Roy Aarons stands in the school bus decorated with ornaments made by students on Monday. Schools in Douglas County close for winter break on Dec. 17. Aarons is retiring at the end of the year after a decade.
Photo by Sarah Drinkwine.
You can’t tell from the outside of his bus, but Douglas County School District’s Bus driver Roy Aarons has been on the fun route for 10 years and is taking a different path into retirement Dec. 31.
“He has been well loved and will be missed,” said Tausha Hewitt. Hewitt’s children have been riding Aaron’s bus for eight years. “He has been an exceptional person and deserves to head into retirement knowing how special he truly is to each of us and our families.”
Over the years Aarons has made sure students in Douglas County not only get to and from school safely, but he makes the ride a fun experience.
“I treat the kids like they’re my own, because they are,” said Aarons. “I make sure they’re safe, cared for and have fun.”
Aarons sings and jokes with the students on his bus and does his best to get to know them, even noticing their good days and bad days.
“There’s all sorts of kids,” he said. “You have the sweet ones and then there’s the challenging and more handful bunch, but they’re all fun and have their good days and bad days. I talk to them and find out what’s wrong. I try to make their day better and they make mine.”
The inside of his bus is currently decorated with Christmas ornaments handmade by students.
“The kids love coming on the bus and seeing their creations hanging up,” he said. “I’ll have the kids decorate for Halloween and other holidays. They’re always excited to find out what we’re doing next.”
The bus also has an Elf on the Shelf who makes his way around the bus.
“I try to make it fun,” said Aarons. “My route goes out to the Pine Nuts, so some of these kids are on the bus for a least an hour, so I do my best to make it a positive experience.”
Aarons said he will miss the students, families and the school district he’s served over the years.
“I enjoy riding the bus and I enjoy the kids,” he said. “I just want to give a shout out to all the students and parents, who I’ve served over the years, it’s been fun and to the maintenance crew who keep the buses up to safety standards and keep all of us safe.”
