School bus drivers showed off their safety skills this month at the 2025 Roadeo, hosted at the Buncombe County Schools Transportation Center.
Drivers from BCS, along with those from Asheville City, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania county school systems, competed on a road course with obstacles they needed to avoid. Challenges included guiding a bus through a row of tennis balls without knocking any over and making a tight turn without hitting any traffic cones.
“We have a lot of narrow roads here in the mountains,” shared Kathy Bailey, a bus driver for Emma Elementary. “The Roadeo is a chance to show that we’ve kept our skills sharp to keep our kids safe.”
The event is also an opportunity to recognize unsung heroes who care for students each day.
“Our bus drivers are our frontline ambassadors for our schools,” said Buncombe County Schools Transportation Director Jeremy Stowe. “They’re often the first person a student sees every morning, and they help set the tone for the day. The Roadeo is a great way to bring the drivers together to celebrate all they do and have them display all the skills they’ve gained in their training and daily duties as bus drivers.”
