by ALEXIS MARTIN and LUNA HAN
Bus drivers are Chadwick’s unsung heroes.
Their days start at 5 a.m. They get to the bus facility, drive their buses to the bus stop, then greet students and safely transport them to school.
While these collective actions are small, they are meaningful. Without the bus drivers, almost a hundred Chadwick students would struggle to find adequate transportation on a daily basis.
The world of Chadwick bus drivers is powered by Transportation Manager Rodrick Dunn, who has managed the school’s transportation services since 2017. He drives the shuttle bus to the Botanical Gardens every day, so for him, talking with students is a daily highlight.
“Communicating with people on the shuttle is fun,” Dunn said. “I talk to students about their days, interests and hobbies.”
Speaking of hobbies, Dunn is a certified book-lover. He spends his free time reading, but most important, connecting with family.
“That’s what I love to do. No matter what we’re doing, getting that valuable time in is special because we won’t be here forever.”
One way Dunn celebrates February’s Black History Month is by connecting with his children. “Teaching my children about Black people who’ve made landmarks in America, and being a positive Black male role model, is important. My kids must know they are absolutely amazing in their skin.”
Aletha Brantly, otherwise known as “Ms. B,” drives Route 4, the Inglewood stop. Originally from Boston, Brantley has been driving Chadwick students for 15 years. As a mother of nine and grandmother of 13, she is nurturing and especially loves her students.
“I just like taking care of children,” she says. “The mother in me is like, the kids have problems. I’ll comfort them, talk to or yell at their parents. Those are my kids, my babies.”
Seventh-grader Alani Hill rides Ms. B’s bus. “She cares about everyone, gives us snacks, and has great humor.”
Reflecting on this month’s significance for her, Brantly believes in history’s value: “It means a lot that we recognize Black history. I’ve tried to teach it to my kids, but the world teaches them a lot more than I can.”
Away from the bus, you’ll find Brantly engrossed in a true-crime documentary, book or just catching up on some well-needed rest after a long day.
Jeffrey Crenshaw, who covers Route 7 in Manhattan Beach, has driven buses for 34 years, the past five at Chadwick. As a strong believer in Christianity, he dedicates his time to reading the Bible when he’s off-shift, and enjoys talking to students.
Throughout Jackie Williams’ 27-year career of driving buses, she prioritizes getting to know her students. The Route 3 (Long Beach) bus driver, who has been at Chadwick for 14 years, reads the Bible and loves to watch faith-based movies.
For Williams, Black History Month means not just freedom, but for people to take a moment and appreciate Black contributions to society.
Katrina Pratt, a Compton native, is in her fourth year driving buses. She steers Route 1 (Manhattan Beach), and if there’s anything she appreciates about her Blackness, it’s her skin color.
“I love my melanin! And I love teaching my daughter to love her melanin,” Pratt says.
When Pratt is away from the job, you can find her playing Candy Crush or spending time with her 9-year-old daughter.
Seventh-grader Barret Hill has ridden with Pratt for two years. “She’s so kind and always drives safely.”
Seventh-grader Kellen Hill, another rider, especially appreciates Pratt’s bus decorations.
LaTorre Oliver, who handles Route 10 (Manhattan Beach), has driven buses for two decades, including 10 years at Chadwick. One thing has stayed consistent for Oliver–how she supports her students.
“I am friendly and understanding,” she said. “I try to relate, communicate and get to know them personally. We can talk about classes or it can be therapy.”
When Oliver isn’t on the job, she spends time with her 19-year-old twin daughters, and enjoys a good romance story to wind down.
“Ms. Oliver always says hello to everyone in the morning, and tries to keep the bus relatively quiet as best she can,” says freshman Lucy Perella.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Diane Richardson, who drives Route 2 (Redondo Beach), has been at Chadwick for 10 years.
Seventh-grader Naya Clark has ridden Richardson’s bus for seven of those years.
“Ms. Richardson is very kind and compassionate,” Clark said. “Every time I get on the bus, she has an exceptional positive attitude! I am very grateful for Ms. Richardson because she never fails to make my day brighter.”
Junior Brendan Collins also radiates when remembering his favorite bus driver. “Ms. Richardson would always greet me sweetly every morning, and her laugh was infectious. I’m so grateful I rode her bus.”
Chadwick’s amazing bus drivers believe defying racial stereotypes is critical to the job.
Says Crenshaw: “By being a mentor and a person students can talk to, it’s how I teach them that the color of my skin does not define me. How I communicate with them shows them I’m more than just the color of my skin.”
“I don’t think anyone’s irreplaceable. But if you do what’s right, it sets a precedent that endures.”
The Mainsheet 