“I try to reassure both that the bus is a safe environment and they are loved,” she said. “It makes my day when guardians are standing out and we can wave and smile at each other.”

For her dedication and skills, Mrs. Hayes has been selected as the Cleveland County Schools’ DKB School Bus Driver of the Month for September. She is the first of six drivers of the month to be selected during the school year. A CCS Donald K. Byrnes School Bus Driver of the Year will be named in May from the monthly winners.

A kindergarten teacher’s assistant, Mrs. Hayes has driven a bus for 14 years and picks up children in the Shelby area of the Union district. She also has worked at Dover Elementary and North Shelby School. 

Mrs. Hayes and her husband, Allen, have three adult sons and are active in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.  Mrs. Hayes enjoys singing and flowers – especially those that attract butterflies.

“Butterflies show us how quickly life changes,” she said. “The children in our lives change quickly, too, so we must give each all the love we can in short amount of time we have them, in the hopes the love we shared will last a lifetime.”

CCS Transportation Director W.D. Smith implemented the DKB Bus Driver-of-the-Year program to recognize drivers for their dedication, compassion and skill of operation. The competition is named in honor of retired CCS School Transportation Director Don Byrnes.

Competitors for driver-of-the-month recognition are determined by bus administrators at schools within each high school district.  Mrs. Hayes, representing the Burns district, competed with Robin Glazewski from Kings Mountain Intermediate representing the Kings Mountain District; and Doris McDaniel of North Shelby School representing the Shelby District. The nominees took a road test and were interviewed by a panel of school and community representatives.

All monthly competitors will be given a shirt, courtesy of Wilson Brooks and the Image Marketing Group, recognizing their nomination.  DKB drivers of the month and year will receive savings bonds at the annual school bus driver banquet. Sponsors of the competition are First National Bank and Royster Oil Company.