Brenda O’Conner

 

Bus Driver

 

Westminster Public Schools bus driver Brenda O’Conner is the epitome of kindness. Her years of service to our district are marked with a strong commitment to ensuring that our students arrive safely to school on a positive bus ride greeted by a smile.

 

Before working for WPS, Brenda worked in non-profits for 13 years and 20 years in corporate administration. However, she would see the kids gathering at the bus stop and knew she could do that too. “I was inspired by the kids to want to be of service. And when I saw women drivers that looked like me, I decided I could do it too!”

 

Brenda is a lifelong Coloradan having grown up in North Denver with many ties to Westy and Ranum. Currently, she lives in the Shaw Heights neighborhood with her husband and her two precious Boston Terriers, Pearl and Opal.

 

Transportation head, Jodene Monroe writes, “Brenda has been with our transportation family for 5 years and has proven to be a very passionate person. Passionate for others and passionate for the cause. Brenda cares very much for her students and her peers, she looks for and discovers the good in easy and difficult times and seems to always find a smile through it all. She just makes me want to be my best self when I am around her.”

 

Driver trainer, Terry Murphy adds, “I started a few months after Brenda. She is a delight to have as a coworker! As a trainer, I have witnessed her in action on the bus with the kids, she knows all their names and greets them every day! She knows little things personally about the kids to ask them about, making them feel important!”

 

Thank you, Brenda, for being such a great driver and steward of our precious WPS kids!

 

Years in WPS: 5 years

 

Favorite Food: Seafood

 

Favorite Athlete/Sports Team: Golf

 

What are your hobbies: Photography, golf, camping/glamping, and gardening. We go to Wyoming a lot.

 

What I am listening to right now is whatever is on the radio. All music is good for me.

 

Superpower I wish I had: I would be able to talk to animals, and they could talk to me so that I could understand exactly what they were saying.

 

If I could make the world a better place in one way: Treat others with kindness and respect.

 

What has Westminster Public Schools meant to you? WPS has allowed me to work with kids and be an example of kindness and respect for the community.

 

Who inspires me in WPS (staff, parent, or student): It's the drivers EVERYONE in transportation, AND EVERYONE at the schools/district. Everyone that I've interacted with, coaches, teachers, support staff, you name it, they have all been so helpful & supportive. Also, Ted Chavez. He taught me so much about how to navigate the kids. He was the kid whisperer, and I try and channel that. He taught me more than just driving.