Disponible en: Español

Published On: October 7th, 2020By

Tonya Smith-Davis featured In School Transportation News

Disponible en: Español

Is Tonya Smith-Davis ever thankful that she decided on a career change some 26 years ago. At that time, Smith-Davis was working retail, but was looking for a job where she could devote more time to her young son. A friend encouraged her to apply with the Aldine ISD Transportation Department and it turned out to be the right move for her and her family.

Tonya Smith-Davis, the Training Supervisor for Aldine ISD’s Transportation Department, was recently featured as a Rising Superstars by School Transportation News.

Smith-Davis currently serves as the department’s Training Supervisor out of the East Side Transportation Department. She is responsible for a number of duties, and Executive Director of Transportation Dr. Jill Metcalfe said Smith-Davis excels at any task she is handed.

“If the Transportation Department was a family, Tonya would be the matriarch,” Metcalfe said. “She looks out for everyone, generally knows best, and does what needs to be done to take care of the family. When I first started out (with the department), Tonya accepted me and taught me a lot. She invested in me, and I will always be grateful to her for that.”

While Metcalfe is impressed with Smith-Davis’ work ethic, so is School Transportation News, a national publication that features stories and features on transportation departments across the country. In their upcoming October issue, Smith-Davis will be featured in their “Rising Superstars” section.

Metcalfe said the recognition Smith-Davis received from the magazine is much deserved.

“She cares deeply about the department and she wants to see the department succeed, and the people in the department succeed. Tonya is just an all around good person,” Metcalfe said.

Now entering her 27th years with Aldine ISD, Smith-Davis began her career with the Transportation Department as a bus driver.

“I began as a very nervous bus driver,” she said, with a laugh.

In her role as Training Supervisor, Smith-Davis conducts meetings with her training staff, reviews all bus driver’s credentials, designs and implements all pre-employment training and tutorials, CDL training, remedial training, accident review and board procedures. She also organizes the district’s Regional Bus Rodeo.

Smith-Davis is certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician, holds the Texas Association of Texas Pupil Transportation Certification and is working towards her NAPT Certification.

As one can see, Smith-Davis wears many hats.

“She wears a lot of hats,” Metcalfe said. “She will find hats laying on the floor and put those on too. She will go to a state meeting or workshop and come back with new hats.”

Smith-Davis said she thoroughly enjoys her job.

“I love seeing people learning new things and adapting,” she said. “I love working with our staff. It’s a busy job, but we are like one big family.”

And what was her reaction when she learned she would be featured in School Transportation News?

“It was awesome and it means a lot to me and my family,” she said. “It’s nice to know you are appreciated. I’m still in a bit of shock.”

Smith-Davis takes her job seriously because she knows parents in Aldine count on the Transportation Department to get their children to and from school in a safe manner.

“There is always room for growth. We are who our drivers rely on for safety and we take that responsibility very seriously,” Smith-Davis said.

Metcalfe and others in the Transportation Department know how special a person and employee Tonya Smith-Davis is, and now the rest of the nation does as well.

About the Author: Mike Keeney

Director of Public Information Aldine ISD