There is an ongoing national school bus driver shortage in the U.S.
Many drivers are leaving to work in the private sector for higher pay because transportation funds are among the first budgets affected when school budgets are cut.
Parents have also noticed that it’s hard to find reliable school bus drivers nowadays if school districts can even find enough bus drivers. These driver shortages have caused issues in school districts all around the U.S.
These dire statistics make this story stand out even more.
School bus driver Eric Jimenez of the West Ada School District in Idaho has been driving for the past six years.
And in those six years, his goal is always to impact his community positively. Fortunately, parents and students are noticing and appreciating his efforts.
Meridian, Idaho, mom Cyndee Waynoni’s eight-year-old daughter Selah rides the school bus every day driven by Jimenez. Waynoni wanted to share his incredible story with the whole world.
At the beginning of the school year, Jimenez sent a special letter home with all his passengers. Here’s the letter below:
His inspiring letter touched Waynoni, and she sent the letter and photos of Jimenez with his young passengers to KTVB.
When the station posted it on its Facebook account, the post was shared by hundreds of people.
Other netizens also commented on how Eric positively impacted them and their children.
One said,” Yes, my children were so incredibly blessed with Eric as a bus driver. I shared a letter he wrote to each one of my children as well. So incredible! Such a positive role model and influence in such a bad atmosphere my children was encountering. Thank you Eric!”
Jimenez was surprised to find out that his letters had gone viral.
He shared that one day, he walked into the bus barn after his route, and his co-workers told him to check out what was happening online. He said that he was completely humbled and honored to be mentioned for something he does on a daily basis.
About his letter, Jimenez said it’s nothing new. “I’ve done it for about five years now, just creating that positivity in a space where, I don’t know where these kids are coming from, what home life is like, and if I can be that adult that can create that safe space for those kids,” he told KTVB.
He further said that he is sure that he’s tasked with taking care of the children he drives for and that his goal is to eliminate bullying one step at a time.
“If someone is being mean to anyone, he will always fix it. I have people that are protecting me,” said Selah. Jimenez is making a positive impact not just on his young passengers but on their families as well.
Waynoni also said that it was special for Jimenez to have the insight to see and recognize what their kids need, and when he took the time out and write the note, Jimenez showed the joy he finds in his work.
We can only hope that our children are surrounded by adults like Jimenez who recognize how much of an impact they can make on young people.
“I’ve always had this heart for teaching kids, being around kids, I’m helping to build the leaders of tomorrow,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said he plans to drive a school bus for many years and that he believes this is his calling. We completely agree with him!
Watch how Jimenez is inspiring and driving positive change in his community in the video below.
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