Addison named Georgia School Bus Technician of Year
From Staff Reports
education@newnan.com
Steve Addison, Jr. of the Coweta County School System has been named Georgia School Bus Technician of the Year and will represent the state in September’s National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) event in Rocky, Mount, NC.
Addison claimed the title last month during the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Pupil Transportation Division’s 50th annual Workshop for School Bus Technicians, held at North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville.
Two participants were selected from each of the RESA districts, judged on a written test and parts identification.The state contest also has two segments: a written test and a timed diagnosis of problems which could be found on three ailing buses.
Out of the 30 competitors, Addison was named Georgia School Bus Technician of the Year, winning a spot in the national event and $500 from Hydrotex.
“It is a great honor just to be in a room with all of these guys,” Addison said. “These are the best of the best in Georgia. They have a great perspective on how to find and fix problems. The best part of this competition has been getting to know them and learning from them.”
Addison, who has been working for the CCSS for seven years, has competed in the event for the past four years.
“The hands-on diagnostics portion is the hardest,” he said. “They always throw in a few surprises that are really hard to track down and fix.”
“We are proud that so many of our school systems are able to send their technicians to this training event every year,” said Carlton Allen, Director of Pupil Transportation Division for the GaDOE.
“This competition is a wonderful way for our technicians to ensure their skills are the best they can be so we can be sure to keep our children safe on the roads,” he added.
NAPT’s goal is “to be part of the safety process that the school bus industry provides, so that the safest school buses are utilized to transport precious cargo.”
Addison and his wife, Bethany, live in Newnan with their 2-year-old daughter.
