When a school bus winds through the streets of Walled Lake, it represents far more than a simple commute. Behind the scenes of the Dean Transportation team for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, a dedicated group works to ensure students arrive safely and ready to learn.
Led by Director Brian Rochowiak since January 2020 and Assistant Director Crystal Helgemo, who joined the leadership team in June 2024, the department operates with a focus that goes well beyond logistics.
Navigating a district as sprawling as Walled Lake is a daily puzzle. Operating across a 50-square-mile area, the fleet of 104 buses handles 81 daily routes serving a mix of general and special education students. This school year, the department is averaging 5,325 daily riders, ensuring students reach 28 different school buildings, including five out-of-district sites.
This mission is made possible by a specialized staff of 129 employees. The team includes six office and supervisory staff members, five service technicians who keep the fleet in peak condition, 19 attendants and a frontline of 99 drivers who serve as the first faces students see every morning.
The department’s culture is best described as “purpose driven.” Leadership sets the tone by leading by example and lending a hand whenever necessary. To support inclusivity, the office team frequently spreads positivity through hot cocoa and coffee carts, monthly birthday cakes, warm popcorn, a yearly chili cookoff and department potlucks.
The support extends to professional growth and emotional well-being. Staff members stay informed through monthly calendars and meetings that provide a safe space to communicate concerns. They also pursue advanced training beyond standard requirements, such as the Oakland County School Bus Critical Incident Awareness Training and collaborative sessions with guest speakers.
“Our drivers and attendants take immense pride in their dedication to support their students and uplift one another; the compassion and kindness shown by this team sets an inspiring standard for our leadership,” Helgemo noted.
The impact of the transportation team extends deep into the Walled Lake community. Employees constantly support one another through food trains, cash collections and gift baskets when a peer and their families fall on hard times. They also participate in the annual Foundation for Excellence Golf Scramble that provides student scholarships and the Memorial Day parade with a beautifully decorated bus.
From cleaning up a one-mile stretch of the district through the Oakland County Adopt-a-Road program to hosting stuff-a-bus food drives, team members are always looking for ways to give back. One of their most significant traditions is adopting multiple Walled Lake families each holiday season to ensure every student has a reason to celebrate.
“The adopt-a-child program is a shining example of the heart of our Walled Lake transportation team,” Helgemo said.
The goal for the future is to “provide an atmosphere and the tools that our employees need to remain successful and committed to our purpose and one another,” Rochowiak said. The Walled Lake leadership team is guided by a simple philosophy:
“Keep focusing on why we’re here. Stay true to that purpose in every decision we make and keep an open mind, be approachable.”
Rochowiak also emphasized the importance of internal collaboration.
“We seek to engage our staff in ways to improve our operations,” he said. “Whether by starting a focus group, suggestion box or even something as simple as deciding what snack to have at our next event. When employees are included and heard, they’ll feel the sense of purpose, pride and commitment that we all strive for.”
