While Christy first started driving to earn extra income, she shares that she was able to raise two teenagers by herself by driving a bus. She says her husband passed away, and driving a school bus soon became her household’s primary source of income. She shares that the position allowed her to remain present for her children and participate in their activities.

 

Christy pridefully shares that she drives the special education school bus. While the Jasper County school district already has one of, if not the largest, district territories in Illinois, Christy’s territory is further extended. While all her students are Jasper County residents, the district’s partnership with Southeastern Special Education has her drive to Clay City and Louisville each morning and afternoon. She also takes a daily trip to Oblong around noon.

 

Christy logged countless miles and touched thousands of lives over three decades. She currently drives two hundred fifty miles per day, which is approximately 44,000 miles per school year.

 

Christy quickly points out that she appreciates the perks of being a school bus driver, a part-time job with summers off, and full-time perks such as a pension, sick days, and insurance. But she also recognizes her relationship with the countless kids she’ll miss most.

 

“I love kids. Nothing makes me happier than when I’m in the grocery store, and a child that I’ve had in the past runs up and hugs me or wants to add me as a friend on Facebook. It makes me feel so special and as if I’ve touched their lives,” says Christy.

 

From the subtle nuances of its winding roads to the countless families Christy has impacted, she has a unique and detailed understanding of Jasper County built up day-by-day and mile-by-mile. As we chatted, her pride in Jasper County and how so many little communities unite was infectious, leading me to want to see this series of small, unique communities through her eyes. Just as her love for the kids is central to her love for her job, her love for the area focuses on the community.

 

“Cities are nice places to visit, but I’ll take our good ol’ Jasper County every time. Everybody knows everybody, everybody helps everybody. Everybody’s got each other’s back. I’ll take this any day.”