Student transportation is in Laura Greene-Halley’s genes. She grew up in a household where school busing was the family business. Her passion for the industry has only grown over the years. “When we provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for children to get to and from school, we do our part to set them up to achieve greatness,” shares Laura.
Putting Safety First
As region safety manager for the Northeast, Laura is responsible for ensuring that more than 70 locations deliver on our core value of safety. She manages a very diverse area, which includes school districts in both urban areas and rural communities. “I love that our culture at First Student teaches us to consider safety in everything we do and to speak up when something is unsafe,” says Laura. “We are encouraged to make safe choices and to do the right thing even when it may not be the most popular decision.”
Laura’s efforts have been crucial to the success of First Mile Square, LLC — our joint venture with Mile Square Transportation to provide student transportation services in the Hudson Valley, Westchester and Bronx areas in New York. Her expertise and commitment helped advance the safety culture of the operation.
Leader in the Industry
Laura helps to motivate and inspire safety leaders within First Student. She recognizes and embraces the opportunity to truly make a difference inside and outside of the company. “My dedication comes from the parents who entrust us with their children, my hard working co-workers, a boss who is a dedicated and passionate safety leader, and ultimately knowing that an interaction I had with an employee may have saved a life or prevented someone from being injured is extremely gratifying for me.”
Laura is also a leader within the industry. She is a member of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) and is serving her second term as a member of the New York State Education Department School Bus Driver Instructor/Master Instructor Advisory Committee. Laura is one of only 14 candidates to become a NYSED Master Instructor in 2015.
Her contributions to the student transportation industry recently earned her a top award from the National Association of Student Transportation (NSTA). Laura received a Golden Merit Award for her commitment to excellence in the areas of safety and service.
Always Looking Ahead
Ensuring the safety of our drivers and passengers has been a lifelong focus for Laura. With more than 25 years of industry experience, she has worked tirelessly to help make certain school buses remain the safest way for students to get to and from school, and she is proud to be a part of a First Student team that is always leading the way. “As the industry leader and a learning organization, we are always looking ahead toward new technologies and new approaches,” believes Laura. “It’s exciting to see the results of us building upon our current successes.”