26-Year West Bloomfield Bus Driver Wins Local Title

bus driver Greg Campbell, a 26-year veteran in the district, won an individual award of first place in a skills competition Saturday at Oakland Schools. 

The "Roadeo," held annually since 1994, brought together 35 school bus drivers from eight Oakland County school districts — Birmingham, Lake Orion, Rochester, Southfield, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, and West Bloomfield — which are part of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT).

The West Bloomfield School District, represented by four bus drivers, took first place in the team competition. A fellow district bus driver, 13-year veteran Crystal Dropps, finished in second, ahead of Carrie Myre of Waterford and Schellie Wyckoff of Walled Lake, respectively.

"We're very excited and proud of them," said transportation director Lynne Robertson. "It seems like every year, one of our drivers finishes in the top-three, but this may be the first time we've won the team award."

The award was accepted graciously by Campbell, whom Dropps said is highly-regarded among fellow drivers.

"It's a privilege to come out on top in a tight competition," Campbell said. With the win, he moves on to a regional championship, scheduled for June 20 in West Branch.

"We call him 'the supreme example of bus driver-ness,'" laughed Dropps, who competed with colleages Lynn Melzer and Anne Albarran.

The West Bloomfield School District employs 48 full-time drivers.