St. Johns County Schools go Full Throttle to Recruit Bus Drivers

To run at full capacity and efficiency, the St. Johns County School District must have 350 bus drivers at all times. It started the 2026-27 school year with just 270 drivers -- a nearly 25% deficit. After the loss of some employees to the roster, the school system currently has just 263 certified bus operators. That's 263 drivers to make 3,600 bus stops across the county, with some drivers picking up multiple runs a day.

To say the shortfall has put the school district in crunch mode is an understatement. To fill the gap, it's had to move some employees in the transportation department out of their dispatch role and into the driver's seat, which means that communication -- say for example, letting parents, students or administrators know when a bus is running late -- suffers.

The shortage is about as bad as Al Pantano has seen it in his 12 years as St. Johns County School District's director of transportation. Unprecedented growth, especially in the northern reaches of the county, is part of the story. But other factors are at play as well. Heightened action and workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has contributed to job losses nationally and Pantano attributes the loss of "about 20 something" of his employees who quit ahead of potential deportation in the current political climate. There are many employees who hail from countries outside the U.S., with drivers speaking more than 40 native languages, according to Pantano. "We're proud of our diversity," added Pantano.

That includes Ahlen Campillo -- known better as "Miss Aileen" -- who is originally from Iran. Campillo has been a bus driver for the St. Johns County Schools for the last eight years and also helps train new drivers. "I love to be with the kids," said Campillo, smiling. She also likes that her schedule --a morning run and an afternoon run, with a break in the middle to go on errands -- coincides with her daughters' who attend school in the district. Other drivers who are semi-retired also appreciate the hours of the job. Campillo admits at first she was a little nervous at the thought of operating a large bus, but training helped allay those fears, adding, "I always tell people, if I can do it you can do it -- try it, you'll see."

The district holds regular "Drive the Bus" events across the community so people can do test drives on a self-contained track and see if they are comfortable. "The issue (the driver shortage) has more to do with recruitment than retention," said Pantano, adding that some applicants initially express interest in the job to then not finish the training. To be considered for the job, potential hires must pass a physical and background check as well as both a written test and driving test while attending classes. They also must go through a probation period in which they ride with another driver like Campillo.

The salary for bus operators ranges from $21 to $31 dollars an hour depending on how long the driver is with the district. Medical, vision and dental insurance are also available. The job involves more than just handling a bus; it's about establishing relationships with children. Pantano recalls how a kindergartner who was moving was upset she would miss seeing her driver. Stella, as she was known, asked if the driver could move with her to the new route. To Stella's delight, the school district, with the driver's agreement, was able to accommodate the request.

If you are interested in becoming a Bus Driver for the SJCSD, learn more about the position and apply here.