Developed in conjunction with the #4 children’s hospital in the United States, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, FirstServes™ is a special education leadership training program that equips drivers, attendants, district partners and families with tools to better serve students with disabilities. The foundation of the program is built on a partnership between First Student staff, district leaders and the families of students in special populations. Together, we evaluate the needs of the child and implement research-based behavioral interventions that transform their transportation experience.
Our FirstServes special education transportation program takes this effort a step further, building on our standard special needs training to incorporate research-based interventions and other effective training models to better serve children with disabilities.
More Than Just Training
FirstServes is a culture shift – the program focuses on meeting special populations students’ needs and providing appropriate care that is uniquely tailored for each student. We use a train-the-trainer model to prepare each team member that interacts with your students. Our Advisory Board develops and delivers the training to all necessary community members, who in turn train their location staff (drivers, attendants, district partners, etc.). This training method cultivates leaders in each community, expanding First Student’s base of special education transportation experts, ensuring knowledge is current and sustainable beyond the initial training.
Our Train-the-Trainer Model Drives Effectiveness
FirstServes employs a blended training style because research shows that a combination of coaching and training is 70% more effective than a program that provides training alone. The FirstServes program provides participants with a balanced mix of training sessions and coaching sessions with the Advisory Board and the FirstServes program team.
Our train-the-trainer approach ensures all drivers and monitors and staff receive specialized training to meet the needs of their districts and students, and builds effective leaders across all First Student locations. The FirstServes program provides participants with a balanced mix of training sessions and coaching sessions with the Advisory Board and the FirstServes program team.
Working sessions with the Advisory Board and FirstServes leadership team aim to address:
- Progress toward specific location goals
- Training excellence
- Location and program specific questions
- Consideration for new ideas or insights
The FirstServes Training Program
Using our train-the-trainer model, location leadership will be trained and coached over two, three-day sessions. The first training session will focus on behavioral sciences, disabilities, and special education training. This is the bulk of the driver and attendant training content. Between training session one and two, participants will independently draft goals and training plans for their districts and vehicle staff. When training reconvenes for session two, participants will focus on human resources development tools that will help them become effective trainers. Learn more about FirstServes™ or get in touch to learn more about how FirstServes can make a difference in your district.