Course Description

This intensive “School Bus Train the Trainer” course is expertly designed by the Missouri Safety Center for experienced drivers and safety personnel ready to lead and mentor. Participants will gain the critical skills needed to train new and current drivers effectively by mastering adult learning principles, effective presentation techniques, and essential facilitation skills. The curriculum provides comprehensive instruction on crucial topics such as student management, safe vehicle operations, regulatory compliance, and emergency procedures, ensuring graduates are fully equipped to develop competent, safe, and compliant school bus drivers.

Course Objectives and Outcomes

Adult Learning Principles

Adapt teaching methods to accommodate various adult learning styles and generational characteristics. This involves understanding the dynamics between different learner types and instructor styles, creating learner-centered environments that maximize participation and retention, and employing techniques to motivate multi-generational learners effectively.

Presentation Skills

Develop and deliver engaging, organized, and effective training presentations tailored for school bus driver training. Participants will learn the key components of successful presentations, including determining purpose, knowing the audience, gathering relevant information, structuring content logically, preparing and utilizing appropriate visuals, and practicing delivery techniques to enhance vocal clarity, posture, gestures, eye contact, and overall impact while managing performance anxiety.

Effective Questioning and Facilitation

Employ skilled questioning and facilitation techniques to foster interaction and enhance the learning process in a classroom setting. This includes understanding the purpose of questions, utilizing various types, mastering methods for asking questions and handling participant responses respectfully, and applying core facilitation skills to create an interactive and supportive training environment.

Student Management

Acquire comprehensive strategies for managing student behavior effectively and fostering a safe environment on the school bus. Training covers establishing clear expectations and rules, implementing preventative measures, using reinforcement techniques, applying appropriate consequences through the established discipline process (including documentation like logs and conduct cards), utilizing de-escalation techniques, and addressing specific challenges such as bullying, harassment, special education accommodations, and maintaining confidentiality.

Safe Loading and Unloading

Master the critical procedures for safe student loading, unloading, and managing bus stops to prevent accidents in high-risk zones. Participants will learn driver responsibilities related to stop arm operation, signaling, crossing procedures based on roadway type and traffic laws, proper stop location selection, pre- and post-trip checks including child checks, effective mirror usage, and methods for teaching students safe practices around the bus stop and danger zones.

Navigate Railroad Crossings

Gain expertise in safely navigating railroad crossings, understanding the associated risks and liabilities. Instruction covers recognizing and responding to passive and active warning signs and signals, specific procedures for school buses approaching and crossing tracks, handling emergencies like stalling, identifying potential hazards, and utilizing resources like Operation Lifesaver and Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs.

Pre-Trip Inspections

Learn to conduct, document, and ensure the consistent execution of comprehensive pre-trip inspections as required by law. This objective covers the systematic process for identifying potential mechanical problems or safety issues before operation, understanding the critical components to check, proper record-keeping, and reporting procedures for defects.

Understand DOT Regulations

Navigate Department of Transportation (DOT) and state-specific regulations governing school bus operations and driver qualifications. This includes understanding Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements, passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsements, medical certification standards and processes (including self-certification and updates), Missouri DOR procedures for licensing and renewal, compliance with FMCSA rules including the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH), Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) mandates, and the implications of alcohol and controlled substance use and testing for safety-sensitive functions.

Other Information

Hotel Booking

A block of rooms for June 25 – 27, 2025, is available for this event with the Comfort Inn at 609 E Russell Ave, Warrensburg, MO 64093. You can contact the Comfort Inn to set up your reservation by calling (660) 429-4848. The negotiated rate for this block of rooms is $94.99 per night (before tax). To ensure costs incurred align with this amount, please indicate “Missouri Safety Center – Bus Driver’s Class” when making your reservation. Any room accommodations and hotel-related payments will be handled by the participant. There are 35 total rooms reserved for this block.

This course is for selected individuals who work for a School Bus Contractor or School District. This course is designed to train the trainer on adult learning methods that are used for the annual 8 hours of continuing education for your drivers. This course is not an ELDT train-the-trainer course, nor is it an ELDT training.

Class held on June 25 and 26 begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM. Class held on June 27 begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. Registration/tuition cost for this course is $350.00. Lunch and snacks are provided for this class.