How to hire a school transportation director

How to hire a school transportation director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step school transportation director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a school transportation director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new school transportation director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The school transportation director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A school transportation director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, school transportation directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of school transportation directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of School Transportation Director	Description	Hourly rate
   School Transportation Director	Bus drivers transport people between various places—including work, school, and shopping malls—and across state or national borders. Some drive regular routes, and others transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours.	$6-58
   Bus Driver	Bus drivers are mainly responsible for safely transporting passengers to their destinations. Bus drivers must be attentive and highly focused to monitor road situations at all times, avoiding any cause of accidents... Show more	$13-21
   Bus Monitor	A bus monitor is responsible for supervising students on school buses and coordinating with bus drivers, ensuring a safe transport service for everyone. They are in charge of monitoring the students' behavior, assisting the students with mobility issues, maintaining order, and enforcing the safety rules and policies... Show more	$10-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • CDL
   • Board Approval

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide appropriate intervention in conflict situations according to ISS standards; notify principal or office when necessary.
   • Obtain information about children health history and allergies

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your school transportation director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A school transportation director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, school transportation directors' average salary in missouri is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level school transportation directors 88% less than senior-level school transportation directors.
   • Certifications. A school transportation director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a school transportation director's salary.

   Average school transportation director salary

   $42,466yearly

   $20.42 hourly rate

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   Entry-level school transportation director salary

   $14,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a school transportation director job description

   A good school transportation director job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a school transportation director job description:

   School transportation director job description example

   As a Paraprofessional who provides Student Transportation with The Menta Group, you will be responsible for working with classroom instructors and staff to offer targeted teaching and support to students in the classroom, as well as general support for all students in the school. You will also provide student transportation to and from school, using school equipment (van or bus).
   
   Responsibilities Use school transportation equipment (van or bus) to transport students to and from school Within the Classroom: Manage classroom behaviors Report behavioral concerns of students to appropriate staff Implement and maintain behavioral program policies and data Maintain classroom order and safety (Security) Provide general supervision of students inside the school setting Assist in the prevention and management of incidents of non-compliance and/or escalation in behavior Maintain alertness for problems likely to disrupt the educational process or to be a safety concern and correct and report these conditions Respond to emergency situations Provide interventions to students to assist in managing behaviors Think quickly, independently, and tactfully
   
   QualificationsValid Driver's License with Passenger Endorsement Preferred but not required CDL-B Must be Age 23 or OlderHigh School Diploma or EquivalentParaprofessional Certification is ideal, but not required Absolutely must be punctual and have good attendance Have an established work history of transportation and demonstrated length-of-stay in jobs Must have patience and a willingness to work with students that require behavior and emotional support Must Have Acceptable Motor Vehicle RecordPass drug and criminal background screening procedures
   
   BenefitsBenefit options include: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Supplemental Insurance ProgramsMedical Insurance enrollment is available to full time employees on their date of hire. No waiting period.10 Month School Position with 12 Month Semi-Monthly Pay Generous Paid Time Off Benefits for salaried employees403(b) Investment Options
   Menta Academy Oak Park
   
   Our unique, innovative learning environment provides the ideal instructional formula in Menta's focus on personalized learning, which allows students to have some level of voice and choice on what they learn, the pace at which they learn and to some extent where they learn. Tailoring the learning experiences via a student's Individual Educational Plan, with an emphasis on student inquiry and interests increases engagement and optimizes learning.
   
   Menta Academy Oak Park is one of the most unique educational settings around. The school was designed to look like a Google office since the learning environment mirrors that of a business setting. Students, facilitated by highly skilled educators, learn in a blended learning environment using digital online media, group problem solving, and individual self directed learning. Our methods are steeped in highly recognized scientific research which is designed to provide data driven outcomes. The students will work in any number of spaces created to provide structure, consistency and predictability, all necessary ingredients for a successful educational experience. Areas of learning may include CEO conference table for group work and analysis, a Think Tank where students collaborate in small groups learning to be productive team members, and Socratic Discourse Bleachers where larger groups meet with teacher facilitators to address challenges that require development and critical thinking skills.
   
   More About The Menta Group
   
   The Menta Group's mission is “To provide innovative solutions to critical problems in education and human services.” Menta brings a framework of educational practices that have been designed and are supported through evidence based practices. Menta's collaborative process with various school and community stakeholders has resulted in programs designed to educate, support, challenge, empower and celebrate students who present with a range of academic, social and emotional needs. At the beginning of a student's experience with Menta, a collaborative meeting is held that includes the student, significant people in their lives, Menta staff and other professionals as appropriate. During that meeting, a comprehensive assessment of the student's past, present and future desires is used to establish a student centered plan (MAP) that serves as a foundation of the student's Menta programming. A guiding principle of Menta is ‘we do not give up', while also holding our students and staff to high expectations. The educational offerings at a Menta program provides students with a quality education that is designed to nurture and enhance the skills and maturity needed to meet the challenges of being productive adults and citizens in a rapidly changing 21st century world.
   
   Menta's programs utilize a unique curricular framework that relies on the Expanded Menta Method and Trauma Informed Practices as the foundational principles for the teaching, counseling and mentoring work done by our highly trained staff. Personalized learning is the hub of our strategic curricular design intended to meet the needs of every student. Starting with the end in mind (learning targets and academic goals), a leveraging of current technologies coupled with highly trained instructional facilitators creates a rich learning environment supporting all student needs. Menta's learning spaces are unique and specially designed to combine traditional teacher/student interaction with state of the art technology and learning innovations. Those learning spaces are flexible and can accommodate a variety of learning activities, such as inquiry learning and project based learning. Our spaces are designed to mimic productive spaces learners would find in business and/or corporate environments, thereby helping students achieve a mind-set designed for adult learning and work.
   
   Professional Associations and/or Partnerships
   
   The Menta Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   The Menta Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Menta Group ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. The District has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making application for any opening should contact the district office.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right school transportation director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your school transportation director job on Zippia to find and recruit school transportation director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit school transportation directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new school transportation director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the school transportation director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new school transportation director. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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