Bus Driver - IDEA Henry (Immediate Opening)

About the role

The Bus Driver is responsible for transporting students over scheduled routes to and from a variety of school sites and for assuring the safety of the passengers riding the school bus. Employees in this classification receive general supervision within a framework of standard policies and procedures. This job class is responsible for ensuring the safety of all passengers, including special‑education students, while operating the assigned bus and for keeping the bus in a safe operating condition.

Responsibilities

• Safely transports students.
• Drives a school bus in accordance with time schedules, transporting students to and from homes, various school sites, and field trips as assigned.
• Maintains order and proper discipline of passengers; resolves disputes, documents, and reports severe disciplinary cases.
• Conducts daily safety and operational inspections of the assigned vehicle.
• Oversees loading and unloading of students, releases students to authorized individuals, and ensures safety belts are fastened in passenger vans.
• Maintains records and reports including mileage, routing, maintenance, and time schedules.
• Notifies appropriate individuals of any delays in the scheduled route.
• Ensures proper credentials (CDL, Medical Card, & Region One) are up‑to‑date according to DOT and IDEA policy.
• Understands and follows directions and feedback; maintains open communication with campus managers.
• Accepts both negative and positive feedback and self‑reflects to improve performance.
• Manages multiple tasks by prioritizing work and adapts to changing circumstances.
• Handles various tasks simultaneously within established time constraints.
• Works on an open calendar, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extracurricular activities as needed.
• Works a minimum of 32 hours per week (excluding extracurricular activities) and can extend hours to meet business needs.

Requirements

• Education: GED or High School Diploma.
• Experience: Operation of large passenger vehicles or equivalent combination of experience and training; ability to manage student behavior.
• License/Certification: Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Class P (passenger) and Class S (school bus) endorsements.
• Completed bus driver safety training course.
• Must be over 21 years old.
• Pass alcohol and drug tests.
• DOT Physical Examination.
• Maintain up‑to‑date credentials (CDL, Medical Card, & Region One) per DOT and IDEA policy.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $25.00 (for 0 years of experience) and $28.75. The position is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits plan covering the majority of employee premiums for the base medical plan and subsidizing most costs for spouses/domestic partners and children.
• Paid Family Leave: up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on tenure and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: up to 50% of tuition toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 per year, subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer‑Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face‑to‑face counseling sessions per year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and additional work‑life services at no cost.
• Dental and vision plans.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Parenting benefits.
• Generous vacation time.
• Referral bonuses.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Potential relocation allowance to defray moving costs, if applicable.

About IDEA Public Schools

IDEA Public Schools believes each child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA has grown from a single school of 150 students to a multi‑state network of tuition‑free, Pre‑K‑12 public charter schools, nationally ranked by The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report. The organization serves over 80,000 college‑bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio, and aims to send 100% of its graduates to college. Employees join an IDEA Team and Family that values mission, accountability, action, urgency, entrepreneurship, feedback, cross‑departmental collaboration, and professional conduct.