Phil Maher

SUBSTITUTE BUS DRIVER

Children call him: Mr. Maher, Mr. Phil

Education: "Graduated from Forest View High School and attended Harper for two years."

Family: "Wife-Mary Ellen, 2 children-Philip Michael and Katie E.. Both children went through District 57, Lions Park and Lincoln Junior High."

Previous Employment: "Banta Direct Marketing, Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Cook County School Bus and Specialty Printing in Niles."

What year did you begin working for District 57? Part Time in 2001

What made you decide to drive a bus? "I enjoy children and being able to help our school district. Of course I also enjoy the added income."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "Just driving and being out and about and knowing I'm helping transport our children safely."

 

George R. Mitchell

ROUTES:  LN 3   FV 3

Children call him: Mr. George or George

Education: Masters in Industrial Management, Advanced Psychology in Management, Advanced course in Production Planning and Control,Northern Illinois University-Team Leader Implementation

Family: Married with 5 children and 9 grandchildren

Previous Employment: Driving a bus for School District 26; Frish, PMC Inc.as a manager 1987-2003

What year did you begin working for District 57? 2003

What made you decide to drive a bus? "My wife and I thought it was a good time in our lives for me to semi-retire. So what would a semi-retired person like to do? We thought of things we like doing. Our favorite thing in life is being with our children and having fun. So with some encouragement, I made the decision to check with the school district to see if they had an opening for a school bus driving job."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "Making sure the children feel secure on the bus. Also listening to their conversations and comments."

Louise Mitchell

ROUTES:  LN 5   FV 5   WB FROG

Children call her: Miss Louise

Education:High School graduate. "I also had a license to do hair but didn't care for it after all."

Family: "I am married with 4 children, ages range from 17-33. I also have 6 grandchildren."

Previous Employment: "I stayed home with my children."

What year did you begin working for District 57? 1983

What made you decide to drive a bus? "I wanted to have the same time off as my children."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "I absolutely love my job, being around the kids keeps you young. I drive Kindergarten children and they are so darn sweet. I also like having summers off to grow my vegetable garden and just take it easy."

 

John Prince

LN 9 LP 9  LN SOUTH ACTIVITY BUS

Children call him: Mr. Prince Mr. John

Education:I graduated from Proviso West High School.  I also attended Triton Collegefor two years. 

Previous Employment: I previously worked for Laidlaw Transportation in Wheeling.  Before I semi retired I was self employed in retail hardware for 30 years.

Family:

What year did you start working for District 57?  August 2007

What made you decide to work for District 57?  I live in Mount Prospect and wanted to work closer to home in my own community.

What do you enjoy about your job the most? I enjoy driving the children because they keep me on my toes and sure make life interesting. 

Theresa Paoli

SUBSTITUTE BUS DRIVER

Children call her: Mrs. Paoli

Education: Twelfth Grade

Family: Husband, daughter and a son. Both children went to Fairview, Lincoln Junior High and Prospect High School.

Previous Employment:"I worked at People's Gas downtown for eleven years. I was a stay at home mom and did some home child care during those years."

What year did you begin working for District 57? 1996 "I worked in the Kids' Corner Program at Fairview for five years, then took a job driving for the District six years ago."

What made you decide to drive a bus? I love children, I believe they have alot to say. They want someone to listen to them and respect their thoughts and ideas. Kids have always found it easy to talk to me. When I run into them as they get older, they always stop and say hello. Their parents and friends ask, "Who is that?" When they proudly say, "My bus driver", it makes me feel good.

What do you enjoy most about your position? The flexibility of the job hours, field trips and the interaction with children. Driving a bus takes alot of training and testing with yearly refresher classes. It is a great responsibility driving our most precious cargo. I truly "love" my job. The other day, I had a Junior High student say to me, "Mrs. Paoli, you are the first adult that I can really talk to and will listen to what I have to say." That made me feel great and him too. Stop and listen to kids, they have alot to share."

Beverly Viscioni

ROUTES  LN 8   LP 8   WB BUTTERFLY

Children call her: Mrs. V. or Mrs. Beverly

Education:St. Alphonsus Grammar School in Chicago, Maine West High School in DesPlaines. Business classes at Wright Junior College in Chicago.

Family: Two sons, Nicholas and Lance, grandson Lance Jr.and a Fiancee.

Previous Employment:"I worked in retail most of my life, data processing and Assistant Manager for a restaurant. I started bus driving eight years ago with Davidsmeyer Bus Company."

What year did you begin working for District 57? 2000

What made you decide to drive a bus? "The hours were great for me and my son, Nick could come with me. I also love working with children."

What do you enjoy most about your position? "I am a people person and I love driving children to and from school. The hours are great and field trips are alot of fun. I also have been driving some of the students for four years and their siblings. You get to make alot of friends."

Vince Weidner

LN 7 LP 7  WB SQUIRREL

Children call him: Mr. Vince or Vince

Education: BBA from U W Whitewater and MBA from Depaul

Family: Wife Jeanne who attended Fairview School as a child, son Tim and daughter Sheri how both attended District 57 Schools.

Previous Employment: 3 years ago I semi retired and began driving for Laidlaw and Rich Lee.  Both are student transportation companies in the area.  I also currently teach drivers education for Northwest Suburban Driving School.  Before I semi retired I worked in Human Resources for 30 years.

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

What made you decide to become a bus driver? I have always enjoyed driving and taking family vacations.  My father was a truck driver.  After doing the 9 to 5 for many years it was a nice change to work outside and do something I already enjoy.  It also dovetails with drivers education.

What do you enjoy about being a bus driver? As a lifelong resident of Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect I am very firmilliar with the are and families in the community.  Children are our most precious part of our lives.  I know from having children myself that parents want to make sure their chilren are safe.  I feel as a bus driver I can do my part to make them safe while they are on the bus with me. 

Eileen Zourkas

LN 12 LP & FV 12

Children call her: Mrs. Zourkas, Mrs Eileen

Education: Graduated from St. Scholastica High School

Family: My husband and I have lived in Des Plaines for the past 16 years.  I have three awsome children. Brittney 20, Lauren 18, and Anthony 15.  Brittney attends Eastern University.  Lauren and Anthony attend Maine West High School.

Previous Employment: For 6 years I worked for a company doing accounting and payroll.  Prior to this I worked for the Home Depot for 6 years.

What year did you begin working for District 57?  2007

What made you become a school bus driver? This would give me a chance to be out and meet people.  This also would make me feel good to offer a service to parents to provide a safe ride to and from school for their children.

What do you enjoy most about being a school bus driver?  Right now I am in training to be a school bus driver.  The training for this position is extensive.  I am happy to see that such training is in place for bus drivers and look forward to working with the students of District 57

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