Boston-Area Story (An anecdotal narrative)

Kayla is finishing her education degree in Dorchester and works part-time as a classroom aide. She added a morning route that ends before her 10:00 a.m. seminar, studies during midday, then runs the afternoon route before her evening practicum. She’s learning classroom management from two angles—on the bus and in school—and her confidence shows. Her supervisor asks her to mentor the next cohort.

Why It Fits Students & Parapros in Massachusetts

• Schedule synergy: Routes wrap around classes and aide shifts

• Paid training: Many MA employers help with CDL + P/S endorsements

• Career skills: Communication, behavior support, de-escalation, punctuality

• Leadership runway: Trainer roles, onboarding support, or routing assistance

What You’ll Need

• Clean MVR, background/drug checks, DOT medical

• CDL with P/S endorsements (training commonly employer-funded in MA)

• Professional communication and reliability

Build Experience That Counts

• Practice positive behavior supports that mirror classroom strategies

• Learn radio etiquette and parent communication—great for educator resumes

• Track metrics (on-time %, zero-incident days) to showcase responsibility

Massachusetts Growth Map (6–18 Months)

1. Months 1–3: Master pre-trips, route timing, and student rapport

2. Months 4–9: Mentor ride-alongs, lead a 10-minute safety refresher

3. Months 10–18: Pursue Trainer, help with routing changeovers, consider summer charters

Next Step

Search Massachusetts school bus driving jobs that work with campus and school schedules at SchoolBusHero.com—and graduate with income and leadership experience.