Why Culture Matters: Lessons from an Award-Winning Transportation Leader

Kathy Calkins didn’t plan on becoming a transportation director, but her journey from school bus driver to Administrator of the Year is a powerful example of what can happen when someone leads with heart. In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with our 2026 district transportation award winner from North Clackamas Schools in Oregon. Calkins shares how positive behavior strategies, strong relationships, and a hands-on leadership style helped her build a culture where drivers feel valued and students thrive. From handling difficult parent calls to navigating change and staffing challenges, her approach is rooted in one simple idea: take care of your people, and they’ll take care of everything else. In this discussion, you’ll hear: • Kathy Calkins' leadership story • How PBIS shifted her entire approach • The power of listening and building fun into their culture • Tips for learning (and remembering) people’s names • Navigating change and managing relationships • Advice for aspiring leaders Learn more about Calkins here: https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/articl... #SchoolBusFleet #AdminoftheYear #StudentTransportation #transportationaward This episode is sponsored by ‪@icbus‬visit them online at https://www.icbus.com/ Be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your transportation team. Thanks for riding with us! 🚌 Subscribe to School Bus Fleet in print or online: https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/pages/... 🚌 Sign up for our newsletters: https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/pages/... Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: -Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ / school-bus-fleet -Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ / schoolbusfleet -Follow SBF on X ➡️ https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠  / ⁠   🎧 Prefer to listen? Be sure to subscribe to the SCHOOL BUS FLEET podcast! -Spotify ➡ https://open.spotify.com/show/2cC4yel... -Apple ➡ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... -Amazon Music ➡ https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/985... -Audible ➡ https://www.audible.com/podcast/ITEM_... -iHeartRadio ➡ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-th... ⏰ Timestamps ⏰ 0:00 Intro 1:10 Meet Kathy Calkins 04:15 How Positive Behavior Changed Everything 7:00 Building a People-First Culture 11:15 Leading Drivers: What Really Matters 15:45 Creating Fun and Team Buy-In 19:00 Managing Change 25:30 Advice for Future Leaders