Photo Caption: Members of the Clare-Gladwin RESD transportation department in their team t-shirts that say: “You have all the time you need to do the right thing.”
In the heart of Michigan, where the scenic routes of Clare and Gladwin counties meet — an area famed for “20 lakes in 20 minutes” — the Clare-Gladwin Regional Educational Service District transportation team provides a service that is both essential and deeply personal.
Covering a vast, rural territory of more than 1,000 square miles, a 35-person Dean Transportation team is more than a fleet of 11 buses; they are a collective of dedicated professionals who transport approximately 100 special needs students every day.
Leading this unique operation is Transportation Director Lisa Downey, a veteran of 30-plus years in the industry, who has guided the department since 2012.
Downey noted the unique nature of the operation: “Our drivers take their buses home, a practical necessity given the sheer geographic size and back roads they navigate. It’s an environment that makes for a daily wilderness safari trail to and from school, complete with sightings of deer, turkey, bobcats, eagles and even the occasional bear.”
The core of the Clare-Gladwin department’s success lies in its culture, defined by Downey as a group of “well-trained, dedicated, caring individuals” who form strong bonds with their passengers. For Downey, the secret to maintaining this supportive environment is simple: “Be kind, take the time to listen, take the time to care.”
She champions the idea of leading with empathy, sharing a powerful, years-old lesson she learned firsthand while driving a route. One morning, a student was acting out aggressively, yelling, swearing and hitting others. After moving him to the front and waiting for the other students to exit, Downey sat down and simply asked, “What is going on?”
The student broke down, revealing he hadn’t eaten or taken his necessary medication that morning because there was no food in the house.
“My heart sank,” Downey said.
She immediately walked him into school to ensure he received breakfast and follow-up care.
“He taught me a powerful lesson,” she said. “What if I had not taken the time to sit and ask those four simple words?”
Downey is most proud of her entire team’s accomplishment.
“I have the most dedicated employees who love and care for their students,” she said.
Her goals for the future are not centered on complex metrics, but on maintaining that essential human element.
Downey believes in striving to do your best every day. Her daily philosophy guides the entire department: “Have empathy, compassion, respect for others. Pull each other up.”
Downey offers this advice to all school transportation professionals.
“Take the time to listen. Be kind always,” she said. “Each one of us is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
