Instructors: Denny Coughlin, Frank Gazeley, Launi Harden, Aaron Harris & Kala Henkensiefken

Location: Prosper I.S.D. Support Services Facility Building 4

Description: Join student transportation experts in a classroom setting to review best practices for a successful emergency evacuation of students with disabilities and preschooler, followed by an exercise on a school bus that mimics a real-life route that is servicing students with various physical disabilities as well as younger riders. Complicating the exercise will then be the introduction of fake smoke on the bus to hinder the visibility of attendees as the practice evacuating the “children” during a fire. The instructors will time the participants on how quickly they can evacuate the bus. The seminar will provide instruction on the proper evacuation of students who ride in wheelchairs and who use various child safety restraint systems. Tools used by participants will include evacuation and fire blankets, belt cutters and more. Held offsite at Frisco ISD.  

Transportation & lunch provided. 

Maximum of 32 participants | Separate registration and fees required | Transportation & Lunch Provided 

Speaker: Christy Schiller

Description: Research shows that transporting students is among the highest risk opportunities for sexual abuse and misconduct, and students with disabilities are more likely to be targeted.  A single incident of this nature can be catastrophic for students, families, your organization, and the community. This session will address how abuse happens, current trends and best practices for mitigating this risk with updated policies, training on boundaries and red-flag behaviors, and supervision strategies. 

Praesidium
Praesidium’s mission is “to help you protect those in your care from abuse and to help preserve trust in your organization.” Praesidium is a national leader in abuse risk management and has worked with organizations across industries in the United States and other countries to help them prevent sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults, prevent false allegations of abuse, and to manage reputational risk.

Location: Frisco 1

Moderator: Alexandra Robinson

Panelists: Tyler Bryan, Anthony Shields, & Sue Shutrump

Description: For some students with disabilities and special health care needs, the traditional school bus is not the right fit and an alternative vehicle must be used temporarily. Following the 17th NCST, standards and best practices have been recommended for the use of such alternative forms of transportation, and in some states, regulations have been passed in addition. The challenge is now: regulation vs. reality. Join us for a dynamic session that explores the “should, could and what-ifs” surrounding these challenges.

Moderated by School Transportation News

Location: Frisco 1

Speakers:

• Bailey Wouters – SPED Routing Coordinator, Melissa ISD, TX
•  Yvonne Morrison – Special Needs Transportation Lead, Widefield School District #3, CO
• Sierra Long – Special Needs Route Supervisor, Garland ISD, TX

Description: Transporting students with disabilities comes with unique challenges, from day-of changes to first-day chaos and even locating a missing student. This session will explore how an integrated technology platform can make operations safer, more efficient and less stressful for staff, students and families. Technology should work for you, not the other way around. Learn how tools for routing, communication and real-time updates can help your team respond quickly to keep students safer and give parents peace of mind. 

Location: Frisco 1

Moderator: Lisa Navarra

Panelists: Terri Drca, Jill Metcalfe, & Katrina Morris

Description: This session explores how collaboration between transportation professionals and educational teams can support positive student behavior on the school bus. Attendees will discuss how IEP-related services, accommodations, and supplemental aids extend to transportation and how understanding the antecedent–behavior–consequence relationship can guide effective responses. The discussion emphasizes shared strategies and communication practices that promote safety, consistency, and engagement. Active participation from attendees is encouraged to exchange insights and real-world experiences.

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Speaker: Glenna Wright-Gallo

Description: Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) from the U.S. Department of Education serve as key tools to clarify how schools and districts must meet their legal and ethical responsibilities under civil rights laws such as Section 504, IDEA, and the ADA. This session will explore how recent DCLs and related federal guidance shape student transportation policy and practice, particularly in areas affecting inclusion, accessibility, and equity.

Through real-world case studies, including scenarios involving service animal access, use of restraint, assistive technology, and connectivity challenges, participants will connect policy to lived experience. The session will highlight actionable strategies for compliance, cross-agency collaboration, and proactive communication that empower leaders to create safe, inclusive, and responsive transportation systems.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to translate federal guidance into effective, “Monday-ready” steps that promote student dignity, staff confidence, and equitable access for every learner.

Location: Frisco 1

Speaker: Susan Shutrump

Description: What if the key to a safer, calmer bus ride lies in recognizing students’ sensory needs? In this interactive session, you’ll explore how sensory sensitivities may fuel challenging behaviors on the bus and discover how simple, practical accommodations can create a safer, more comfortable environment for everyone. Through real-life stories and activities, you’ll get the chance to reflect on your own sensory responses, giving a new perspective on what students truly need to feel safe and supported on the bus.

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Speaker: Josy Campbell

Description: This session will highlight best practices for selecting safe and accessible bus stop locations for students with disabilities. Participants will learn how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the principle of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) shape transportation decisions, including when stops may be part of an IEP. The course will also explore travel training as a tool for building independence and safety skills for students. By the end, attendees will understand how to balance safety, accessibility, and inclusion while collaborating with families and school teams.

Description: This fun and interactive networking event with a football tailgate theme takes place on the trade show floor and enables attendees to visit with exhibitors that will be highlighting innovative products, solutions and services. Exhibitors and attendees can connect in a more relaxed atmosphere with food and drink stations spread across the trade show floor. 

Location: Frisco 2

Speakers: Mark Nestlen, GreenPower Motor Company; Jared Fitzwater, Clay County (WV) School District; Dr. John Henry, Wyoming County (WV) School District

Description: What happens when you introduce all-electric school buses in special needs situations? How do the kids react? What do the drivers think? What is the overall impact? Hear the statistics, results and lessons learned from the West Virginia all-electric school bus pilot project from those personally involved in its success.

Speakers: Tony Corpin with Grace Millar, & Jennifer Vobis

Location: Frisco 2

Description: Join a focus group moderated by Tony Corpin, Grace Millar of special needs contractor 4Seasons Transportation, and Jennifer Vobis of Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada that discusses the thought process of making purchase decisions as the group prepares to head into the TSD Trade Show.

Speakers: Denny Coughlin

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: A school bus maintenance expert shares the main aspects of the pre-trip inspection process that all special needs transporters need to be intimate with, regardless of their technical acumen.

Speakers: Amy Tiedens with Terri Drca, Alemnesh Allen

Location: Frisco 1

Description: The school bus is an extension of the classroom, making the school ride an ideal place to implement positive behavior supports. Panelists from the special education classroom and the school bus discuss the synergies to be found and how the individual programs can collaborate to create positive outcomes for students and bus drivers, alike.

Speakers: Alexandra Robinson with John Fergerson & Kenny Mulder

Location: Frisco 1

Description: More funding than ever before is available for student transportation services. But do you know where to look to find it? This panel led by TSD Tenured Faculty member Alexandra Robinson explores the programs you may be aware of and certainly those you aren’t.

Speaker: Diandra Neugent

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: Programs are not required to provide transportation, but they are still accountable to program participants. During this workshop, take a deeper look at the requirements that a program must meet if it does provide transportation services. There are key regulations that grantees and delegate agencies are required to comply with. The objective of this workshop is to provide programs a snapshot of what these regulations say you must do. 

Speakers: Tony Corpin with Cody Cox, Arby Creach, and Ryan Dillingham

Location: Frisco 1

Description: Transportation leaders of in-house and contracted service discuss innovations implemented in their operations that address the unique needs of their students, parents and staff.

Speakers: Launi Harden

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: Dispatchers are the lifeline of school bus routes. They relay vital information to school bus drivers and maintenance staff as well as interface with first responders in the event of emergencies. Discuss the vital training necessary for these professionals.