BONNERS FERRY — Every morning, Glenna Whitehall welcomes students onto her bus with a cheerful "good morning." 

"A lot of times, they'll just look at the ground. They're not too much into responding," said Whitehall. 

But Whitehall remains determined. 

By the end of the school year, many of those same students wish her a good night as they step off the bus. 

"If they're having a bad day, my goal is to try and cheer them up," said Whitehall. 

In July, Whitehall, a bus driver for the Boundary County School District, was named Boise Driver of the Year by the Idaho Department of Education. 

The award recognizes her willingness to "go above and beyond" for students, said district officials. 

"I couldn't believe it was happening," recalled Whitehall after receiving the award, adding that she didn't feel like she did anything out of the ordinary. 

"I was honored. I felt really appreciated, but it was almost overwhelming," said Whitehall. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before." 

Seventeen years ago, Whitehall decided to pivot from her construction career to become a bus driver. 

"The industry got really slow, and so I decided I needed to find something else to do," Whitehall said. 

At the time, Whitehall's friend was a bus driver and had encouraged her to apply. 

"So, I went for it and I did it," said Whitehall. "I've been driving for 17 years now." 

Before Whitehall became a BCSD school bus driver, she had been a school bus driver for students in Federal Way, Wash. 

One summer, while visiting family in Bonners Ferry, Whitehall noticed the district was hiring school bus drivers. That's when she decided to move. 

"There's too much going on in the big city," Whitehall recalled thinking. "I'm more of a small-town type of girl." 

Whitehall drives BCSD elementary, middle and high school students to and from school. 

She especially enjoys seeing the excitement on students' faces as she takes them to field trips and sporting events. 

"It's fun to get out and watch them," said Whitehall. "I like cheering them on and being part of the community." 

For Whitehall, being a school bus driver is more than just driving students; it's about showing up for them, too. 

"When you're an adult, you remember your bus driver," said Whitehall. "We do make a big difference day-to-day."