Kathy Gonio, a bus driver, and Misty Carter, a transportation paraprofessional, are the dynamic duo behind the Fun Bus, the special education bus in the Steamboat Springs School District (SSSD).

The Fun Bus is more than just a ride to and from school. Carter and Gonio work together to forge relationships with the families of the students they transport and make the bus rides a fun and safe extension to the classroom. 

Gonio, who was recently named SSSD’s Educator of the Year, has been the special education bus driver for 28 years and has worked for the district for 30 years. She started her time in the district as the transportation office manager.

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The district was short on drivers in the 1993-94 school year. Even the superintendent at the time was driving buses, according to Gonio. One day, she was asked to fill in and drive the special needs bus because it didn’t require a commercial driver’s license (now you need one). The rest is history.

Carter, the special education transportation paraprofessional, has been with the district for three years. She is known as the airline stewardess of the Fun Bus, providing snacks, drinks, and in-flight entertainment. 

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Carter and Gonio were a dream team from the start. Their ability to work together is paramount for the safety of the students and for each other. For students in wheelchairs, Carter assists them onto the lift while Gonio operates the lift. They claim to be able to read each other and anticipate what needs to be done.

Carter and Gonio’s roles as special education bus drivers and transportation paraprofessionals are different from traditional bus drivers. They often pick up the students at their homes and have the opportunity to speak with their families daily. They also have fewer students on their bus, so they get to know their students and become involved in their education. 

“I know my students’ grandparents, dogs, and families,” Gonio said. “I’ll have a conversation with Mom in the morning and ask, ‘Is there anything I need to know?’ We also take them on activity trips all around the community, and we get to see the kids a lot.” 

No two days are the same for Gonio and Carter. Starting at 6 a.m., Gonio does her pre-trip bus inspection. When it is determined that the bus is safe, they depart at 6:45 a.m. to pick up their first student. They transport five students in total, and these students live throughout Steamboat Springs. 

“Kathy is the safest driver,” Carter said. “With Kathy, it’s always a smooth ride.” 

Gonio said that the perception behind her job is that she has a lot more responsibility than a regular bus driver. Sometimes, she only has a few minutes to save a student’s life. There are some tough days and emergency medical situations. Gonio describes her days as similar to those of Forrest Gump. 

“It’s like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. You must be flexible and patient to do this job.”

Despite this, Gonio claims she would never want to drive a regular school bus route, and she loves the Fun Bus’ small, family environment.

The Fun Bus is not just a ride to and from school; it’s an extension of the classroom. Gonio and Carter expect students to behave the same way that they would in a traditional classroom. 

Carter recently took it upon herself to get American Sign Language videos from the library. She plays the videos in the morning to help the kids learn to communicate by signing. It makes Carter’s job easier when they can communicate, and it makes it more fun. 

“I love my job because when you are a paraprofessional at a school, you have to make them go to class,” Carter said. “On the Fun Bus, they come in, respect the other kids, follow the rules, and have a good time. We watch movies, practice sign language, have puppet shows, and have snacks every afternoon. I try to make it a happy, positive environment.”

Carter’s goal is that the students never leave the bus sad or angry because the ride to school sets the tone for the entire day. 

“They know they are safe and that everything is OK,” Carter said. “I don’t make them do horrible stuff like go to biology. It’s the best paraprofessional job in the district.” 

Gonio’s favorite part of the job is forging relationships between students and their families. Some of her students are now adults, and she said it was impossible to calculate how many she has driven over the years. She is retiring at the end of this year, but is still planning to drive next year. 

“I love them like they are my kids,” Gonio said.