District 5 Names Bus Driver of the Year

Francine Jackson is known to go the extra mile for students riding her “No. 6” school bus. 

She scours the stores and Internet for costumes to wear on holidays, just to see the looks on students’ faces. She makes gift bags for her graduating students, though she knows “they don’t really need it.” And each student, more than 40 or so of them a day, gets a “good morning” and “have a good evening” as they step on and off her bus. 

All this has prompted the same question from family and other onlookers over the years – Is it too much? 

“No,” Jackson said. “If someone did something like this for you, wouldn’t you remember that person forever? I do it for them … the look on their faces. These are my kids, just like my grandbabies. Don’t mess with Bus 6.” 

Jackson has been named Bus Driver of the Year for Lexington-Richland School District Five. She will be recognized during a school board meeting on May 6, the start of South Carolina School Bus Driver Appreciation Week. 

“Bus drivers provide a service to the community. We’re doing the things and making the sacrifices to touch students’ lives, things that we may never even hear about,” said Dutch Fork Cluster Transportation Supervisor Harold Williams. “Ms. Jackson, I call her old reliable. She’s dedicated to driving that bus and making sure that her children get to school and back home safely. She’s always planning activities. The students love her. The parents love her. She’s just an extraordinary person.” 

Jackson waves off the compliment. “These kids do more for me than I do for them,” she said. 

After a difficult time coping with the death of her adult son a few years ago, Jackson says she returned only for her students, many of whom have ridden on her bus for years. During an April afternoon bus route, scores of book bag-clad, project toting students neatly file onto Jackson’s bus. The ride home is fifteen minutes of joy and excitement - filled with children vying to tell Jackson about their day, giggling clusters of elementary students, and an impromptu rendition of “Who Let The Dogs Out.” 

“This is my 12th year driving for the district and this is the first year I don’t have a quiet bus,” said Jackson, who can tell with a quick glance who’s absent and just as quickly give you a rundown of school bus safety procedures. “I said I’m going to give them that time to be kids and unwind after school. I’m in control. They know what the rules are, so I let them talk. We have a mutual respect.” 

Twins Avalyn and Gemma Cuttino wouldn’t have it any other way. As River Springs Elementary kindergartners, they get to ride in the front, a bird’s eye view from which they wave to their departing friends and parents along the route. They love Jackson’s costumes, especially the giant red and pink heart one she wore on Valentine’s Day. And they “love Ms. Jackson,” Gemma said. “She’s very nice,” a wide smiling Avalyn added. 

From Lexington-Richland 5's Office of Public Information