The bus driver is the first person many children see to start their school day. 

The same is true for children in Great Lakes Community Action Partnership’s Migrant & Seasonal Head Start (GLCAP MSHS) program. Each day, GLCAP MSHS bus drivers pick up students to and from their school location, ensuring that children are safe along the way.

MSHS serves families working in agricultural professions by providing all-day, early learning programming for children ages six weeks-five years of age. MSHS has centers throughout Ohio in Fremont, Napoleon, New Carlisle, and Shiloh. 

“Bus drivers represent the center’s commitment to safety, reliability, and professionalism,” GLCAP Fremont Center Specialist Tessa Studer said. 

Along with providing safe transportation and conducting safety checks on vehicles, drivers oftentimes are the first point of contact for families to relay messages to their centers. 

“They build trust with families and reassure parents that their children are cared for,” Studer added.

Because of bus drivers and bus services, GLCAP MSHS is able to serve families who live in a wide geographic range around each center. Some families may live as far as 15-30 minutes or more from their center location.

“If it were not for our drivers, many of our children would not be able to attend,” GLCAP Shiloh Center Specialist Modesta Barraza said.

More information on GLCAP’s Migrant & Seasonal Head Start program is available at www.glcap.org/mshs.