RATHDRUM — Becky Craig-Johnson's bus driving credentials are extensive. She’s won the state of Idaho bus safety championship five times and competed in the international safety competition six times.

And this summer, she took home second place in the National School Transportation Association’s bus safety skills contest in Texas. The event was the 50th North American bus safety competition after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. 

She first learned of the bus safety contests when she began driving for the district in 2006 and was encouraged to participate. She realized quickly that she relishes the pressure of driving safely and competitively in the tight spaces and complicated courses drivers are put through during these events. 

“The best thing about it, honestly, is it's great training,” Craig-Johnson said. "If you're a safer driver, you're going to keep our kids safer, too, and that's of course the main thing." 

Now a substitute bus driver for the Lakeland Joint School District, Craig-Johnson and her husband spend much of their time running A and A Driving School, but she’s never stopped working on improving her bus skills. 

Jessica Dehnert, transportation director for Lakeland Joint School District, said Craig-Johnson's devotion to bus safety even as a substitute driver shows her dedication to the students and the district. 

“The stuff they have to put those buses through is not easy. She’s a great driver, and we’re lucky to have her,” Dehnert said. 

Drivers went through a competition orientation class, followed by a written test. The skills contest was held in Uhland, Texas, where contestants got behind the wheel and completed a rigorous road course. 

Tests included student pickup challenges, railroad crossings, navigating a bus through turns and a diminishing clearance test where the space gets tighter and tighter until it’s only one inch of clearance on either side of the bus. 

She came from behind in the standings after the first round. 

“I just told myself, 'I have to nail the rest of these things the best I can,'” Craig-Johnson said. “Pulling up to get second after all that, I was like, ‘Yes!’” 

No matter how difficult the challenge is, she doesn’t worry about anything other than the task at hand. 

“It doesn't faze me in the slightest. I just go drive it,” Craig-Johnson said. 

    Becky Craig-Johnson and Shawna King of Lakeland School District, hug after placing first and second in regional bus safety competition. Both qualified for the Idaho state school bus safety competition in Boise in June.