Working at the wheel
School bus driver says she has 'Best job in the world'
Aug. 30, 2006
By JOSEPH M. DELEON News-Post Staff
jdeleon @ fredericknewspost . com
FREDERICK — Millie Alexander never took the school bus as a child, she walked instead. But for the past nine years, she's driven hundreds of children to Middletown schools. “I have the best job in the world and wouldn't trade it for any amount of money,” she said while driving to pick up a group of middle school students Tuesday morning.
Her day starts at 4:30 a.m., but Ms. Alexander doesn't need an alarm clock. Ever since she started driving a bus, her passion for the job has been enough to wake her at that early hour.
“When school first starts I have a hard time sleeping at night because I'm so excited,” she said. “But, when my eyes open I'm ready for my children.”
To the children, she's known as Ms. Millie.
The day starts with a pretrip inspection. Ms. Alexander checks the tire pressure, engine fluid levels and more than a dozen lights. Once she enters the bus, her mind is on her bus children, as she calls her passengers.
Bus No. 450 travels between fields of corn and passes farm houses built on hills that seem to rise and fall through the windows.
Cars stop as the bus lights flash red. Ms. Alexander waves children to the bus when it's safe.
“Good morning,” she said to every child boarding the bus, often adding a personal message. Several were reminded that riding at the back of the bus is a privilege.
She loves driving the bus so much, that she rarely takes sick leave.
“If I'm feeling bad, I will do my run sick in my doggie pajamas,” she said. “The drivers will tease me, but if you see me in those, you know I'm not feeling good.”
On those days, she goes directly to bed, but only after she delivers the children to school.
Two years ago, she had an operation that put her off the bus line for seven weeks. During recovery, a supervisor asked if she would visit a normally well-behaved girl on her route.
“She was giving the substitute driver such a hard time, and calling the driver names,” Ms. Alexander said. “I had never seen this side of her.”
The girl was misbehaving because she didn't know what had happened to her favorite bus driver.
Ms. Alexander sat with the girl and her parents to explain why her behavior was unacceptable.
Driving a bus is rewarding for Ms. Alexander because she bonds with the children as she watches them grow over the years.
“It's really nice to see the children who have been on your bus out there, driving and with kids of their own.” she said. “That's when you know you're getting old.”
No matter how old Ms. Alexander gets, she knows she's found her calling.
“When I drive my own vehicle now, after nine years, my hands will sweat,” she said. “The only time that I'm comfortable is when I'm behind the steering wheel in my bus seat.”
While earning a commercial drivers license was difficult, driving the bus came naturally for Ms. Alexander. The trainer repeatedly asked if she had ever driven a bus before.
“I just fit right in,” she said. “I just knew that this is what I wanted.”