Interview with Vanessa Wood (Facebook Post)

We recently shared the story of school bus driver Vanessa Wood, who had a shoe thrown at the back of her head while she was driving a bus full of students. After seeking help at a school board meeting and receiving no response, she returned to the board a second time to raise concerns about student behavior and bus safety.
The following is an email interview with Vanessa, who hopes to take a more active role this school year in advocating for bus drivers and staff. Her goal is to help ensure those who work on our school buses receive the support they need and to promote safer conditions for both employees and students.
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My name is Vanessa Wood. I am the mom of two amazing kids. My son is 21. He graduated from the Cisco IT Academy at Tech High, Class of 2023. My daughter is 17. She is a senior in the fall, in the Biomedical Science Program at Tech High, Class of 2027. I am a new Washington County School Bus Driver. I obtained my CDL Class B license and began driving in December 2025. I am honored and privileged to drive a special needs route. The route that I drive is for highly behavioral kids. These are the very challenging kids. The "bad kids" or "problem kids," as so many people like to call them. I want to be very clear, this route was my first choice. I was one of those "problem kids" in my youth. I know what it is to be labeled, disrespected, looked down on, dismissed, and even given up on. I have such a heart for these kids. Many of these children have difficult home lives or diagnoses.I made it my mission to make my bus a peaceful safe space. I encourage my attendants and myself to always maintain a positive attitude and mindset. We strive to always approach every single day with the mindset that, "no one has a good day every day," and "that grace, compassion, and love ARE NOT conditional." We know that there will be behavioral days. That's part of the job. When those situations happen, instead of focusing on the difficult aspects, we look for the wins we had that day. We NEVER bring yesterday's issues or problems into today. Every day gives new mercy and grace. As bus drivers and attendants, we have the power to change a child's day. I don't take that lightly. They might have woken up grumpy, maybe had a fight with a parent or sibling, any number of things; but, when they step foot on my bus, myself and my team can be the dose of grace, compassion, love, and positivity that just might turn their day around. That is more than a job, it's a purpose, some might even say a calling; and I am humbled to have the opportunity. 

2- Please share why you went to speak before the school board the first time and what happened:

Honestly, when I went to the board meeting on 4/21/2026, I went as part of a larger group in protest of the 1% wage increase. I was asked earlier in the day by a coworker if I was going to say something at the meeting. I was kind of like,"Sure, where can I sign up?" I was told I could sign up on a list at the meeting that night. Upon my arrival to the meeting that night, when I asked where to sign up to speak, I was told by the man with the list that all of the spots were full. There just so happened to be a woman standing next to him. I had no idea who this woman was. She immediately told the man to give me her speaking spot. (It turns out this woman was Susan Day. Shout out Susan! Thank you!) Susan sacrificed her spot so that I would have the opportunity to speak. I didn't have anything prepared. I had no idea what I was going to say. I knew that I had been given this opportunity for a greater purpose. As I stood in the hallway with the other speakers, just waiting, I reached out to my Higher Power, Jesus Christ, in prayer. I asked for guidance and wisdom for what to say.

At the conclusion of my prayers, I waited for my turn. When it was my turn, I introduced myself, spoke about the fact that I am new to the county, and that I had a few concerns. I shared that I love my job. The concerns that I highlighted were the wage difference between substitute drivers and full time employees. I discussed the reality of the fact that no children in the county will be able to get to school without bus drivers. The entire county would come to a stop. I spoke about the reality of the conditions that bus drivers and bus attendants work in. Behavior that is unsafe and inappropriate. I also shared a personal incident that happened on my bus, where I was assaulted when a shoe was thrown at me. I issued a public challenge to all members of the board to come out and ride a bus. This would give them the opportunity to experience what we deal with on a daily basis. During the board comments time, Mr. Evans, President of the Board, publicly accepted my challenge to come and ride my bus.

3- Please share why you went back to the school board a second time and what happened:

I returned to the board meeting on 05/19/2026, because nothing had happened. In the weeks between the April meeting and May meeting, not a single thing was addressed. During those weeks, I had many drivers and attendants asking me if anything had happened. If Mr. Evans had shown up and ridden my bus. Every time I said no, I was met with, "See, I knew nothing would happen. They don't care about us. They never do anything for us." I asked the director of transportation if I was able to reach out and schedule the ride along, and I was told no, that I was not permitted to do that. I had to wait for Mr. Evans to contact me. That never happened. So, I just wanted to know why? Why had no one shown up? Why the silence? Why the seeming indifference and lack of care to the very real issues that were brought to light? I also wanted to set the record straight concerning the incident that happened on my bus regarding the shoe being thrown. At the end of the April meeting, it seemed that a joke was made about that. I had to address that, because that incident was no laughing matter. I also wanted to share the reality of the crisis we are in regarding the shortage of bus drivers. I respectfully asked what incentives do bus drivers currently have to stay or even return?

As a result of this second meeting, I was contacted by board member Linda Murray. Mrs. Murray reached out to me via email before 12:15pm On 05/20/2026, and asked if she could ride my bus on Friday, 05/22/2026. Mrs. Murray did come and ride my bus on that date. The following week, on Wednesday, 05/27/2026, Frederick County Public Schools were closed. The students I drive attend an alternative school in Frederick County. So, I was scheduled to drive a substitute route for Washington County. I received a text early in the morning that Dr. Sovine, the Superintendent of WCPS would be riding along with me that morning. Dr. Sovine did come and ride that morning on that substitute route. Then on 05/28/2026, upon my arrival to my bus, I was met by board member, Mike Guessford. Mr. Guessford rode along with me during my morning run on that date. During each of those ride alongs, each of those important individuals asked me and the attendants on my bus questions about how to improve bus conditions within the county, as well as other important issues. I was honest and it was a positive experience.

To today's current date, President Darrell Evans still has not come and ridden any bus himself. My only comment to that is this; "I can't hear the words being said, because the actions are screaming so loud."

4- For those who have followed this story unfold, what words of encouragement or lessons from your own experience would you share with employees who may be facing similar workplace challenges?

Don't be afraid to speak up. You should NEVER hate going to work. Follow the pecking order. If you have a problem or issue, take it to your immediate manager or supervisor. If, within a reasonable amount of time, nothing has happened, go the next level up. Once you have gone the next level up, do the same thing. Share the problem or issue again, within a reasonable amount of time, if nothing has happened, go the next level up. Keep going up until something happens. Always be respectful, but never be a doormat. We are those who are shaping and caring for the next generation of humanity. Go to board meetings and speak publicly. Shed light on issues. Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Let's do it!