SANDPOINT — A daily school bus route is no walk in the park, but two remarkable LPOSD bus drivers are navigating the challenges exceptionally well, according to the Idaho Association for Pupil Transportation, which recently recognized Pam Rogers and MaryAnn Kraemer with awards for excellence.

The association named Rogers the 2016 Special Needs Driver of the Year and Kraemer the 2016 Special Needs Aide of the Year for Idaho.

Rogers has worked for the school district for the past 29 years. For 17 of those, she has driven special needs students to and from school, according to James Koehler, LPOSD transportation director. She averages approximately 1,500 route miles per month, and her passenger manifest typically includes 10 students with special needs and 10 life skills students.

"She has formed a personal relationship with each family on her route," Koehler said. "Over the past 17 years as a special needs driver, Pam has developed a way of communicating and interacting with the students that other special needs drivers strive for. Her ability to bring out the best in every student through her conversations, smiles, care and compassion sets the example for all other drivers to follow. When speaking with other special needs drivers in the school district, they all share the same opinion that Special Needs School Bus Driver of the Year is recognition that is long overdue for Pam Rogers."

MaryAnn Kraemer has served as a special needs aide with LPOSD since 2011. During the past five years, she has completed professional development training in First Aid/CPR, non-violent intervention, sign language, autism spectrum and wheel chair restraint. She is a daily attendant on special needs buses, working with a range of bus drivers and special needs passengers.

"She has developed a special and personal relationship with each student as she sits with her assigned students listening, sharing and interacting along the route. Her student management strategy includes helping the students enjoy the ride or giving them their space to be independent on the bus, while still keeping safe watch over the students. Many of the students are non-verbal, so she pays special attention to body language," Koehler said.

Both Rogers and Kraemer are active in the district's Transportation Association, which raises money year-round to fund scholarships for LPOSD graduates.