Sheila Thomas
Santa Rosa,CA
Summary
I am a dedicated and safety-focused school bus driver with extensive experience at Laidlaw Transit/First Student. Proven ability to enhance student satisfaction through effective communication, and attention to detail. Skilled in routing protocols and problem-solving, ensuring compliance with safety regulations while fostering a positive environment for students. Committed to maintaining high standards of service and operational efficiency, I've been a school bus driver for over 20 years, and I'm looking for the opportunity to expand in the routing department. I feel like I would be a good asset in this department. I have the knowledge of working and routing as an employee at First Student. I worked in a few different departments other than driving, including dispatch and routing for about four years while still being a school bus driver. I enjoy learning new things and catch on pretty fast. I work well with others and feel like this would be a good fit for me.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
School Bus Driver
West County Transportation Agency
Santa Rosa, California
07.2021 - Current
- Operated school bus safely, adhering to laws and safety regulations.
- Conducted pre-trip inspections to ensure vehicle safety and compliance.
- Monitored student behavior to foster a safe, respectful environment during transit.
- Implemented efficient routing strategies to optimize travel times and minimize delays.
- Maintained accurate records of daily routes, incidents, and student information.
- Supported special needs students by accommodating individual requirements for comfort.
- Communicated regularly with students, parents, and school staff regarding transportation schedules.
- Fostered positive relationships with students, promoting respectful interactions.
School Bus Driver
Laidlaw Transit/First Student
Santa Rosa/San Rafael, California
11.2001 - 07.2021
- Operated school buses safely, adhering to traffic laws and safety protocols.
- Conducted pre-trip inspections to ensure vehicle readiness and safety compliance.
- Assisted students in boarding and exiting the bus, promoting a welcoming environment.
- Communicated effectively with parents regarding route changes and schedules.
- Monitored student behavior during transit to maintain a safe atmosphere.
- Maintained accurate records of daily mileage and fuel usage for reporting purposes.
- Transported students to school in a timely manner while keeping assigned route schedule.
- I worked in the dispatch department for 4 years as a sub-dispatcher, relieving coworkers for their lunch and covering shifts when someone was sick or on vacation.
- I worked in the routing department for 4 years, creating routes, making changes, adding and deleting students and schools, and changing drop-off and pick-up locations. I worked with schools and parents, gathering information on students and inputting information from the emergency forms.
- Proven ability to learn quickly, to adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Organized, detail-oriented, and with a strong work ethic.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interaction with others.
- I learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
Quality Control Inspector/Seal Press Operator
McCoy Packaging
Petaluma, California
07.1998 - 07.2001
- Monitored production processes to ensure quality standards were met and documented results of inspections.
- Tested finished goods prior to shipment according to established protocols.
- Maintained records of all nonconforming products and completed corrective actions as required.
- Assessed materials, parts and products for conformance with quality control requirements and production specifications.
- Selected samples for use as test models.
- Marked materials with grade or acceptance status.
- Operated printing presses to produce high-quality printed materials.
- Adjusted settings on equipment for different print specifications and materials.
- Perform minor repairs to machines as needed.
- Perform maintenance tasks such as lubricating moving parts or cleaning presses after use.
- Set up and operated progressive presses to produce materials to customer specifications.
- Load rolls of material onto feed mechanism of press.
- Inspect and test printed materials for defects such as smearing, blurring, fading, or streaking.
Cashier/Shift Supervisor
Carl's Jr
Windsor, California
1994 - 1998
- Greeted customers and addressed inquiries regarding products and services.
- Resolved customer complaints and escalated issues to senior management.
- Monitored staff performance to uphold quality standards in service delivery.
- Supervised employees, maintaining high productivity and customer satisfaction levels.
- Assigned tasks based on team members' strengths and skill sets.
- Operated cash register accurately, processing various payment methods.
- Handled cash duties, including counting money and balancing registers.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of service area for efficient operations.
Education
High School Diploma -
Rancho Cotate High School
Rohnert Park, CA06-1997
Skills
- Dependable and reliable
- Safety-focused
- Routing protocols
- Multitasking
- Works well with others
- Organization skills
- Effective communication
- Great attitude
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Knowledgeable about routes
- Vehicle inspection
- Safety compliance
- Student monitoring
- Special needs accommodation
Timeline
School Bus Driver
West County Transportation Agency
07.2021 - Current
School Bus Driver
Laidlaw Transit/First Student
11.2001 - 07.2021
Quality Control Inspector/Seal Press Operator
McCoy Packaging
07.1998 - 07.2001
Cashier/Shift Supervisor
Carl's Jr
1994 - 1998
High School Diploma -
Rancho Cotate High School