Tri-County Head Start
2014 - 2017
- Executed lessons based on curriculum requirements in all pre-K subjects (math, science, language arts, social studies) to classrooms of up to #20 students.
- Compiled data and generated progress reports for parent conferences, ensuring accurate monitoring of classroom compliance and student development.
- Participated in Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) committee to enhance student behavior management strategies.
- Coordinated with Family Worker to streamline student enrollment and orientation processes, enhancing family engagement.
- Conducted outreach and educational activities for families to promote program participation and resource utilization.
- Linked families to health, human services, and program-specific information.
- Maintained student records to be accurate and up-to-date.
- Managed inventory processes and organized supplies.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
Upper Iowa University
Waterloo, IowaAssociates of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, iowaSkills
- Logistics management
- Transportation and route optimization
- Supply chain management
- Regulatory compliance
- Vendor and third-party management
- Operations improvement
- Routing software expertise
- Data analysis and reporting
- Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
- Staff supervision and training
- Conflict resolution and stakeholder communication
Timeline
Transportation Manager
Waterloo Community School District
2022 - Current
Caseworker Foster Care & Adoption
Four Oaks Family Connections
2020 - 2022
VISTA Volunteer Coordinator
Corporation for National & Community Services
2019 - 2020
Veteran Outreach Specialist
Operation Threshold
2018 - 2019
Lead Teacher
Tri-County Head Start
2014 - 2017
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
Upper Iowa University
Associates of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
Hawkeye Community College