Richard Abbott

LN 6 LP 6 LN NORTH ACTIVITY BUS

Children call him: Mr. Abbott, Mr. Rick

Education: BA from The Art Institute of Chicago, Masters in Education from Univ. of Illinois, and a Masters of Fine Arts form Northern Univ.

Family:

Previous Employment: For the last two years i have been a schol bus driver for Laidlaw and Rich Lee which are school bus companies in the area.  Before that I was a high school photography teacher in District 214 for 34 years.

What year did you begin driving for District 57? August 2007

What made you choose District 57? Distrit 57 offered a professionalatmosphere with well maintained buses.  High standards for training and retraining.  As well as a family feeling among employees.

What do you enjoy about your job the most?  I enjoy serving the students and meeting the needs of getting students to school safely.  I enjoy being outside doing a varity of tasks involved with driving and maintaining the buses.

Mrs. Grace Akamichi

TRANSPORTATION OFFICE/DISPATCH

Education: Went through the Bensenville Public Education school systems. Kindergarten through High School.

Family: "I am sharing my life with my husband of 22 years, Kenji. Raised one daughter between us who attends a local college. My mom and 3 brothers live in Florida and I have 2 sisters living in Illinois."

Previous Employment: "My previous employment has been experiencing various office opportunities. When our daughter was young she always had little friends and neighbors over to play. So I watched over them and also became a nanny out of the home for a year for and 18 month-old."

What year did you begin working for District 57? August 2006

What made you decide to drive or work here? "I wanted to have a fulfilling job. I also came to recognize schools as a mainstay in the community."

What do you enjoy most about driving or working here? "The joy that I received when observing elementary aged kids interacting with my daughter, nieces and nephew. Kids in pre-K & Kindergarten say the funniest and most innocent things that I really enjoy listening to them."

Betty Barten

ROUTES:  LN 11    FV & LP 11    WB SNAIL

Children call her: Mrs. Barten or Mrs. B.

Education:Graduated for Taft High School also attended Business College in downtown Chicago for one year.

Family: "I am married and have two children. Both of them work in Rolling Meadows. My daughter is Donna and my son is Tom. I have a home in Mount Prospect and have lived there for 38 years. I have a sister in California."

Previous Employment: "Before District 57, I drove for Davidsmeyer Bus Company for 5 years. Before I had my children, I worked for an insurance company downtown in Chicago. I was a claims adjuster."

What year did you begin working for District 57? 1979

What made you decide to drive a bus? "Whenever I was out driving a car, I would see school buses out on the road. So I thought maybe I should become a bus driver. The hours were perfect."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "I like my position because the people I work with are very nice and thoughtful. Also working with children has become very interesting for me. I also enjoy getting up every morning at the same time. This is because I feel I am doing something useful. I am always on a schedule with this job which I like. The hours are perfect.

Lisa Cuellar

LN 1  FV 1  WB RABBIT

Children call her: Ms. Cuellar, Ms. Lisa

Education: Graduated from Barrington High School and attended community college.

Family: I have a daughter named Bianca and a son named Kelvin JH and three grandchildren

Previous Employment: I worked for Davidsmeyer Bus Co for 6 years as a bus driver.

What year did you begin working for District 57:  2007

What made you decide to become a school bus driver:  I needed a job that was flexible since I still have a young child at home.  We have the same days off from school and if he needs to be with me I can bring him with.

What do you most enjoy about being a school bus driver: Being the first person to greet them in the morning and send them off to school with a positive start 

Monica Beyer

LN 4  FV 4  WB TURTLE

Children call her: Mrs. Beyer, Mrs Monica

Education: UIC Accounting and Management Washbourne Trade School, Chef Certification, Chicago School of Massage Therpy.

Family: My Husband Ray and I have lived in Mount Prospect since 1991. We have two children Ray and Katie.

Previous Employment: I worked for United Airlines in the flight kitchen as a cook, Chateau Rand as a Sous Chef and for The Great American Backrub as a masage therapist

What year did you begin working for District 57?  April 2007

What made you decide to become a school bus driver?  I enjoy driving and alreadyhave been driving a large van for six years, so driving a bis seemed like a natural progression.  Also, having a job where I can drive my own children as well as others was important to me.

What do you enjoy most about being a school bus driver?  I enjoy being part of the school system and the community I live in.  I like interacting wirth the children and their parents.  Also, I'm honered to not only have the role of transportation and safety, butalso be the first togreet the children in the morning and the last one to say goodbye at the end of their busy day. 

Lou Guentz

LN 2 FV 2

Children call him: Lou Guentz

Education: Graduated from Highland Park High School and attended Southern Illinois University. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.


Family: "I have 3 married daughters and 3 grandchildren. I am currently single."

Previous Employment: "My career was in the advertising and graphics field. I was self-employed for the last 20 years in the printing business."

What year did you begin working for District 57? August 2006

What made you decide to drive or work here? "I met Vince at the time I was looking for a job. He informed me that a bus driving position was open so I applied for the job and I am looking forward to working here."

What do you enjoy most about driving or working here? "I have found that everyone I met here during my training was very helpful and friendly. I feel very comfortable here and hope to be here many years."

Al Keizer

ROUTES:  LN 10    LP 10 

Children call him: Mr. Al or Al

Education:Two years high school

Family: Mrs. Keizer, son Eric, his wife Julie and daughter Laura

Previous Employment:Truck driver 1956-1995, Retired for 3 months, Drove school and charter buses for Davidsmeyer from 1996-2001

What year did you begin working for District 57? 2001

What made you decide to drive a bus? "The need for health insurance and also to get out in the world so I don't lose track of life as it changes."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "I enjoy going to work and talking to the other drivers. I don't like to just sit around all day so I am glad to get out and go to work. The hours are great for me because I get to go home after the morning routes and have lunch with my wife and get to things that have to be done around the house. Most days the kids are really great and that makes life worthwhile."

Continue for more Drivers

Return to Transportation Page